Beyond profit: the role of Colombian business leaders in transforming business and building sustainable peace

Frame of the research: Purpose-driven organizations can revolutionize business conduct and leadership in conflict zones through the private sector’s engagement in peacebuilding. Prioritizing stakeholder dignity and societal benefits aligns with Business for Peace (B4P) initiatives, aiming to deepen the understanding of socially responsible leadership and its impact on global and local peace efforts. Purpose of the paper: This paper seeks to explore the role of business leaders in fostering sustainable peace in post-conflict Colombia, aiming to contribute new perspectives to purpose-driven organizations and B4P dialogues. By analyzing the management practices of business leaders from purpose-driven organizations operating within Colombia, this research provides a deeper understanding of how business leadership can actively participate in the country’s peacebuilding efforts. Methodology: This study uses a qualitative research design based on semi-structured expert interviews with business leaders to explore the nuances of B4P practices in post-conflict Colombia. Reflecting an exploratory approach, this method facilitated an in-depth understanding of purpose-driven organizations and leadership roles in peacebuilding to contribute novel insights into the B4P discourse. Results: The study reveals Colombian businesses’ significant roles in peacebuilding by creating jobs, fostering community ties and practising ethical leadership. It emphasizes the transformative impact of aligning business operations with peacebuilding efforts through strategic and ethical decision-making. Research limitations: Given the study’s reliance on qualitative interviews and a focused sample of Colombian business leaders, the findings offer deep, contextualized insights but lack generalizability. This limitation underscores the need for further empirical research across different contexts to broaden understanding of the B4P phenomenon. Practical implications: This research illuminates the strategic value of purpose-driven organizations and community engagement in peacebuilding for businesses and policymakers in conflict zones, presenting Colombian businesses as models for harnessing commerce for economic growth and social healing and providing a pragmatic blueprint for integrating business operations with peace efforts. The originality of the study: This research contributes uniquely to the emerging field of B4P by examining the intersection of purpose-driven organizations and peacebuilding in post-conflict Colombia. It offers new perspectives on the role of business leaders in promoting peace, addressing a gap in the literature, and providing a foundation for future studies in this area.