Shared Value Initiative Hong Kong is a session partner again this year of ReThink HK, Hong Kong’s best-attended business event for business leaders, sustainability practitioners, and those researching and resourcing the solutions for a climate-smart and equitable city. We will participate in the Social Impact and Philanthropy programme at the Impact Stage on 11 September (Fri).

The Social Impact and Philanthropy programme explores the evolving landscape of purpose-driven investment. It begins by challenging whether an obsession with reporting has stifled genuine progress, questioning if the focus has shifted from real-world change to mere compliance. The narrative then shifts toward action, examining how “impact capital” can be strategically deployed to address urgent climate crises, such as extreme heat and water stress. Finally, the programme introduces a holistic “impact ecology” approach, breaking down traditional silos to create a connected, thriving ecosystem. Together, these sessions provide a roadmap for moving beyond data toward a resilient, systemic model for global impact.

As Asia’s Hub for Climate Action and Sustainable Business Solutions, ReThink HK 2026 will bring together 350+ companies showcasing innovative, real-world solutions and 10,000+ business leaders, changemakers, and sustainability practitioners. Don’t miss out and join us at ReThink HK 2026!

Early Bird rate expires on 4th August.

The Tyranny of the Measurable: Is Our Obsession with Reporting Killing the Very Purpose We’re Trying to Quantify?

10:45 – 11:35

What gets measured, gets managed.” This quote, credited to management guru Peter Drucker, serves as the justification for every dashboard, every KPI, every quarterly report. But here’s the part we quietly forget: “even when it’s pointless to measure and manage it, and even if it harms the purpose of the organisation to do so.” Measurement is the name of the game right now: we’re under pressure to quantify everything from revenue to productivity to purpose itself —and much of that is necessary. Metrics are essential; we cannot change what we cannot track. But somehow, along the way, dashboards now shape strategies. Numbers narrow visions. People learn to hit the target but miss the point. Curated by Shared Value Initiative Hong Kong, this session explores how to use metrics as tools that demonstrate real impact beyond compliance, and support internal business cases for community investment. Discover practical ways to measure wisely, interpret what the numbers truly reveal and stay alert to what can’t be counted — so measuring progress doesn’t become a substitute for making it.

Learnings: 

• Explore practical techniques to balance hard numbers and human insight
• Shift conversations from “What’s the easiest thing to measure?” to “What truly signals progress?”— and build metrics that serve your purpose
• Build in ways to extract additional insights beyond the quantitative to identify the “why” instead of the “what”

Post-event Actions:

• Implement data collection that captures not just what happened, but why it matters
• Leave confident in your ability to judge whether a metric genuinely strengthens both corporate decision-making and community outcomes
• Redesign stakeholder reports to highlight the story and insight behind the numbers, not just the numbers themselves

Speakers:

Moderator: Virginie Ostrowski, Shared Value Initiative Hong Kong
Panellist: Karen Lee, Jockey Club Design Institute for Social Innovation, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

More to be announced.

Register now and enjoy a 20% discount on your delegate pass with the promo code: PP20SVI