Forced migration is the next big challenge for businesses, according to a leadership professor.

• Michael Hastings is a professor of leadership at Utah State University and the chair of SOAS University of London.
• He encouraged business leaders to address the issue of forced migration and facilitate education and employment opportunities for refugees and asylum seekers.
• A House of Lords Peer in the U.K., Hastings, stated that the British government must determine the origin of migrants who arrive in small boats via the channel and prioritize peace efforts.

According to a longtime leadership professor and UNICEF vice president, businesses face the "next big challenge" in hiring, educating, and housing refugees and asylum seekers.

The large, unattractive elephant in the room is migration. Over 120 million individuals have migrated from their original homes to new locations, frequently as refugees or asylum seekers attempting to establish themselves, according to U.N. data on displaced people, as stated by Michael Hastings.

Hastings encouraged business leaders to address the issue of providing education, employment, legal services, housing, and dignity for young prospects and women, by asking themselves how they can address these challenges.

The European Commission reports that two-thirds of refugees reside in poverty and 75% of the world's refugees are found in low- and middle-income countries.

Throughout his career, Hastings has championed the rights of underrepresented groups, and currently holds the positions of chairman at SOAS University of London and professor of leadership at Utah State University.

Hastings commended business leaders for their efforts in reducing carbon emissions and single-use plastics in response to climate change, but emphasized the need for them to tackle the next big challenge: migration.

According to the European Commission, the majority of refugees (73%) originate from five countries: Afghanistan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, and Venezuela. These individuals are forced to flee their homes due to conflict, violence, or natural disasters such as floods.

Hastings stated that individuals are risking their lives in a desperate search for a new future, as they attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea, the Mexico-U.S. border, and the English Channel.

The House of Lords peer in the U.K., Hastings, stated that the British government must determine the origin of migrants who arrive in small boats via the English Channel.

""Why are they coming here?" he asked. "Let's go back to the source of the supply and invest in prospects and futures in peacemaking," he said. "This is a global problem," he added."

Hastings is recognized for his leadership with a purpose, which he has demonstrated through his corporate social responsibility and citizenship roles in organizations such as the BBC and KPMG. He stated that having a purpose that guides one's thinking and actions can influence spending, time, and emotional commitments. His purpose is to advocate for the poor and to use the power of the prosperous to benefit the potential of the poor.

According to Hastings, a leader's primary role is to serve and uplift others, rather than to control them.