global perspective Archives - EmoryBusiness.com https://www.emorybusiness.com/tag/global-perspective/ Insights from Goizueta Business School Mon, 19 Aug 2024 16:27:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.emorybusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/eb-logo-150x150.jpeg global perspective Archives - EmoryBusiness.com https://www.emorybusiness.com/tag/global-perspective/ 32 32 Meet The Class of 2026: Two-Year MBA https://www.emorybusiness.com/2024/08/19/meet-the-class-of-2026-two-year-mba/ Mon, 19 Aug 2024 18:30:00 +0000 https://www.emorybusiness.com/?p=33437 Goizueta Business School’s Two-Year MBA consistently ranks as one of the top programs in the country by the likes of Businessweek and U.S. News & World Report—and alumni. This year’s group of full-time students (129 in total) bring with them an average of 6.2 years of work experience. That background knowledge will serve them well […]

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Goizueta Business School’s Two-Year MBA consistently ranks as one of the top programs in the country by the likes of Businessweek and U.S. News & World Report—and alumni.

This year’s group of full-time students (129 in total) bring with them an average of 6.2 years of work experience. That background knowledge will serve them well as a foundation for the classes they’ll take, leadership opportunities they’ll seize, and complex, real-world business problems they’ll solve over the course of their two years at Emory University.

The benefit of the Two-Year MBA program for this class is a unique combination. They will be able to study with this level of elite faculty and classmates in a learning environment that is as small and close-knit as we are.

Brian Mitchell, associate dean of Goizueta’s full-time MBA programs

“It is an enormous benefit for students to be able to develop where they can be seen and heard as valued members of a strong community. They also get to have that experience in a world-class city where they still have access to many of the top organizations in the business world,” shares Brian Mitchell, associate dean of Goizueta’s full-time MBA programs and Goizueta Global Strategy & Initiatives.

The class of 2026 includes 32% women, 45% U.S. minority, and 45% international students.

Just a few of these stellar students include:
  • – An ICU nurse who worked in surgical, transplant, and COVID units. This student was also a travel nurse in Maryland, Massachusetts, and Arkansas.
  • – A recording artist who worked for Arcade Song Publishing, Sony Music, Columbia Records, and the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music.
  • – The founder and designer of the company Five One Three Designs, who also designed the book The World of Dad Jokes.
  • – A Frito-Lay product manager who also served as the co-director of Camp Kesem and raised $70K to run this camp for children whose parents have cancer.
  • – The founder of Tierra Unidad, Gwinnett County’s first bilingual community garden, which aims to teach Latinos about emerging farming practices. This student also created a risk assessment report for the Tokyo Olympics.
  • – The co-founder of Activ24 Foods and Oils, a community focused on high-quality organic food products and cold-pressed edible oils that operates in 10 districts in India.
  • – Some other incoming students include a professional race car driver, vice president of strategic client group at Truist, Coca-Cola brand manager, and a petroleum engineer.

The group also includes 19 members of the armed forces. Among the veterans, one is a decorated Green Beret officer, with a bronze star, who led a 12-month Special Forces team during the 10-day Battle of Hasakah.

“The Class of 2026 is exceptional in a number of ways,” reflects Mitchell. “They bring exceptional academic preparation, with an average undergraduate GPA of 3.5, across the widest range of majors and disciplines we have ever had in the program. Those perspectives are going to lead to enriched experiences inside and outside of the classroom. They are going to challenge each other – and us – to think about the world through different lenses. This is the key to building empathy as a leadership characteristic, so I have particularly high hopes for this class.”

Interested in learning more? Find out how the Goizueta MBA takes students beyond business as usual. 

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Young African Leaders Explore AI and Entrepreneurship at Goizueta https://www.emorybusiness.com/2024/08/06/young-african-leaders-explore-ai-and-entrepreneurship-at-goizueta/ Tue, 06 Aug 2024 21:37:02 +0000 https://www.emorybusiness.com/?p=33323 On July 12th, a group of 25 entrepreneurs from 20 African countries visited Goizueta Business School as part of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). It was the tenth time that YALI fellows have visited Goizueta. YALI aims to empower young African leaders through academic coursework, leadership training, mentorship, networking, and follow-up support. The initiative […]

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On July 12th, a group of 25 entrepreneurs from 20 African countries visited Goizueta Business School as part of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). It was the tenth time that YALI fellows have visited Goizueta.

YALI aims to empower young African leaders through academic coursework, leadership training, mentorship, networking, and follow-up support. The initiative was created through a partnership between Nelson Mandela and President Barack Obama in 2010. Currently, approximately 700 YALI fellows selected from more than 50,000 applicants spend six weeks in the U.S. each year. During the visit, the fellows study one of three academic tracks: business and entrepreneurship, civic leadership, or public management. The 25 YALI fellows who visited Goizueta operate in a number of industries, including sustainability, media, technology, agriculture, and cosmetics.

The 2024 fellows from the Young African Leaders Initiative at a visit to Goizueta Business School

During their time in Atlanta, the fellows are hosted by Clark Atlanta University, and as part of their time in the city spend a day at Goizueta. Benn Konsynski, George S. Craft Professor of Information Systems & Operations Management, coordinates the fellows’ time at Goizueta. Their visit included a full slate of academic sessions with a combination of Goizueta faculty, alumni, and industry experts. After comments from Kristy Towry, John M. & Lucy Cook Chaired Professor of Accounting and Vice Dean of Faculty and Research, and Alicia Sierra, director, Human Resources and Diversity, the sessions began.

Engaging with Experts: Exploring AI, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation

First up was a discussion about artificial intelligence (AI) and the future of work, featuring a team from Microsoft. Bo Beaudion, director, transformation strategy, Microsoft, and Azim Manjee, senior account technology strategist, Microsoft, discussed the fundamental priorities shaping the AI transformation and introduced the fellows to Copilot, Microsoft’s workplace AI tool.

After the fellows spent lunch connecting with Towry, the guest speakers, and Konsynski, the fellows participated in multiple afternoon sessions. The first was “Revving Up Success: Entrepreneurship in the African Automotive Industry.” It featured Vinod Kadadi 12MBA, consulting partner, Automotive, Wipro Limited. Kadadi examined the role Africa plays in the automotive industry—as a consumer, supplier, and innovator. The session also touched on the evolution of propulsion systems and the opportunities such advances present to entrepreneurs in Africa.

Vinod Kadadi’s son,Tejas Kadadi, presented the following session on plastics and the environment. A high school senior at the Westminster Schools in Atlanta, Kadadi is also an entrepreneur. He is the founder of ReycloTech, an app that uses interactive AI to inform the public on how best to recycle and repurpose plastics. He also serves as the lead developer at Fund-A-Box, a company that aspires to connect farmers and plant-growers with donors. Kadadi focused on the transformative potential of generative AI in marketing, product innovation, technology strategy, and the labor market. “The YALI fellows engaged with and offered suggestions on Kadadi’s initiatives,” notes Konsynski.

The session that rounded out the day featured Rajiv Garg, associate professor of information systems and operations management. Garg shared insights on how generative AI is transforming industries. “The YALI fellows were engaged from the beginning and eager to expand the boundaries of learning by discussing the social and policy implications of AI innovation,” Garg says.

YALI fellows on a visit to Microsoft’s Atlanta headquarters

Learning from Industry Leaders Across Atlanta

The following week, Konsynski joined the fellows at Clark Atlanta University to discuss disruptive technologies. The fellows also spent time at Microsoft’s and IBM’s Atlanta headquarters during their time in Atlanta. While at IBM, Goizueta alum, Deepa Krishnan 06MBA, vice president of Worldwide Delivery Services, IBM Software, led a discussion on IBM’s cloud and AI initiatives.

Konsynski spent several days with the YALI fellows during their time in Atlanta. He describes them as “a bright, creative, energetic and fun group,” adding, “they return home with a great impression of Goizueta.”

To learn more about YALI, visit https://yali.state.gov/

Goizueta Business School is proud to be an active participant in a variety of organizations and initiatives that support and promote diversity in business and higher education. Learn more about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives at Goizueta.

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Global Experiential Modules: A Gateway to Global Citizenship https://www.emorybusiness.com/2024/08/05/global-experiential-modules-a-gateway-to-global-citizenship/ Mon, 05 Aug 2024 21:57:43 +0000 https://www.emorybusiness.com/?p=33302 Goizueta Business School’s Global Experiential Modules (GEMs) program is a testament to the school’s commitment to fostering a global perspective among students. Offered three times a year, the program takes both Full-Time MBA and Evening MBA students to diverse locations worldwide, exposing them to international business environments and cultural experiences. This past May, the program […]

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Goizueta Business School’s Global Experiential Modules (GEMs) program is a testament to the school’s commitment to fostering a global perspective among students. Offered three times a year, the program takes both Full-Time MBA and Evening MBA students to diverse locations worldwide, exposing them to international business environments and cultural experiences. This past May, the program featured trips to Austria and Germany, South Korea, and South Africa, each with unique themes and focuses.

Cultivating Global Citizens

The program aims to expand Goizueta’s global footprint while providing students with rich, hands-on learning experiences. “Essentially, these programs are meant to open their eyes to opportunities they might not otherwise find globally,” says Megha Madan, senior associate director of Goizueta Global Strategy and Initiatives.

These trips are more than just academic excursions. They aim to cultivate global citizens by exposing students to various business practices, cultures, and opportunities. Through these experiences, students gain insights crucial for their future careers in the increasingly interconnected global market.

Each trip includes a mix of preparatory sessions, business visits, and cultural immersion. The program offers students a comprehensive understanding of the host country’s business landscape and cultural context.

Before departure, students attend sessions that prepare them for the trip, offering background on the destinations’ cultural, economic, and political climate. This preparation ensures that students are ready to engage meaningfully with their international experiences.

Along with business activities, students engage in cultural tours and excursions to better understand and appreciate the local way of life. “They do some cultural immersion, some tourism that allows them to really get a feel of the place that they’re visiting,” says Madan.

Excursions in South Africa include trips like visits to the site of Nelson Mandela’s imprisonment, the Nelson Mandela House & Family Museum, and the Apartheid Museum. In South Korea, participants can experience a baseball game at Jamsil Stadium or an outing to Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, an important cultural center originally built in 1376. Such activities augment the students’ global engagement with the historical context of their destinations while learning about local business.

Fostering Business Relationships Abroad

During the Global Experiential Modules, students also visit companies, often ones that have a relationship with Emory University, including those that sponsor MBA students. These visits provide firsthand insights into international business operations and strategies.

The South Africa trip, for example, includes a longstanding relationship with the Innovation Hub Pretoria, a government-funded innovation center. Here, students witness the full cycle of entrepreneurship, from incubation to product sales in local townships. “We actually go into one of the local townships. That allows students to see and purchase these products that have come out of this innovation,” says Madan.

They really felt like they understood what this relationship means to our institution and the impact it has on the local community as well.

Megha Madan

Such experiences make a lasting impression on students, helping them understand the real-world applications of their academic studies and the significant role of innovation in economic development.

Leveraging Goizueta’s Global Footprint

The locations for Global Experiential Modules are chosen strategically to leverage Emory’s existing global footprint. For instance, the South Korea trip benefits from the university’s active alumni network in the country and sponsored MBA programs. Meanwhile, the Austria and Germany trip is supported by an alumnus who is a third-generation business owner. “We have alumni activity and networking built into the program,” Madan says. This strategic selection ensures that students have robust support networks and opportunities for meaningful engagement during their trips.

It’s All About Enrichment

Feedback from students has been overwhelmingly positive. Many students report that these trips have profoundly influenced their perspectives on global business and career aspirations. Engaging with international entrepreneurs and business leaders, asking insightful questions, and participating in idea generation has been particularly impactful. “This is an academic experience, but for some of them, it’s a life-changing experience,” Madan says.

The success of the GEMs program is measured through student surveys. These are reviewed regularly to continuously improve the program. “It’s great to be able to see that and get that feedback from them directly. It really shows that these programs are impacting these students in a way that we hope,” says Madan. These evaluations reveal that students not only enjoy these trips but also find them academically and personally enriching.

An Experience to Remember

The GEMs program at Goizueta Business School is more than just an academic course. It’s it is a transformative experience that prepares students for leadership in a globalized world. The Global Experiential Modules combine rigorous academic preparation with real-world international experiences. This unique combination equips students with the knowledge, skills, and perspectives necessary to thrive in today’s interconnected business environment. The program’s success shines through in the enthusiastic feedback from students who return with a deeper understanding of global business and a renewed commitment to pursuing international opportunities.

Learn more about Goizueta’s global opportunities here.

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Meet Dipanjan Goon: MSBA Grad Looks to Unlock the Power of AI to Transform Business https://www.emorybusiness.com/2024/04/24/meet-deep-goon-msba-grad-looks-to-unlock-the-power-of-ai-to-transform-business/ Wed, 24 Apr 2024 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.emorybusiness.com/?p=31925 Before Dipanjan Goon 24MSBA came to Goizueta Business School, he was already putting his computer science degree to good use. He worked as an applied artificial intelligence analyst then consultant for Deloitte. Goon was a top performer during his time at Deloitte. He managed a team and helped companies successfully transition to cloud-based data storage. […]

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Before Dipanjan Goon 24MSBA came to Goizueta Business School, he was already putting his computer science degree to good use. He worked as an applied artificial intelligence analyst then consultant for Deloitte.

Goon was a top performer during his time at Deloitte. He managed a team and helped companies successfully transition to cloud-based data storage.

He also began to see the full scale—and impact—of artificial intelligence, particularly given the rise of generative AI, like ChatGPT.

“I was always privy to the potential impact of AI, but never how much,” explains Goon.

I wanted to learn more about this intriguing technology and see how it could boost my career. At the same time, I wanted to pursue a degree that put this technology in a business context and used it to solve real-world business problems.

Dipanjan Goon 24 MSBA

So, he came to Goizueta.

Applying Data to Business

The Master of Science in Business Analytics program at Goizueta is fast-paced: Students complete the degree in 10 months. In what can seem like a whirlwind environment, the first course of the semester is over within six weeks.

As Goon approaches the end of his degree, he has started to experience “ah-ha” moments, where the content just “clicks.” The program’s structure uses content from one class as the foundation for lessons in the next, and so on. Students don’t have time to forget the material before the next building block begins.

“It’s such a fast-moving program, and we’re learning so much information. But this structure helped me retain the information,” says Goon.

Goon says this structure also allows students to begin job hunting, recruiting, and interviewing early in the program—and with confidence.

“After our first class, we were well-versed in how to speak about data science and machine learning,” he recalls.

One of the reasons that Goon chose Goizueta over other programs was because of the focus on business context. It’s one thing to understand how AI and machine learning operate, but it’s more important—for Goon’s career and trajectory—to be able to apply that information to help a client solve a business problem. This pivotal difference is the hallmark of the program.

Classes like Managing Big Data and AI and ML at Scale have been pivotal for Goon. They have shown him how to take the seemingly hypothetical concepts learned in earlier, exploratory courses and begin to apply them to business situations. That is something that’s been particularly helpful as the class works on their capstone project.

We can derive the most complex mathematical formula. But if it doesn’t help the business that we’re working with, then it’s not what we want.

Dipanjan Goon 24MSBA

Goon’s post-graduation plan builds on his experiences at Goizueta—working with businesses. He hopes to find a job that allows him to use his new artificial intelligence and data science skills to solve business challenges and help companies grow.

A Global Life Experience

Before moving to Atlanta, Goon was working for Deloitte in Chicago. But before that, he was born in India, grew up in Nigeria, and went to college in Michigan.

To say that Goon values and appreciates diversity is an understatement. Beyond the small class size and the business application of the academics, Goon says the other reason he chose Goizueta was because of the level of diversity among cohorts. He says he has found comfort at Goizueta because he’s not the only one from out of state or out of country. Goon joined a cohort that represented 13 countries.

“I’ve always come into a place feeling like a guest,” says Goon.

I’ve not been a local, but when I came to Goizueta, the diversity was more tangible. All of us were in the same boat. We were all kind of international in some way, even the non-internationals.

Dipanjan Goon 24MSBA

Even Goon’s faculty made an effort to help students feel at home in a foreign-to-them city. Rajiv Garg, associate professor of information systems and operations management, held gatherings at his home for major holidays, especially those that international students were unable to travel home for.

“He’s been super helpful with the way he teaches a very tough course and also makes a point to check in on all of us,” says Goon.

From group projects and working on homework together to hanging out at KEGs each week, Goon says all of his interactions with others have made him feel more comfortable. He hopes this will help him adjust quickly wherever he lands next, too.

“For the first time, I didn’t feel like I needed time to fit in,” says Goon of his cohort. “At Goizueta, I found an extremely tight-knit community where everyone looks after one another.”

Congratulations to our Goizueta graduates! Learn more about the celebration and register for Goizueta’s Commencement activities.

Interested in pursuing a business degree? Learn more about the unique programs Goizueta has to offer.

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Students and Faculty Empower Biomedical Entrepreneurs in South Africa https://www.emorybusiness.com/2024/04/05/students-and-faculty-empower-biomedical-entrepreneurs-in-south-africa/ Sat, 06 Apr 2024 01:22:12 +0000 https://www.emorybusiness.com/?p=31749 For 16 years, faculty from Goizueta Business School have been traveling across the globe and spending a week in South Africa. “South Africa is a really interesting place to think about drug discovery because they have the most magnificent floral kingdom there,” explains Kristy Towry, John M. & Lucy Cook Chaired Professor of Accounting. This […]

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For 16 years, faculty from Goizueta Business School have been traveling across the globe and spending a week in South Africa.

“South Africa is a really interesting place to think about drug discovery because they have the most magnificent floral kingdom there,” explains Kristy Towry, John M. & Lucy Cook Chaired Professor of Accounting.

This potential for innovation was what launched the relationship between Emory University faculty and South Africa in 2008. Emory School of Medicine professor Dennis Liotta originally pulled together the partnership, though it has evolved over the decades. Goizueta faculty still continue to travel to South Africa and teach business skills to budding medical entrepreneurs. Now, though, the relationship has expanded to include MBA students, highlighting the importance of this Goizueta global initiative.  

Biomedical Background

Towry was in a classroom one summer, when Michael Sacks popped his head in and asked if she wanted to go teach in South Africa later that year.

It was an immediate yes from Towry—after she checked her calendar.

Towry with 2019 competition winners

“Going to Africa was a lifelong dream of mine,” she says.

In alignment with Goizueta’s emphasis on entrepreneurship and innovation, the faculty teach biomedical and medical entrepreneurs business basics. It’s a kind of crash course on how to launch a business idea and seek financial backing.

These individuals bring their ideas, medical devices, drug discoveries and cures to a competition. As part of the process, semi-finalists have the opportunity to participate in this weeklong executive education. They learn how to develop a business plan, the importance of team composition, and how to meet potential funders.

“The enthusiasm of the participants is absolutely contagious,” says Sacks, professor in the practice of organization and management, professor of sociology (by courtesy), and faculty director of Woodruff Leadership Academy.

Participating in our program is a huge deal to them, and they are completely invested in learning and applying what we teach. It’s incredible to see such quick learning of complex and challenging material.

Michael Sacks

In addition to Towry and Sacks, Steve Walton, professor in the practice of information systems and operations management, was another core faculty member who collaborated on the experience. More recently, Nikki Graves, associate professor in the practice of organization and management, and Sandy Jap have traveled across the globe to join.

Faculty members in South Africa in 2017

Jap, Sarah Beth Brown Professor of Marketing, has taken Evening MBA students to Cape Town as part of Goizueta’s Global Experience Modules (or GEMs). While there, the group meet with entrepreneurs. Jap found their perspectives fascinating. So, when Towry extended the invite, Jap signed on immediately.

“I thought it would be a great opportunity to complement my previous learnings about what it means to try to start a company in South Africa,” shares Jap.

Towry says every trip—and all the individuals she meets—inspire her.

As a business professor, I don’t often get to feel like what I do saves lives. But that is what happens in this program. We change the trajectories of the businesses we touch, many of which have life-saving potential.

Kristy Towry

“These are entrepreneurs, and yes, they want to make money. But across the board, their main inspiration is to change the world and improve and save the lives of Africans,” says Towry.

Goizueta’s Global Impact

Though things have looked a little different since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Goizueta faculty have interacted with hundreds of teams throughout the years. The competition is also now housed under The Innovation Hub, an agency of the Gauteng Province in South Africa.

“We greatly value the partnership with Emory’s Goizueta Business School through the executive education training in the Gauteng Accelerator Programme Innovation Competition,” shares Phuti Chelopo-Mgobozi, acting senior manager of bio-innovation.

We have created a platform that transcends borders, connecting local entrepreneurs with top-tier business teachers and mentors.

Phuti Chelopo-Mgobozi

“Goizueta is a strategic partner to The Innovation Hub due to its commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship through the holistic and interactive teaching approach,” says Chelopo-Mgobozi. “This brings fresh perspectives and expertise to our entrepreneurial ecosystem.”

The scope of the relationship continues to evolve and expand. Now, Goizueta MBA students act as judges in a virtual Shark Tank style competition for these entrepreneurs. This all takes place about a month after the weeklong executive education course.

In addition, MBA students make the trek to South Africa as part of Global Experiential Modules in the spring. There, they meet with the Innovation Hub leadership as well as the competition participants and winners.

Many South African entrepreneurs worked with Towry, Sacks, and Walton in previous years. The Goizueta MBA students get the chance to see how that education has impacted their entrepreneurial journey—how Goizueta’s partnership has impacted these individuals’ lives.

As Goizueta looks to the future of this relationship, it’s one that’s robust, comprehensive, and ever-evolving.

“We are utilizing these relationships as opportunities to say ‘Are there ways for us to connect our faculty with other researchers, for co-authoring, or for collaborative research grants?’” says Megha Madan, senior associate director of Goizueta Global Strategy and Initiatives.

Keeping these relationships really shows the depth that Goizueta has and the impact on our students, staff, and faculty as global citizens.

Megha Madan

“We are investing in Emory’s commitment to using knowledge to improve human well-being and a global perspective on the human condition.”

Goizueta’s global strategy is designed to equip students to meet the opportunities and challenges of an increasingly interconnected world, empower faculty to lead and influence global scholarship and research, and position Goizueta as a school known for its global impact. Learn more here.

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Going Global Starts at Goizueta https://www.emorybusiness.com/2023/12/07/going-global-starts-at-goizueta/ Thu, 07 Dec 2023 18:12:20 +0000 https://www.emorybusiness.com/?p=30442 From international modules designed to foster global perspectives to renowned faculty research shaping countries around the world, and on-campus educational opportunities for young leaders from dozens of countries, Goizueta is building on its strong foundation of global impact and expanding global reach. “Goizueta is doubling down on global,” says Brian Mitchell, associate dean of full-time […]

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From international modules designed to foster global perspectives to renowned faculty research shaping countries around the world, and on-campus educational opportunities for young leaders from dozens of countries, Goizueta is building on its strong foundation of global impact and expanding global reach.

“Goizueta is doubling down on global,” says Brian Mitchell, associate dean of full-time MBA programs and Goizueta Global Strategy and Initiatives.

The key to driving global impact? “Relentless collaboration,” Mitchell says. “The strategy is fueled by collaborations that help us create value for Goizueta. We’re delivering programs that are more interdisciplinary.” That requires a deeper level of partnership not only across Emory’s campus, but with Goizueta’s partners across the globe. To that end, Goizueta is working to strengthen existing partnerships with university entities, including Global Strategy and Initiatives, Atlanta Global Partnerships, and Advancement & Alumni Engagement. It’s doing likewise with organizations such as Partnerships in International Management (PIM), a consortium of top business schools around the world.

“We are creating programs and opportunities for students to be global citizens, global business leaders,” says Megha Madan, senior associate director of Goizueta Global Strategy and Initiatives.

Italy & France: Decoding Wine Markets

Giacomo Negro

For more than a decade, Giacomo Negro, professor of organization and management, has researched wine markets in Italy and France. After interviewing more than 100 winemakers, critics, journalists, restaurant owners, and retailers in Piedmont, Tuscany, and Alsace, Negro and his co-authors Michael T. Hannan and Susan Olzak of Stanford University released, “Wine Markets: Genres & Identities.” The book describes how wine genres help reduce the great diversity of products and producers in the market and how collective identities from wine genres help producers organize their interests. The research focused on winemaking, but authors note the findings can “inform studies of all kinds of organizational settings in which market partitions like genres create new collective identities and boundaries.”

Osh, Kyrgyzstan: Transforming Kyrgyzstan’s Education

Aselia Kupueva 99BBA with students at Kupuev Academy in Osh, Kyrgyzstan

In 2019, Aselia Kupueva 99BBA co-founded Kupuev Academy in Osh, the southern capital of Kyrgyzstan. With more than 500 students and 80 full-time staff, Kupuev Academy is one of the top schools in Kyrgyzstan. The primary through high school curriculum focuses on math and science, Russian and English language, and IT. Elective courses and extracurricular activities, such as debate, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and media, are designed to emphasize creativity and critical thinking. This September, the school will open a new building with 20 additional classrooms.

Atlanta, USA: African Leaders Explore Emerging Technologies

Young African Leaders Institute (YALI) fellows during their visit at Goizueta.

This July, two dozen Young African Leaders Institute (YALI) fellows from 18 African countries visited Goizueta to learn about emerging technologies. The event was hosted by Benn Konsynski, George S. Craft Distinguished University Professor of Information Systems & Operations Management. It featured sessions by Goizueta faculty and a team from Microsoft. Topics included ChatGPT and the future of work.

International Modules Broaden Horizons, Bolster Careers

In May, students from across MBA cohorts visited South Korea, South Africa, Germany, and Austria. They trips are part of Goizueta’s Global Experience Modules (GEMs). These modules introduce students to business practices and challenges on a global scale. Students not only experience cultural immersion, but walk away with practical business knowledge they can use in their careers.

Students on a GEMs trip to South Korea

Seoul, South Korea: Exploring the International Film Industry

During this GEM trip, students were treated to an intimate lunch with alumnus Woo Taek Kim 90MBA. Kim is founder and CEO, Next Entertainment World (NEW). He has also served as executive producer of dozens of films, many reaching global audiences. Students toured Haedong Younggungsa Temple while on the tip. They also learned about technological innovations in South Korea through a lecture from Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology.

Germany & Austria: Lessons in Business and History

In Vienna, students visited manufacturing company Asamer, run by alumnus Manfred Asamer 86MBA, to discuss business strategy. A visit to Mauthausen Concentration Camp reinforced that the absence of principled leadership can have tragic consequences.

Cape Town, South Africa: Learning from Local Entrepreneurs

Students at the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa

Goizueta students traveled to South Africa and engaged in a number of experiential learning opportunities. Their journey began in Cape Town and extended to Johannesburg, South Africa’s industrial and financial center. There, the students visited Emory’s longtime partner, the Gauteng Provincial Government Innovation Hub. The organization was established to promote the region’s economic development and competitiveness by fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. Students met with local entrepreneurs and heard about how the Innovation Hub helped them grow their businesses.

Antigua, Guatemala: Coffee’s Climate Implications

Touring a coffee farm in Guatemala.

As part of the specialty coffee programs for Goizueta’s Business & Society Institute, a group of BBA and MBA students visited specialty coffee growing communities in Guatemala. Students toured coffee farms to learn about the climate implications of coffee production. They also spoke to local farmers about the injustices in the coffee supply chain.

Cairo, Egypt: Attending the United Nations Convention on Climate Change

Danni Dong 23MBA 23PH in Egypt.

Last fall, a delegation of Emory undergraduate and graduate students—including Danni Dong 23MBA 23PH—attended the first week of the United Nations (U.N.) Framework Convention on Climate Change in Egypt. As official U.N. observers, the students sat in on negotiations and co-hosted a panel discussion, “Youth: From Resistance to Power,” in conjunction with the Climate Justice Program. Young activists from Pakistan, Kenya, Mexico, and the Philippines also took part in the discussion.

British Virgin Islands: A Lesson in Leadership on the High Seas

One of the premier leadership development programs for Full-Time MBA students is Goizueta’s Advanced Leadership Academy’s curriculum. It takes place in the spring semester of the students’ final year. One of the highlights of the program is a weeklong sailing trip in the British Virgin Islands. Gen. Ken Keen and Professor JB Kurish lead the trip. On a 50-foot sailboat, students serve in several roles— captain, cook, helmsman—and face a unique challenge each day. Students hone their listening and communication abilities and put the problem-solving skills they learned in the classroom to the test in an unfamiliar and intense environment.

Durban, South Africa: Applying Multi-Disciplinary Training to Maximize Healthcare Impact in Africa

AHIA workshop in Durban, South Africa

Advancing Healthcare Innovation in Africa (AHIA) is a 15-year-old Emory-based program. It leverages multi-disciplinary faculty and students to facilitate workshops for African startups. AHIA aims to maximize the impact that these startups make on local healthcare systems across Africa. Over the past year, AHIA has led workshops in Durban, South Africa, as well as Cairo, Egypt. Over 200 African entrepreneurs and graduate students have participated in the workshops. AHIA also runs virtual training and educational programs on the business aspects of building and scaling health-related social enterprises.

Goizueta’s global strategy is designed to be flexible in order to adapt to new opportunities and a changing geopolitical and higher education landscape. Meant to serve as a framework for Goizueta’s global engagement, the strategy outlines initiatives designed to equip students to meet the opportunities and challenges of an increasingly interconnected world, empower faculty to lead and influence global scholarship and research, and position Goizueta as a school known for its global impact. Learn more about how Goizueta is going global.

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Preparing the Workers of the Future https://www.emorybusiness.com/2023/11/02/preparing-the-workers-of-the-future/ Thu, 02 Nov 2023 19:30:19 +0000 https://www.emorybusiness.com/?p=30020 The future of work. What does it mean? For some, thoughts of artificial intelligence, doom and gloom, or robots taking over the world might come to mind. After all, it’s the age of generative AI—a seemingly magical technology that can create artwork, write papers, or build code—all within seconds. Where do humans fit in? Goizueta […]

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The future of work. What does it mean?

For some, thoughts of artificial intelligence, doom and gloom, or robots taking over the world might come to mind. After all, it’s the age of generative AI—a seemingly magical technology that can create artwork, write papers, or build code—all within seconds.

Where do humans fit in?

Goizueta Business School graduates fit in everywhere. The future of work is an exciting prospect, and they are ready for it. These workers of the future are embracing their passions and pursuing multiple careers, making business decisions for the betterment of society, leveraging technology to enhance their
skills, and learning how to lead dispersed, remote teams.

Goizueta graduates don’t fear the future. They embrace it.

The Value of High-Tech Skills

“Technology is what it is, and we have to keep up with it and be familiar with the latest tools, but at the end of the day, the theory is a theory. [We] know the underlying math that goes into AI and that enables us to make informed decisions that will eventually make an impact on whatever project we’re working on,” says Sebastian Peña 19BBA 20MSBA, a management consultant for Accenture.

Recently, Peña faced having to write JavaScript, a language he doesn’t know, for a client. He planned on taking a course, but with the popularity of generative AI (like ChatGPT), Peña decided to turn to tech. Armed with a basic understanding of how to write code, Peña leveraged AI to fill in the gaps. A task that would have taken Peña several weeks took an hour.

Being a worker of the future means utilizing available tools to amplify your existing skills, he says.

“It’s easy to imagine a dystopian future, where most jobs are automated and workers disappear, but I think our students today are equipped to imagine a future where technology instead enables more prosperity and sustainability,” says Wes Longhofer, associate professor of organization and management, associate professor of sociology (by courtesy), and executive academic director of Goizueta’s Business & Society Institute. “If they can imagine it, then they can create it.”

Gathering the Data Points of Your Career

Research shows that younger generations find job-hopping beneficial. Multiple careers are—and will continue to be—the norm. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that, in September 2022, employees stayed with their current jobs an average of four years. This is especially true for younger generations.

Urvi Bhandari 99BBA 06MBA has no problem admitting that many of her career choices were directly tied to what was going on in her personal life at the time. That’s not to say her decisions weren’t driven by her professional aspirations. But they were equally tied to what was best for her, whether it was working for AT&T, The Coca-Cola Company, IBM, or Walmart—or being a nomad while in her executive roles.

“I want people to understand that life matters,” says Urvi, executive career coach and co-founder of peppercorn.ai.

The premise of Peppercorn.ai is to remove resumes from the equation and focus on the candidate. Rather than having prospective employees mold their story to fit a job description, the platform revolves around supporting the candidate to have clarity and confidence in their journey.

“We make business decisions with data points. Why don’t we make decisions for ourselves based on data points?” argues Urvi. “The world is changing. There is no one way to approach a career.’”

“Workers of the future are no longer going to be doing things because ‘that’s what the path is.’ There is no path,” Urvi continues. “People are making their own paths by taking control of articulating who they are, knowing where they’re going, and marketing what they offer.”

Forward Facing: How Business and Society Can (and Should) Mingle

Longhofer has nothing but optimism for the workers of the future and what they can accomplish for businesses—and for society.

Goizueta's Wes Longhofer
Wes Longhofer

Generation Z values a business’s societal and cultural impact, sometimes over salary and benefits, according to research by Deloitte. A vast majority (77 percent) of respondents cited social activism, and the evidence of it, as a high priority when deciding whether to work for a company. Workers of the future want companies with good values and ethics and a commitment to confronting societal issues, such as sustainability, climate change, and hunger.

As technology and AI advance at an unprecedented pace, workers of the future will be the ones who remind us that human flourishing and planetary survival are still essential.

Wes Longhofer

Workers of the future will have to combine their analytical and technological skills with creative solutions to address business needs. “It’s not enough to optimize your supply chain for peak efficiency. You also need to embed human rights into it and report your scope 3 emissions,” says Longhofer.

As complex as these challenges might sound, students at Goizueta are already rising to the occasion. The Business & Society Institute embeds this system-thinking approach into classes, experiential learning, global modules, directed studies, clubs, conferences, and case competitions. Students are being introduced to climate change and inequality. They’re given ample opportunities—in a variety of formats—to put their skills to the test in safe, supported environments before bringing their knowledge and ideas to their future companies.

The Power of People Skills

Ken Keen
Ken Keen

Workers of the future need not only the technical skills learned in class, but also soft skills. Whether a company conducts business in person or operates remotely, leaders of today and tomorrow must know how to lead through a screen and across time zones.

“The human factor of leading becomes increasingly important in a complex, uncertain, and volatile world where you’re not just leading in person anymore,” says Lieutenant General USA (Ret.) Ken Keen, associate dean for leadership and associate professor in the practice of organization and management.

As technology continues to advance, managers and executives must also know how to lead those whose technical knowledge surpasses their own. Whether you’re the chief financial officer or chief operating officer, you must know how to lead a league of people with varying skill levels.

Brian Mitchell
Brian Mitchell

“Every business is a people business,” says Brian Mitchell, associate dean of the Full-Time MBA programs and Goizueta Global Strategy and Initiatives. “You have to be able to relate to people and be relatable. A great leader cannot lead one way and expect everyone else to conform. They have to be able to manage many different work styles and personalities.”

Adapting to the Shifting Landscape

In addition to learning how to manage across styles and personalities, growth is key. That’s where continued education comes into play, shares Nicola Barrett, Goizueta’s chief corporate learning officer. “Changes in both technology and societal expectations require anyone in business to adopt new skills, approaches, and mindsets. They must become digitally fluent and to re-create their playbook to see, design, and unlock new growth opportunities. Emory Executive Education works with organizations and their professionals to develop these critical capabilities to catalyze new growth possibilities.”

Goizueta's Nicola Barrett
Nicola Barrett

Goizueta’s leadership is also constantly reviewing and tweaking its programs. The undergraduate BBA program, led by Andrea Hershatter, senior associate dean of undergraduate education and associate professor in the practice of organization and management, launched adjustments following a deep review in order to remain relevant to the latest scholarly research, recruiter and business needs, and alumni feedback.

“The revised curriculum enhances our ability to equip our students for an increasingly data-driven world in which the outcomes of business decisions are multifaceted and far-reaching. It simultaneously helps us build our student competencies and address their desire to create individualized and customized academic experiences,” says Hershatter.

Andrea Hershatter

The school’s highly ranked MBA program is next. One of the focus areas of the review is enhancing the global nature of the program, more deeply weaving experiential learning into the curriculum, rather than treating such opportunities as optional additions to the standard MBA track. 

“So much of the work of the future is going to happen irrespective of borders,” shares Mitchell. “Workers of the future are going to be global by definition.”

Gaining Global Perspectives

For Evan Lyons 22MBA, being global is inherent. Lyons learned to walk in England, and played soccer in Brazil as a teenager. He participated in an exchange program, then internship in France, and met his wife in Mexico. He can speak English, French, and Spanish fluently and has a working knowledge of German and Portuguese.

Lyons found immense value from his global experiences when he owned his own consulting company. He now uses that experience in his job as an investment banker for Bank of America. Lyon tries to begin meetings in the language of the country he’s in. He always downloads the local holiday calendar to be aware of how the area’s cultural traditions might impact workflow.

MBA graduates and workers of the future have to understand the global perspective because most major companies are global. If you want to rise up in any organization in any industry, you have to be able to understand where the company is playing, how to build relationships across cultures, and develop strategies that can flex and work in other places.

Evan Lyons 22 MBA

This diverse perspective—and the willingness to meet people where they are—builds relationships and strengthens leadership skills. Both of these are critical skills for workers of the future.

“The future is now for all of these things. They’re incremental steps. They are small innovations that lead to big innovations and big changes,” says Lyons. “The workers of tomorrow, the leaders of the future, they are in the workplace today.”

Interested in pursuing a business degree? Learn more about the unique programs Goizueta has to offer.

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Meet Maria Fernanda Genie: The Globetrotting MBA Student Transforming her Family’s Pharmaceutical Company   https://www.emorybusiness.com/2023/10/13/meet-maria-fernanda-genie-the-globetrotting-mba-student-transforming-her-familys-pharmaceutical-company/ Fri, 13 Oct 2023 21:24:15 +0000 https://www.emorybusiness.com/?p=29895 Driven by a passion for learning, Maria Fernanda Genie 24MBA takes any opportunity to expand her knowledge, often with a global approach.  “I am ambitious,” Genie says. “I always want to know more.”  Originally from Honduras, Genie sought out an undergraduate education at Georgetown University, diversifying her studies with majors in marketing and management and […]

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Driven by a passion for learning, Maria Fernanda Genie 24MBA takes any opportunity to expand her knowledge, often with a global approach. 

“I am ambitious,” Genie says. “I always want to know more.” 

Originally from Honduras, Genie sought out an undergraduate education at Georgetown University, diversifying her studies with majors in marketing and management and a minor in theology. She spent semesters abroad in Hong Kong and Barcelona. 

After traveling to Japan for a post-graduation trip, Genie worked at a cybersecurity firm in San Francisco. Then, after a year in California, she relocated to Mexico City to help build the company’s Mexico office. After six months in Mexico, Genie returned to her Honduran family business, Henie Farma, a pharmaceutical company founded by her father and grandfather that manufactures and distributes branded generic medications. 

Genie created and manages Henie’s marketing department, transforming the business from largely door-to-door sales by creating more focused marketing strategies and digitizing company processes. 

“I brought my knowledge of common U.S. business practices, technologies, and tools back home,” she says. 

A Small Class Packs a Big Punch

After Genie got married, she honeymooned in South Africa before moving to Atlanta—six minutes from Emory’s campus. She always imagined earning her MBA but didn’t know when she would return to school. After seeing Emory around town, she decided to apply. 

“I want to have bigger oversight of the family business,” Genie says. “I want to learn more about operation, strategy and management. Because I specialized in marketing, and that’s what I’ve practiced throughout my career, I became pigeonholed into marketing. I want to gain more experience in other mindsets.” 

Now several months into Goizueta’s One-year MBA, Genie reflects that the program is intense, but her 42-person class feels intimate. 

My class is half international, half American, so you can just imagine the difference in perspectives and cultures. It’s not only what you learn in the classroom, but what you learn from your classmates. 

Maria Fernanda Genie

“The professors know your name, where you’re from, what you want to do, so they tailor the information,” Genie says.

Global Ambitions

Genie says Henie Farma has a lot of opportunities for growth. One of her aspirations is to expand the company to include a skincare line. 

Genie will continue to work for the company remotely from Atlanta—taking any chance to travel back home or elsewhere. 

“I like to learn about different cultures, and the best way to do that is traveling—eating from different cultures, talking to people about their cultures,” Genie says.  

So far, Genie has visited 38 countries, and says India and Korea are next, after having met several Emory peers from the two countries. 

Her involvement with the family business alone will keep her moving. 

“Our medicines are manufactured in Honduras, but really the only part that’s Honduran is labor,” she says. “Pretty much everything else is from a different part of the world. Our supply chain is extremely global. There’s always traveling in business.” 

Whether you’re looking to accelerate your career or make a career pivot, our full-time One-Year MBA and Two-Year MBA programs and part-time Evening MBA and Executive MBA programs, prepare you to challenge business as usual and become the innovators who disrupt it. Learn more here. 

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MSBA Doubles Size with New AI Track and Globally Diverse Cohort https://www.emorybusiness.com/2023/08/22/msba-doubles-size-with-new-ai-track-and-globally-diverse-cohort/ Tue, 22 Aug 2023 22:24:43 +0000 https://www.emorybusiness.com/?p=29217 A hallmark of any prestigious academic program is continuous improvement: For the last several years, the team behind the Master of Science in Business Analytics at Goizueta Business School has been hard at work. Not only has the program launched a new AI in Business track, but the team has also focused on making the […]

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A hallmark of any prestigious academic program is continuous improvement: For the last several years, the team behind the Master of Science in Business Analytics at Goizueta Business School has been hard at work. Not only has the program launched a new AI in Business track, but the team has also focused on making the program more globally diverse and doubled the size of its incoming class.

“We want our students to enjoy a global experience because this allows for representation across the world,” shares Ramnath Chellappa, associate dean and academic director of Goizueta’s MS in Business Analytics program and professor of information systems and operations management.

Ram Chellappa speaks to Goizueta's MSBA class of 2024
Ramnath Chellappa, associate dean and academic director, MS in Business Analytics, welcoming the class of 2024.

An untapped pool of future labor lives in Africa, says Chellappa. In countries like Rwanda, graduate students are well-trained in the technical and qualitative side of AI, but when they come to a program, such as Goizueta’s MSBA, they gain the valuable business acumen needed to truly succeed in this field.

The strategy for admitting qualified students from Africa took shape a couple of years ago and was designed with the help of alumnus Zed Kamurase 22MSBA, who is from Rwanda. Kamurase identified Carnegie Mellon University’s Rwanda campus as preparatory for potential Goizueta candidates. 

“Involving this labor force with the current population of students puts us a step ahead because the workforce of Africa is what we’ll be seeing a few years down the road,” says Chellappa. “These students add to the educational environment of not only the MSBA program, but also of Goizueta.”

With more than 100 students in the MSBA class of 2024, students represent 13 countries, are 40 percent women and 73 percent minority among those coming from the U.S.

More than 40 percent of students bring work experience to the program, with several students participating in a dual MSBA/MBA degree, uniquely offered at Goizueta.

MSBA All Stars

Meet Brice Munvunui 24MSBA: The Engineer

Brice Muvunyi 24MSBA heard about Goizueta’s MSBA program through friends and Goizueta graduates. Muvunyi was particularly interested in the program’s accelerated, fast-paced nature, as it provides students with the opportunity to really focus on what’s important for 10 months, soaking up all they can from their peers, faculty, and other experiences, he says.

“As a software engineer, I’ve gained substantial expertise in building and maintaining systems, but to leverage these technical skills to their fullest potential, I need to understand how to use these systems to influence business decisions,” says Muvunyi. “The program’s emphasis on hands-on learning and real-world applications appeal to me, as they are vital complements to academic learning.”

Joining Goizueta from Rwanda, Muvunyi is looking forward to the networking opportunities that a global, tech-centric city like Atlanta has to offer, the chance to collaborate with companies through their semester-long analytics practicum, and (of course) Atlanta’s food scene.

Meet Miral Faraz 24MSBA: The Fulbright Scholar

Ever the researcher, when Miral Faraz 24MSBA decided she was ready for graduate school to further her dreams of working in business consulting, she turned to the best, most reliable source of information: the Goizueta alumni network.

“While researching the best business schools in the world, Goizueta consistently emerged as one of the top choices,” says Faraz, who’s been searching for the right place to take her next career step from her home in Pakistan. “The conversations with alumni were instrumental in solidifying my decision to apply.”

Faraz is looking forward to strengthening her leadership skills, building confidence in her own abilities and talents, learning to trust her decision-making, and ultimately, learning how to create “sustainable, data-informed strategies” that benefit both business and society, such as what’s offered through Goizueta’s Business & Society Institute.

“What makes Goizueta different from other schools is its emphasis on developing well-rounded professionals, which goes beyond technical skills,” says Faraz. “What excites me the most is the emphasis placed on effective communication and the application of analytical insights to tackle real-world business challenges. Being able to articulate data-driven recommendations and strategies with clarity and conviction is crucial in making a meaningful impact as an analytics professional.”

For Faraz and the rest of this year’s cohort, the MSBA program at Goizueta is the stepping stone towards these future career goals.

Want to learn more about the MS in Business Analytics? Read about how you can become a business data scientist.

Check out more scenes from the MSBA Class of 2024’s orientation below:

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Young African Leaders Initiative Visits Goizueta https://www.emorybusiness.com/2023/08/04/young-african-leaders-initiative-visits-goizueta/ Fri, 04 Aug 2023 20:24:53 +0000 https://www.emorybusiness.com/?p=28994 This July, two dozen entrepreneurs from 18 African countries spent a day at Goizueta Business School as part of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). Created in 2010 through a partnership between President Barack Obama and Nelson Mandela, YALI’s aim is to further empower young African leaders through academic coursework, leadership training, mentoring, networking, and […]

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This July, two dozen entrepreneurs from 18 African countries spent a day at Goizueta Business School as part of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).

Created in 2010 through a partnership between President Barack Obama and Nelson Mandela, YALI’s aim is to further empower young African leaders through academic coursework, leadership training, mentoring, networking, and follow-up support. Each year, approximately 1000 YALI fellows spend six weeks in the U.S. studying one of three academic tracks: business and entrepreneurship, civic leadership, or public management. The entrepreneurs who visit Atlanta are hosted by Clark Atlanta University and, as part of their time in the city, spend a day at Goizueta.

Coordinated by Benn Konsynski, George S. Craft Professor of Information Systems & Operations Management, the fellows attended several sessions led by Goizueta faculty as well as a team from Microsoft, including Bo Beaudion, director, transformation strategy; Brad Allen, cloud solution architect; Sanjeev Devarapalli, principal data & AI solutions architect; and Azim Manjee, principal cloud endpoint technical specialist. Topics included augmented and virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and the future of work, as well as monetization trends.

Beaudion kicked off the slate of sessions, speaking to the fellows about the power of technological transformation. “At the end of the day, you have to understand what the cloud is and its value contribution and what role it might play not only in your own business, but in your community and in your country,” he said, underscoring the fact that transformative thinking—doing what’s never been done before “is based on vision, but it can’t be manifested without technology.” The members of the Microsoft team highlighted several of the company’s technological offerings, including Azure, Copilot and its VR tool, HoloLens. “The YALI group was quite interested in the incorporation of AI into the work process,” Konsynski said.

Saloni Vastani, associate professor in the practice of marketing, led a session on monetization trends. “Saloni’s material was critical and informative to these entrepreneurs,” explained Konsynski. “Each of the fellows has an evolving business and is concerned with patterns of pricing, subscription, and transactional relationships.”

During lunch, several faculty members and Goizueta alumni visited with the fellows, including Anandhi Bharadwaj, Goizueta endowed chair in electronic commerce of information systems and operations management, Nana Ama Yankah 13MBA, founder and CEO, NAYA by Africa. Yankah is from Ghana. “Nana works back down the chain helping women farmers in her quality materials sourcing,” said Konsysnski. “Several fellows were particularly happy to engage her in discussion.”

Other alumni included Will Hicks 15MBA, director, digital support and transformation for global services, Baxter International, Vipul Bhatnagar 21EMBA, associate vice president, Coforge, and Joycelyn Streator 03MBA 10PhD, senior fellow, Mozilla Foundation, and director, The Chevron Leadership Academy and professor of practice, Prairie View A&M University.

After lunch, a group of students from Africa who are in the MS in Business Analytics (MSBA) program joined the fellows outside for a drone demonstration. In addition to exposing the students to image recognition, tracking, stabilization, pathing, and autonomous flight, the demonstration gave the fellows a chance to connect with current MSBA students—two of whom had applied to be YALI fellows.

The following week, Konsynski joined the fellows to deliver a session on technology transforming strategic options.

To learn more about YALI, visit https://yali.state.gov/

Check out more photos from this year’s YALI visit to Goizueta below:

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Goizueta Students Travel the World to Expand Their Knowledge of Global Business, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation https://www.emorybusiness.com/2023/07/18/goizueta-students-travel-the-world-to-expand-their-knowledge-of-global-business-entrepreneurship-and-innovation/ Tue, 18 Jul 2023 21:49:28 +0000 https://www.emorybusiness.com/?p=28727 This May, three groups of Goizueta Business School students traveled to Germany and Austria, South Africa, and South Korea to experience revolutionary business practices, innovations, and technology on a global scale. These three Global Experiential Modules (GEMs)—part of Global Strategy and Initiatives—delivered both Full-Time MBA and Evening MBA students a diverse range of experiences that […]

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This May, three groups of Goizueta Business School students traveled to Germany and Austria, South Africa, and South Korea to experience revolutionary business practices, innovations, and technology on a global scale.

These three Global Experiential Modules (GEMs)—part of Global Strategy and Initiatives—delivered both Full-Time MBA and Evening MBA students a diverse range of experiences that included in-depth discussions with global business leaders, facility tours, and immersive cultural experiences. Previous GEMs trip have included expeditions in Brazil, Colombia, India, Israel, Japan, United Arab Emirates, The Netherlands, and Norway.

This year’s GEMs trips were specifically designed to equip students with the critical thinking skills and background they need to meet the challenges of an increasingly globally-minded and interconnected world. Faculty leaders who attended were also empowered to lead and influence global scholarship, as well as research and connect with peers and alumni throughout the world, while participating.

This year, we met and collaborated with business leaders and institutional partners in four countries, and our students walked away with practical business knowledge and memorable experiences that they’ll be able to apply to their own careers after graduation.

Megha Madan

“Each of our engagements is strategically planned to give students an impactful and educational global experience,” said Megha Madan, senior associate director of Goizueta Global Strategy and Initiatives.

Students Learn from South African Entrepreneurs Who Inspire, Innovate, and Empower

Goizueta students on the GEMs trip to South Africa immersed themselves in the country’s culture and beauty while engaging in a multitude of experiential learning opportunities. When asked what she would take away from the journey, Franzene Minott 24EvMBA said, “I hoped to gain deeper insight into South Africa’s history, specifically how the residual impacts of the apartheid affect today’s business landscape, especially for Black entrepreneurs. I want to better understand the work being done to support and empower innovation across communities.”

Goizueta students on the GEMs trip to South Africa.

The excursion began in Cape Town, a continental leader for Africa and South Africa’s most-visited city. The culturally rich, laid-back atmosphere provided the ideal landscape for students to absorb helpful insight and business acumen from entrepreneurs who are already achieving success in the region.

Over the next several days, students participated in a trip to Robben Island, considered a beacon for freedom and hope made famous by Nelson Mandela’s imprisonment. Several days later, the group moved on to Johannesburg, a center of industry with a reputation for producing cutting-edge ideas, where they dove into lessons on the local economy.

Students learn from Innovation Hub entrepreneurs.

The highlight of the trip for many was meeting with global business leaders at The Innovation Hub, a government agency that fosters local entrepreneurship, economic advancement, and continued learning in the Gauteng Province. Emory faculty have collaborated with the organization for years, but this was the first-time students had the opportunity to engage directly with entrepreneurs, further strengthening Emory’s relationship with the groundbreaking agency.

There, students met with a group of local entrepreneurs to learn about their business ownership journeys. When asked how the experience impacted her, Minott said, “Hearing [the entrepreneurs’] stories and learning more about their existing support structures helped me rethink what equitable partnerships and support from outside institutions might look like.”

In Johannesburg, students also explored Soweto, the largest black residential area in South Africa, visited the Apartheid Museum, and experienced the Nelson Mandela House & Family Museum. Each excursion added layers of context to the country’s political environment.

“Visiting South Africa provided me with a new set of cultural competencies to better conduct business in a globalized world. Having a more nuanced understanding of some of the norms and customs will help me throughout my career, but also now in my current role within Emory’s Office of Global Strategy and Initiatives when I engage partners in South Africa,” said Minott.

Diving into History, Culture, and Innovation in South Korea’s Lush Landscape

In Seoul, South Korea, students quickly acclimated to the region’s dichotomous seaside culture and the hustle-and-bustle of the city. Important historical context was prevalent even during sightseeing adventures, as Seoul’s position as the country’s capital city–and mere 313-kilometer distance from North Korea–is impossible to forget while exploring its stunning terrain.

Among other activities, trip participants were able to catch a baseball game at Jamsil Stadium, which highlighted some of the parallels between South Korea and the United States. Baseball, in particular, is an important pastime in both countries, as students observed firsthand while rooting for their favorite team. Similarly, a company visit in Seoul with alumni and Sheth Distinguished International Alumni Award recipient Woo Taek Kim 90MBA allowed students a peek into the inner workings of a local business. Kim is the founder and CEO of Next Entertainment World (NEW) and has executively produced over 63 films and 13 dramas, many of which have reached global audiences.

The trip was capped off with a brief stint in Busan, where the MBA students learned to cook the local cuisine and toured sites like the Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, an important cultural center originally built in 1376 and reworked in the 1930s. Due to the trip’s proximity to Buddha’s birthday, the temple was decked out in paper lanterns to celebrate the occasion.

Thanks to varied cultural and business-focused experiences, students boarded their plane at the end of the trip understanding that business doesn’t exist in a bubble. Cultural context always plays a part in the successes and failures of entrepreneurial pursuits.

Goizueta Students Learn About Business Strategy, Manufacturing, and Technology in Austria and Germany

As soon as the students visiting Germany and Austria arrived in Vienna, they hit the ground running. Their first day involved an early-morning visit to Asamer, a local company helmed by alumni Manfred Asamer 86MBA, who discussed business strategy in the manufacturing space with the students.

Visiting Asamer

Amogh Guru 24MBA shared, “Amidst visits to iconic companies in Germany, discovering cultural ties to business under the guidance of Professor Renée Dye in a tighter and more engaged group was a bonus. I expect this experience will help me appreciate our similarities and differences across cultural divides.”

Trip participants later toured the Mauthausen Concentration Camp, which operated from 1938 to 1945. This particular camp was at the center of a system of over 40 subcamps and acted as the main site of political, social, and racial persecution by the National Socialist Program on Austrian territory. Although this portion of the trip was emotionally challenging, students walked away with a clear understanding of how political movements have indelible real-world consequences.

Guru noted, “The most unforgettable part of my trip was our time at Mauthausen Camp in Austria. Our tour guide asked us to set aside the emotion associated with a concentration camp and instead get into the minds of the perpetrators and silent spectators, who committed or allowed crimes to be committed in their vicinity.” Guru continued, “He made me wonder how much of that mindset can be seen in today’s corporate world and what I could do to make it better.”

Interested in learning more about Goizueta’s global programs? Learn more here or reach out to Goizueta.Global@emory.edu.

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Dinner Around the World: MBA Student Creates Dinner Series Celebrating Diversity https://www.emorybusiness.com/2023/05/15/dinner-around-the-world-mba-student-creates-dinner-series-celebrating-diversity/ Mon, 15 May 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.emorybusiness.com/?p=27800 Goizueta Business School students are notoriously innovative—impervious to roadblocks. So when Yaa Bema Tutu 23MBA/MPH found herself consistently unable to secure a spot within Brian Mitchell’s coveted dinner series (simply due to its popularity), she decided to create her own version. Whereas Mitchell, associate dean of the Full-Time MBA program and Goizueta Global Strategy and […]

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Goizueta Business School students are notoriously innovative—impervious to roadblocks. So when Yaa Bema Tutu 23MBA/MPH found herself consistently unable to secure a spot within Brian Mitchell’s coveted dinner series (simply due to its popularity), she decided to create her own version.

Yaa Bema Tutu

Whereas Mitchell, associate dean of the Full-Time MBA program and Goizueta Global Strategy and Initiatives, gives students an article to read then discuss over dinner, Tutu wanted to create an opportunity for students from multiple programs to get together, while also exploring the Atlanta area.

“The dinner table is such an interesting place to meet people. It’s intimate, but it’s not so intimate that you’re baring your entire soul,” jokes Tutu.

The act of sharing a meal and discussing a range of topics encourages diversity of thought.

Yaa Bema Tutu 23MBA/MPH

Gathering Through Global Grub

Since her idea was created and approved, 12 Global Grub Dinners have taken place this academic year, six each semester. Open to students in the One-Year, Two-Year, and Evening MBA programs, each dinner focused on a different type of cuisine. Students, who are either from the country being highlighted or intimately familiar with its cuisine, volunteered to host the dinner. They picked the restaurant and led the conversation by sharing stories about their background and culture. Bangladesh, Jamaican, Japanese, and Vietnamese restaurants are just a few examples of locations this year.

Food means so much to different people. One of the things I noticed about this dinner series is that people are very proud of the food that their countries make, and they love to share that with other people.

Yaa Bema Tutu

“That excitement also sparks excitement in the other people, which gets the conversation flowing,” says Tutu.

Attendees particularly enjoyed the ability to meet students from other programs, learn about different cultures, and explore new-to-them cuisines and dishes, says Tutu, who sent out surveys to everyone following each dinner.

The beauty of the world is the rich diversity of thought, people, and lifestyles it offers. Learning about others can shift your perspective and open you up to a new outlook on life.

Yaa Bema Tutu

One attendee said the event exceeded their expectations, and they enjoyed “the uplifting environment about the cultures and connecting with other students you may not meet at any other event.”

Creating a Lasting Impact

Though Tutu will graduate in December 2023, the legacy of her dinners will continue. “I’m proud of all the people who stepped up to be hosts because it can be daunting to facilitate conversation between 18 people, but I’m really proud of them introducing us to great restaurants and for helping me make this a success,” she says. “I’m also really happy that we’ve created a dinner series that will last longer than my year.”

Tutu, who will graduate with a unique combination of master’s degrees in public health and business administration, says that Goizueta’s program has provided the leadership and financial understanding of public health that she was hoping to gain, but these dinner series have also helped enhance her interpersonal skills in a way that she couldn’t achieve in the classroom.  

Sometimes it’s a little harder to find that commonality and relatability to someone, and these dinners have gotten me to a point where it’s easier to do that. That’s a skill I can carry into different jobs.

Yaa Bema Tutu

“It also encourages you to be empathetic to others who aren’t like you. Underneath all the differences, there is a human commonality and relatability. The world would be so boring if we were all the same.”

Goizueta Business School endeavors to be the leader among business schools as a place for thriving and growth for every person without exception. Learn more about our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives and how we’re preparing principled leaders for a diverse society.

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