EFMD AC15: Eric Cornuel’s opening address

At the 2015 Annual EFMD Conference in Brussels, Eric Cornuel welcomed the record number or attendees. In fact, 457 people were present and Mr. Cornuel thanked them warmly for their continued support of EFMD. The theme of the conference would be Impact, Passion, Creativity and Learning. Mr. Cornuel stated that the programme would over many of the key issues face by business schools and the business community today such as leadership, creativity, research, impact, alliances and much more.

Lululemon presents to GEM & SFU students innovation strategies during Innovation Business Week

We had the amazing opportunity to visit the headquarters of LuluLemon today (11th February) in the context of the business week.

The premises are located in Kitstiliano area in a modern building of four floors. The first department we visited was the design department. We saw the process of creation with people working on prototypes and planning the next collection of 2015. There are three design spaces, each one is dedicated to one customer segment: women, men and kids/teens. Thus employees design clothes only for one type of customers, depending on what they like to design. If an employee is passionate by designing clothes for men thus he or she will focus on doing that.

Invoke outlines to GEM & SFU students start-ups issues during Innovation Business Week

Invoke was established in 2000 by three founders: David Tedman, Dario Meli, and Ryan Holmes. The company adds value through creating innovative digital experiences. Since the fusion of Invoke labs and Invoke media in October 2014, they have had two main kinds of activities: 1. they are well known for creating digital products such as the HootSuite or Brightkit and 2. they also support tech start-ups.

Manu Varma, Traction on Demand, Vancouver, talks to GEM & SFU students about business model during Innovation Business Week

Second day of Business Week 2015, on Wednesday, 11th of February, started by a company visit of Traction On Demand, located in Vancouver. The company was created 9 years ago and they try to change the way to do business. We arrived in the morning and we were nicely welcomed by several employees of the company. The place looks very friendly and the company offered us some bagels and coffee as a breakfast.

EFMD Conference on Master Programs: Welcome by Dean Loick Roche

At the opening of the EFMD Conference on Master Programs, Dean Loick Roche gave his welcome address to the participants. Over 100 people from more than 20 countries will discuss current issues on Master programmes in then next two days. 

1st EFMD Americas Conference: Understanding Brazil and Latin Amercia

 

At the 1^st EFMD Americas in Sao Paulo, Ambassador Marcos Azambuja gave an amusing and insightful talk about the current state of Brazil. He talked about the political and economic context of the country, its strengths and also its weaknesses and the challenges it faces.

1st EFMD Americas Conference: Welcome Address (Eric Cornuel & Maria Tereza Fleury)

At the 1st EFMD Americas Conference in Sao Paulo, 80 participants were welcomed by Ms. Tereza  Fleury, Director of hosted FGV and Eric Cornuel, General Director of EFMD. 

Managing an international career in the finance industry: Marianne Schenk, Director of Talent Management, Credit Suisse, New York gives her advice to newly arrived students.

Speaking at the opening of the “Finance in New York” Transcontinental Programme, Marianne Schenk, Director of Talent Management at Credit Suisse, New York, gave some key insights into how the newly arrived students should think about managing a career in the finance industry. With 23 years of experience of working in the Zurich based financial services firm, Ms. Schenk was able to share her knowledge of working in a highly international and fast moving context on both sides of the Atlantic. 

Durham University, research and Harry Potter!

Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting up with two GEM students currently studying at Durham University in the north of England and my colleague and good friend, Philip Warwick. As well as being a regular contributor to Global Ed, Philip has done some excellent research on strategy and the internationalization of British universities and we are currently working on a research project together in the same field. While I was there though, I asked the two students, Margot Stokes  and Janhaëlle Ribeiro-Storm to give their perspective on studying in the UK and life as an international student. 

100 000 visits on Global Ed!

Over the weekend, Global Ed went past the landmark of 100 000 visits. Having started the blog just over two years ago as a way of either recording some of the activities involved in international affairs in higher education or expressing some ideas, I am amazed by this. This first post-100 000 visit post is a thank you to all the people that have helped me make the blog so successful.