IESE’s 50th anniversary celebrations will be extended to the school’s Regional Chapters all over the world, with academic sessions and alumni meetings with the dean and high-level speakers to be held in different regions. The 50th anniversary “international tour” will provide the chance for everyone to take part in the festivities!
New York was the launching point for this initiative. More than 100 alumni met at the Citigroup Executive Conference Center on October 26-27, 2007.
William Baker, chief executive of the Public Broadcasting Corporation in the United States, gave a talk titled, “The New World of American Media.” In his remarks, he explained the latest trends and developments in the U.S. media industry. The next day, participants met at the prestigious University Club on Fifth Avenue, where Bill Layton (MBA ’95) welcomed the group and shared his enthusiasm for IESE’s new projects and goals in the United States.
Prof. Javier Estrada delivered an academic session titled, “Investing in the Long-Term: Techniques and Perspectives on the U.S. Market.”
Also during the event, Dean Jordi Canals gave an overview of IESE’s activities all over the world, placing special emphasis on the growing internationalization of the Alumni Association, as well as the school’s educational programs. Prof. Eric Weber, director of the recently-launched New York center also joined Dean Canals in explaining plans for the new facility.
Once the offices in New York are established, IESE hopes to expand its program offerings for U.S.-based executives, as well as create a research center focused on global business. At the same time, the school seeks to strengthen services and activities for alumni in the U.S., they said.
“We would like to share with all IESE alumni the satisfaction and expectations that we feel during this golden anniversary,” said the director of the Alumni Association, Mireia Rius. Celebratory events planned for the anniversary will include education and networking components.
“We are organizing academic sessions with top-level speakers and alumni meetings to help strengthen links among all the alumni in each chapter,” she said.
The 50th anniversary tour will arrive in Asia in the spring. On March 31, IESE will organize an event in Hong Kong. On April 1, an event will follow Shanghai, in collaboration with the China European International Business School (CEIBS), and on April 2 an event is slated in Tokyo. The president of the chapter in Shanghai, Myra Yu (MBA ’99), is encouraging all the alumni in Asia to attend and celebrate the anniversary events being held in the region.
“IESE has offered us an outstanding education, which will help us throughout life and we should take advantage of this 50-year celebration to show our gratitude. Most importantly, this is a chance to show our commitment to making a better world, no matter where we find ourselves.”
Prof. Pankaj Ghemawat, who will accompany the Dean on the tour to Asia, will be presenting his new book, “Redefining Global Strategies.” In his work, Ghemawat argues that the world is not flat, but "round and wrinkled.”
Following the Asia trip, events are planned in Europe: in Germany on April 21 and London on May 12.
“I hope that many of our alumni will come and celebrate with us,” said Chris Daniels (MBA ’00), president of the U.K. Chapter. “And if you frequently visit London, why not plan your trip to coincide with the event?”
The final leg of the tour will be in Latin America. “These meetings not only allow alumni to keep in close contact,” says Rius, “but also foster new relationships among alumni from different countries, helping build the IESE brand in diverse regions.”
IESE in the Big Apple
The Alumni Association is aware of the importance that alumni give to the development of activities in the United States. For that reason, the association took advantage of the meeting held last October in New York City to present an overview of the activities that have been carried out there, as well as the recent creation of the Regional Chapter in the United States. The meeting also highlighted future plans and aims for North America.
Director of the Alumni Department Mireia Rius and Associate Director Wim den Tuinder, together with the president of the U.S. Chapter, Bill Layton, announced the governance structure for the new group.
A series of clear initiatives were discussed, which include corporate development, a new research center that will examine the global economy, endowment activities, e-services, strengthening the chapter and the celebration of the Global Alumni Reunion in New York in 2009.
The governance structure will have two pillars: (1) the Regional Alumni Chapter Board (RACB), which will be responsible for the alumni community in the United States with the aim of promoting educational programs and activities and all of the Alumni Association’s activities; and (2) the U.S. IESE Development Committee (UIDC), which will seek to coordinate activities among the various areas within IESE such as the Alumni Department, Career Services, MBA Admissions, the Global Executive MBA team and executive education.
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