Faculty

Driving Systems Change – Corporate Leadership for the SDGs

Event Details

The world is facing fundamental and interrelated systemic challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic as well as environmental and social crises and issues. Those issues cannot be solved by business as usual. Fortunately, there is a framework that can help navigate efforts to deal with them: the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Right now, the SDGs are the best agenda available to share ambitions and measure progress towards the achievement of a large number of common goals.

The private sector’s active involvement is vital in this ambition. But progress is too slow – not because of a lack of intentions, but because of the serious gap in developing advanced strategies in realising the SDGs. It’s difficult to integrate SDGs in core business. So, can corporate leaders step up to the challenge and drive systems change?

We think it is possible – and your contribution is important. Join our free, online conference in which we will exchange experiences, showcase tools and concepts, and learn from leading thinkers and experts. 

Speakers

Click here to see the full programme, including all speakers and an introduction to each session. 

Registration

Register Here

The email address and password you create at registration will also be needed to log in on the day of the conference. You will receive a confirmation email shortly after registration (please note that the email might be in your spam folder). Although you register for the entire event, you can then decide for yourself which day and / or session you want to attend! This means that you can attend just one day; registration for the full 3 days does not mean that you must attend all 3 days.

Although participation is free, we kindly ask you to attend the event once you have registered. Failure to show up is at the expense of someone else’s participation, as the number of tickets is limited. For questions you can send an email to ScienceWorks via assistant conference manager Karlijn van Marrewijk at k.vanmarrewijk@scienceworks.nl.

This conference is part of the project Managing the transition to sustainable business models: the role of leadership and measuring shared value creation (with project number 438-14-901 of the research programme Sustainable Business Models) which is (partly) financed by the Dutch Research Council (NWO). 

Think Tank: Transformational Entrepreneurship and the post Covid19 Global Economy

Event Details

The International Centre for Transformational Entrepreneurship (ICTE) believes that sharing and debating possible alternative transformational entrepreneurial ideas and solutions from a futuristic and multi-disciplinary basis, will offer opportunities that will lead to creating future sustainable socio-economic development and growth. As a result, ICTE is inviting you to participate in conversations about the formation and launching of the International Academy for Transformational Entrepreneurship (IATE). IATE will serve as the vehicle by which global leading entrepreneurship educators, researchers, practitioners, and policy makers will work together to engage in knowledge transfer, research, university entrepreneurship ecosystem development and policy formulation to promote socio-economic growth in a post-COVID world.

To foster these conversations, ICTE is leading an online Think Tank webinar on Monday 24 May 2021 at 7:30am EDT/ 12:30pm BST, with an international, diverse mix of attendees from educational institutions, policy makers and industry.

Speakers

The webinar will be led by leading international experts to help stimulate conversations on how a transformational entrepreneurial philosophy can assist a post-Covid19 socio-economic development and will include:

  • Professor John Latham CBE, Vice-Chancellor and CEO, Coventry University
  • Professor Gideon Maas, Executive Director of ICTE
  • Mr Andreas Aasted Gjede, Director Copenhagen School of Entrepreneurship (CSE), Denmark.
  • Professor Xi Wang,Director of Fintech Centre, Central University of Finance and Economics, Beijing, China.
  • Associate Professor Daniel Agyapong, Head of Department, Marketing and Supply Chain Management, University of Cape Coast, Ghana.

Register

Registration is required for this event. Use the button below to access registration.

Register Here

The Business Schools Will Have No Future if We Don’t Do This!

Register Here

Date

Tuesday, 4 July 10:00am – 11:00am

LOCATION

Zoom

CONTACT

emartens@gbsn.org

What would a business school look like if one started with a blank sheet of paper and did not benchmark other business schools?

What would the content be? Who would teach? What would it cost? In this session, we will look at how business schools got to be where they are because of the Ford and Carnegie reports over half a century ago, the advent in 1987 of the first of the major rankings, and the drivers of accreditation. Join one of GBSN’s new members, Coventry University Business School for this session, as Kai Peters, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Faculty of Business and Law), will make the case for a major overhaul of the structure and positioning of business schools for the future.

Speakers

  • Prof. Kai Peters

    Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Faculty of Business and Law)
    Coventry University Business School
    United Kingdom

Date

Thursday, June 24th, 2021

  • 11:00am Washington D.C.
  • 4:00 pm United Kingdom
  • 5:00pm Geneva
  • 5:00pm Cape Town
  • 8:30pm Mumbai
  • 11:00pm Singapore
Register

Cross-Border Collab: Pedagogical Innovations in Business Schools

DATE & TIME

Thursday, 3 June, 2021

LOCATION

Hosted on Zoom.

CONTACT

Emma Martens, emartens@gbsn.org

In order to efficiently groom future generations to the realities of tomorrow, we need to give significantly more weight to teaching methods. Pedagogy has been an outsider to the system for way too long. It has been put aside over the years, resulting in professors relying mostly on the top down lectures, during which students are more inclined to stay passive recipients of knowledge rather than active participants.

This Cross-Border Collab will explore innovations in pedagogy. GBSN’s CEO, Dan LeClair recently participated as a Judge for LearnSpace‘s call for business education innovations. Through its call for nominations, LearnSpace was looking for world-class pedagogical innovations in business schools globally. Its initiative aims to uncover innovative pedagogical approaches, understand how they are being implemented in business schools and publish a public and global report showcasing 10 of them.

By pedagogical innovation, LearnSpace means:

The usage of a tool or method that provides a change in the professor’s posture, who would be more focused on empowering students, making them more committed, engaged and responsible for their own learning. At the heart of pedagogical innovation lies the shift from teacher-centered learning to student-centered learning.

The report will be published on June 1st, which is just in time for this June 3rd Cross-Border Collab. We will explore the LearnSpace report, hearing directly from Svenia Busson, Founder of LearnSpace, Co-founder EdtechTours, European Edtech Alliance and Author ‘Exploring the Future of Education.’

In addition, GBSN members will break into small groups of 3-4. These small groups will provide a space for members to share teaching / pedagogical innovations implemented by their institution with each other. Members will share one and leave with 4+ innovations.

When?

Thursday, 3 June, 2021

8:00am EDT AND 7:00pm EDT

To accommodate our growing membership, spanning across different time zones, we offer two Collab sessions every first Thursday of the month. The first session is at 8:00am EDT and the second is at 7:00pm EDT. Both sessions will cover the same topic, but feature different guests. Members are invited to join whichever session is more convenient.

Sign-Up

Sign-Up for the June Collab

What are Cross-Border Collabs?

Cross-Border Collabs are exclusive gatherings for GBSN members, focused on engaging our community to tackle some of the greatest challenges of our time. Facilitated by topic experts, these session will provide a place for our members be active participants in our mission of improving management and entrepreneurship education for the developing world. Collabs are held monthly on every first Thursday of the month. Two sessions are offered to accommodate multiple time zones. Collabs are an exclusive opportunity for member school ambassadors, deans and leading faculty members.

Learn more about Cross-Border Collabs

Africa Business Challenge Awards Ceremony: The Role of Entrepreneurship in Development Across Africa

Register for the awards ceremony event

DATE & TIME

May 14, 2021
9:00 am–10:30 pm (EDT)

LOCATION

This event will be hosted on Zoom.

CONTACT

Maddie Handler, mhandler@gbsn.org

REGISTER

Register

GBSN, sponsored by AACSB International and Stanford Seed and supported by Peaqs and Emlyon, is pleased to present a virtual business concept competition for African undergraduate and graduate students. The competition challenged student teams to design a viable business concept that addresses a locally-relevant challenge or problem related to sustainable development and Agenda 2063. The focus of the competition was to promote and support responsible capitalism for emerging markets and to identify high potential young people for mentorship and investment. 

Over 80 student teams from 34 institutions in 15 countries across Africa have signed up to participate. Join us as we celebrate the power of entrepreneurship in sustainable development and celebrate the work of all the student teams as well as announce the winning project.

The competition was designed with the following values in mind:

  • A commitment to the importance of responsible entrepreneurship and its role in job creation
  • An international outlook
  • A commitment to ethical business practices
  • A strong interest in young people in emerging markets and the role that business can play in creating opportunities that enable them to develop
  • A believe that business is a public trust with the obligation to improve and serve society
  • A commitment to lifelong learning and continuing education

The awards ceremony virtual event will feature a line-up of notable speakers, an introduction to the international panel of investors and judges and announcement of the winning team. The awards ceremony event will be open to the public.

Host

  • Rob Vember

    Director, Programs & Partnerships
    Global Business School Network
    South Africa

Speakers

  • Dan LeClair

    Dan LeClair, Ph.D

    CEO
    Global Business School Network
    USA

  • Dr. Rickie A. Moore

    Professor of Entrepreneurship Director, MSc in Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship
    emlyon business school
    France

Registration

Register Here

Registration is open to all Africa Business Challenge participants and the general public.

Questions

For any questions or concerns, please email Maddie Handler at mhandler@gbsn.org.

Business Schools and the Democratization of Artificial Intelligence

DATE & TIME

May 18, 2021

10:00 am–11:00 am (EDT)

4:00pm – 5:00pm (CEST)

LOCATION

This event will be hosted on Zoom.

CONTACT

Maddie Handler, mhandler@gbsn.org

REgister Here

Artificial intelligence (AI) holds a lot of promise. But although AI has all the potential of a new general-purpose technology, it also has the potential to create new problems, cause accidents, and to be misused. The latter has in recent years led to various global initiatives to establish common frameworks for the ethics, regulation and governance of AI. Business schools can make a valuable contribution to these, as this webinar, looking at AI from both scholarly and practitioner perspectives, argues. 

Under the term ‘democratization’ of AI, three challenges for the governance of AI stand out wherein business schools can, through their teaching, applied research and broader business-community engagement, contribute. The first is to help accelerate the diffusion of human-centered AI. The second is to contribute to the debate on the design of appropriate and strong incentives for adherence to ethical and fair AI development, and the third is to pursue green AI. If these three challenges can be addressed, it may help ensure that the benefits of AI be broadly shared.

This webinar, organised by Cork University Business School at University College Cork, Ireland in collaboration with the Machine Intelligence Institute of Africa (MIIA) will provide an introduction and overview of the current initiatives and thinking in this regard. 

Speakers

Date

Tuesday, May 18th, 2021

  • 10:00am Washington D.C.
  • 3:00pm London
  • 5:00pm Geneva
  • 7:30pm Mumbai
  • 10:00pm Singapore
Register here

Entrepreneurship World Cup

All entrepreneurs. All stages. Everywhere. Whether you are dreaming about launching a startup or you already have a Series A round, the Entrepreneurship World Cup can help you take your next big step.

The Entrepreneurship World Cup is more than just a pitch competition. It gives everyone who enters access to the knowledge, networks, and for some, the capital they need to start and scale a company.

The EWC started out as an idea- and now supports 175,000 entrepreneurs in 200 countries. It is made possible by three co-host organizations – Misk Global Forum, Global Entrepreneurship Network and The Global Education & Leadership Foundation.

Stages

Idea Stage
Do you have an idea for a new company, but aren’t sure how to start or find the resources you need to take the next step? EWC helps you unleash your idea with free on-demand training and $10,000 in perks – just for signing up.– Plus, you have a chance to win $50,000 in cash prizes and to meet and network with and top investors locally and internationally. Being an EWC alumni will give you access to an international community.

Early Stage
Do you have an emerging startup and want to accelerate its trajectory? EWC empowers early-stage founders with access to world-class educational resources, training and up to $750,000 in perks — as well as a chance to sharpen your skills through a global pitch competition and win up to $500,000 in cash prizes. You will also have a chance to meet and network with peers and top investors locally and internationally. Being an EWC alumni will give you access to an international community.

Growth Stage
Have you already found your market fit, started gaining serious traction and have an initial round of funding secured? EWC provides you with a global network of potential collaborators and expert mentors to help you achieve exponential growth – and a chance to win a no-strings attached check for $500,000. Plus, a chance to meet and network with peers and top investors locally and internationally. Being an EWC alumni will give you access toan international community.

Cash Prizes

EWC is all about the entire experience – training, resources, connections, mentorship and more. But on top of that, we have some amazing, impactful prizes – more than $1 million in cash total for the global winners plus $75 million worth of in-kind support for the top 100 global finalists, not to mention investment opportunities and awesome resources and perks from our leading partners. In addition to these global prizes,many EWC national competitions offer their own prizes.

Timeline

  • February – May 2021, Accelerate 1: Startups are put through a series of education and virtual training opportunities to sharpen their skills around areas such as customer & industry knowledge; personal & team skills; creativity & problem solving, and business acumen.
  • May – July 2021, National Competition: Competitions happening simultaneously in 100+ countries, virtually and at in-person live events. Winners receive national prizes and advance to stage 3.
  • August – September 2021, Accelerate 2: Startups are put through a series of education and virtual training opportunities to sharpen their skills around areas such as customer & industry knowledge; personal & team skills; creativity & problem solving, and business acumen.
  • November 2021, Global Finals: The top 100 global finalists travel to the EWC Global Finals for a bootcamp and the finals round of the competition where they can network with potential investors and compete on stage for cash prizes and support services.

Learn More

To learn more about the Entrepreneurship World Cup including benefits, judges, events, new +updates, overview and partner application, use the button below.

Learn More about the EWC
Sign up for the Entrepreneurship World Cup Now

Legatum Foundry Fellowship at MIT

The Legatum Center at MIT presents the Foundry Fellowship, a first-of-its-kind leadership program for Africa-based founders who have scaled innovation-driven companies and find themselves at an inflection point in their entrepreneurial journey. The Foundry is a place where Fellows reflect on their entrepreneurial journey, rethink their future leadership roles as entrepreneurs, investors, and thought leaders, and renew their commitment to building entrepreneurship and innovation-led ecosystems. 

Launching in 2021, the Foundry Fellowship will bring together leaders who have demonstrated a commitment to bringing about change through entrepreneurship and are ready to build the leadership skills to carry them into the next phase of their entrepreneurial journey. 

The Fellowship is open to entrepreneurs from Africa who have founded and scaled for-profit innovation-driven companies on the African continent, with a preference for entrepreneurs operating in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, and Uganda.

Fellowship Summary

The Foundry Fellowship is a fully-funded six-month program. Fellows will complete an interactive curriculum designed to:

  • Increase their leadership acumen; 
  • Explore pathways to impact as entrepreneurs, policymakers, thought leaders, and investors;
  • Exchange practical knowledge with MIT faculty and students; and, 
  • Engage in multi-stakeholder networking opportunities in the MIT ecosystem.

The learning journey will culminate in a three-week in-person immersive program in which Fellows will have the opportunity to engage with MIT faculty, investors, thought leaders, and policy influencers. This immersive experience will give Fellows insight into how to design cutting-edge programs, implement practices, and create policies that are transferable to their markets. Fellows will also have the opportunity to showcase their ventures and lessons in innovation with MIT faculty, staff, and students.

Note: The Legatum Center’s goal is to offer an in-person immersive experience in line with the regulations of the U.S. federal government, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The Legatum Center will support individuals who are offered a Fellowship with the visa application process by providing an invitation letter and reimbursing visa fees. 

Eligibility Criteria

The inaugural cohort will include 15 entrepreneurs from Africa. Fellows will be identified through a selective application and nomination process.

Candidates should have a demonstrated history of impact, commitment, and concrete connection to the region and have already achieved considerable success with their ventures. 

  • Have founded and scaled a for-profit innovation-driven company* on the African continent, with a preference for founders of companies with operations in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, and Uganda;  
  • Applicants who have founded and scaled a company outside of Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, or Uganda should have a demonstrated interest in supporting economic growth in at least one of the aforementioned seven countries; 
  • Are at an inflection point in their entrepreneurial journey and are considering the next phase; 
  • Are prepared to dedicate time and space for their own self-discovery and leadership development to achieve the next milestone;   
  • Are able to participate in regular online sessions and cohort activities, from September 2021 through March 2022 (note: additional time is required for readings and exercises); and,  
  • Are able to commit to a three-week in-person session in April 2022.  
  • Founders from the same company may apply, but each founder must complete a unique application. Each founder will be considered independent of a co-founder.
  • MIT alumni and current degree candidates are welcome to apply.   

*Innovation-driven companies are based on a technology or process innovation that allows them to scale across regional and global markets. 

Nominations & Applications

The Legatum Center is accepting nominations and applications from interested entrepreneurs.

Nominees will receive an invitation to complete the application process. A nomination does not guarantee acceptance, nor is it required to apply. Eligible entrepreneurs may submit an application without a nomination. Nominations must be submitted by May 20, 2021.

Applicants, including nominees, must submit a complete application before the application submission deadline on June 10, 2021, at 11:59 PM EDT. The application includes the following components: 

  • Personal demographic information and contact information; 
  • Details about your role as a founder and your company; 
  • Essay questions on your interest in the Fellowship program; 
  • A resume outlining your educational background, professional experience, leadership positions held, and community engagement;
  • A 3-minute video essay [prompt provided in the online application form] and;
  • Two letters of recommendation. 

Applications will be reviewed by a committee and Finalists will be invited to participate in a panel interview.  

Key Dates and Deadlines

  • May 3 – May 20, 2021: Nominations are accepted
  • May 3, 2021: Application opens for all nominees and qualified applicants
  • June 10, 2021 at 11:59pm EDT: Application deadline
  • September 2021: Final selections will be announced

Questions

Email legatum@mit.edu with questions about the Legatum Foundry Fellowship.  

Nominate a Candidate
Apply for the Foundry Fellowship

Learn more about the Legatum Foundry Fellowship and the Legatum Center at MIT by clicking the button below.

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Internationalize Your Business Degree Program Through Virtual Exchange – Webinar

Virtual exchange – enabling students to get cross-cultural exposure without leaving their homes … an affordable way to “travel” across the globe!

To succeed in the global workplace means having a global mindset—the cultural awareness and cultural consciousness which a global economy demands —and educational exchanges are an effective method to nurture this mindset. The pandemic has revealed a significant limitation of traditional educational exchanges: geography. But even before the pandemic, traveling across borders to seek a cross-cultural experience was not possible for many students. Enter virtual exchanges, which connect students across countries via technology, allowing them to learn together and collaborate on projects in cross-cultural teams. Join our webinar and hear from two professors at the forefront of virtual exchange. We’ll explore the unique role a virtual exchange can play. You’ll find out about the benefits students experience as being part of a virtual exchange. Join us to find out more about this innovative format and determine if it’s right for your curriculum.

Two professors from the Business & Culture virtual exchange program organized by the William Davidson Institute will be speaking at this interactive event. If you are interested in learning about our successful experience connecting students across countries to learn how to do business together, please register to join us.

Date

Tuesday May 4, 2021

  • 10:00am Washington D.C.
  • 3:00pm London
  • 4:00pm Geneva
  • 7:30pm Mumbai
  • 10:00pm Singapore
Register Here
Learn More about the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

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