GBSN Beyond 2024 – Call for Proposals


Hosted By

GBSN Beyond is a gathering for leaders seeking to break the traditional boundaries of business education. The event highlights and supports business school efforts to transform society—to build more inclusive and sustainable communities, especially in the developing world. 

Empowering People, Embracing Planet, Imagining Possibilities

The 2024 conference theme, “Empowering People, Embracing Planet, Imagining Possibilities” invites participants to explore the pathways for business and management schools to work with the broader community to harness the potential of individuals for inclusive, innovative, and sustainable growth. 

Set in the vibrant administrative and business hub of Bogotá, Colombia, this conference draws inspiration from the challenges and opportunities within Latin America and the region’s role in a global transformation towards responsible economic growth.

Call for Proposals

We welcome session proposals that align with our focus on the intersection between people, planet, and possibilities. 

We are especially interested in proposals that:

  • Demonstrate advances or opportunities generated through collaboration across borders, sectors, and disciplines.
  • Showcase outcomes from taking learners and scholars into the field and putting them to work in our communities.

Themes of potential interest include: 

  • Inclusive Economic Growth: Exploring strategies for addressing income inequalities, improving workforce participation, and fostering equitable opportunities for all.
  • Sustainability and Innovation: Examining how business schools can drive innovation towards sustainable practices, especially with regard to the planet’s natural resources. 
  • Cross-Sector Collaboration: Highlighting collaboration between academia, industry, and the public sector in addressing societal challenges and driving meaningful change.
  • Digital Transformation: Exploring the role of technology in bridging divides, enhancing connectivity, and fostering regional economic development.
  • Industry and Innovation Ecosystems: Nurturing the development of an ecosystem conducive to entrepreneurship, innovation, and industry growth. 
  • Responsible Leadership: Discussing the role of business schools in nurturing responsible leaders equipped to tackle global challenges and drive ethical business practices.

Session Formats

Multi-Stakeholder Dialogues (Panels)

This is an opportunity to deep dive into a particular sector/topic, to discuss the current status, share ongoing efforts and explore opportunities for a different future. Dialogues should focus on a conference theme but have liberty with regard to regional or topical focus. Panelists (maximum 3) and a moderator should optimally span sectors (i.e., academia, industry, government/civil society).  

Duration: 45 minutes (30 min discussion with 15 min Q&A)

Lightning Talk

These are short, practical showcases of innovative approaches to management education. A limited number may be featured across the event as time permits. Presenters are asked to share relevant and transferable examples of how their business school is addressing some aspect of the conference theme. 

Duration: 7-10 min, no formal Q&A

Breakout Session

Breakout Sessions include short presentations and facilitated discussions around the design, delivery, promotion, impact or administration of management education relevant to the conference theme. Proposals can be submitted as a combined panel or as an individual speaker. Individual speakers with similar topics may be combined into one session as appropriate.

Duration: 45 min (30 min discussion with 15 min Q&A)

Key Dates.

June 30, 2024

Call for Proposals Closes

August 7, 2024

Selected speakers to confirm acceptance

July 21, 2024

Selected speakers are notified

How to submit a proposal?

Session proposals are required to be submitted through the online form. Submissions must include:


  1. Proposed Session Title
    (15-word limit)
  2. Preferred Session Format
    One of the listed formats (Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue, Lightning Talk, Breakout Session)
  3. Session content overview
    that includes the objectives and what participants will take away from the session (300-word limit)
  4. Additional Resources
    (if applicable – strongly encouraged, will be available for attendees to access on the Whova platform). Share links, sources, publications, etc. with participants.
  5. Audience Engagement Every session should include an interactive element that engages the audience (i.e polling, icebreakers, etc.)

General Information.


1. Applicants may submit more than one proposal.

In the case of multiple submissions, only one proposal can be selected for inclusion on the conference agenda. Every effort will be made to ensure diversity is represented on the agenda.

2. GBSN Membership is not required to submit a proposal.

However, priority consideration is given to proposals that include faculty or staff from a GBSN Member School.

3. Do speakers have to pay the registration fee?

Speakers whose proposals are chosen are asked to register and pay the discounted speaker rate of $250. GBSN does not pay speakers fees and does not cover travel expenses.

4. Will there be modifications made to session proposals that are accepted?

GBSN reserves the right to recommend changes to session submissions upon consultation with applicants and consideration of the overall program.

Conference organizers require one-time permission to publish the works on the conference platform and to share presentations online.

6. Can speakers participate virtually?

Session proposals must include speakers who are able to travel to attend the conference in-person.