Global Conferences

The Center for Global Management works with UCLA Anderson and UCLA student clubs to organize annual conferences focused on key geographic regions of the world. Prominent and influential speakers, including UCLA Anderson and UCLA alumni, participate in these conferences that are delivered both in-person and virtually and provide a platform to build networks, exchange ideas and understand the trends, opportunities and challenges of doing business in and with important regions of the world. The conferences also draw upon the expertise and knowledge of faculty from UCLA Anderson and across the UCLA campus who actively participate.

Wilbur K. Woo Greater China Business Conference

The conference brings together leading executives, innovators and investors from the Greater China region and United States from a variety of impact-driven sectors for a series of conversations. While the focus of the conference may vary each year, the conference provides a platform to learn from and network with successful and influential leaders. Experts share their thoughts and perspectives on topics such as how technology is driving the transformation of society, enterprises and consumers around the world; the key enablers and unique context of the Greater China region; lessons learned from engaging in cross-border investment; successful strategies for mitigating issues, increasing effectiveness and optimizing operations in facilitating cross-border growth and expansion; and the contextual leadership that is imperative in the evolving global economic landscape.

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Latin American Business Conference

The 2019 Latin American Business Conference brought together influential leaders from both the private and public sectors to address opportunities in and concerns of the region and articulate a road map that informs and inspires actions to engage with Latin America’s bright and prosperous future. Conversations addressed issues facing Latin America and challenged the audience to rethink the traditional ways of doing business given the current economic, social and political states of the Region at the time. Latin America must leverage its position in the world to foster sustainable growth and become a welcoming place for trade and investment, as well as an environment that encourages good governance and workforce development and education. Calls to action are necessary to develop and benefit from the opportunities that will allow the region to flourish and become a relevant and influential player on the world’s stage. In 2020, the conference was replaced with the Latin American Business Series.

WATCH 2019 CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

Latin American Business Series

The Center for Global Management partners with the Latin American Business Association (LABA) to invite prominent and influential private- and public-sector leaders, including UCLA Anderson alumni, to engage with students through interactive conversations that address the region’s important and influential role in the global economy. Speakers share experiences, insights and forecasts on the economic, political and social prospects for the region and discuss career, business and investment opportunities. For recent highlights in this series, please visit >>

Academic and Research Conferences

Africa’s Readiness for Climate Change (ARCC) Virtual Forum 2021

April 2021

During the week of April 19, the UCLA African Studies Center and the Earth Rights Institute hosted the 2021 Africa’s Readiness for Climate Change (ARCC) forum. This inaugural forum, held virtually during the week of Earth Day, expanded an integrated vision of “Green Development” in Africa that is both ecologically and economically sustainable, emphasizing local solutions to climate change developed by African stakeholders in urban and rural communities. ARCC 2021 assembled interdisciplinary panels of scholars, scientists, industry leaders, climate change innovators, youth activists, and policy-makers to discuss cutting-edge research and the most successful sustainable development projects unfolding on the ground. During the week, a series of keynote lectures, panels and workshops were held. The opening keynote address, delivered by Elizabeth Wathuti, founder of Green Generation Initiative and head of campaigns at the Wangari Mathai Foundation in Kenya, focused on mobilizing African youth for climate action and conservation. The closing keynote looked at emerging economic opportunities for a “Green Africa,” and featured His Excellency Ambassador Sidique Abou-Bakarr Wai, Sierra Leone Ambassador to the United States. Five panel discussions took place with a diverse group of speakers. The first panel, moderated by UCLA Anderson alumna, Nurit Katz (’08, MPP ’08), UCLA chief sustainability officer, centered on youth leadership and highlighted four UCLA students majoring in environmental science, computer science, civil engineering and international development. Other sessions looked at energy, water, climate - regenerative infrastructures and indigenous frameworks; food, health, education—integrative responses; climate refugees and precarious lives and livelihoods; and business, politics and culture—the climate action ecosystem. The ARCC forum brought together around 400 individuals from various disciplines across academia, NGOs, business, and the public sector. Throughout the week, participants identified priorities for research and implementation in efforts to develop a collaborative action plan for the path forward. The forum was co-organized by the UCLA African Studies Center and the Earth Rights Institute. The Center for Global Management was a co-sponsor of ARCC.

International Symposium on Global Chinese Entrepreneurship (Virtual)

November 2020

Global Chinese entrepreneurship, diasporic Chinese entrepreneurship in particular, is a long-standing phenomenon for scholarly research. The historian and sinologist Gungwu Wang created a pyramid concept of Chinese migration with huashang (华商 meaning Chinese merchants and traders) as the foundation. Historically and in contemporary times, entrepreneurship has been a vital aspect of diasporic Chinese life and crucial for understanding Chinese migration, diasporic formation, and ancestral homeland/hometown development. The international symposium which was conducted virtually was organized by the UCLA Asia Pacific Center and attracted many scholars to investigate and discuss the phenomenon further. Over 50 students, academics and entrepreneurs joined to hear academics share their research through a series of panel discussions that explored various topics such as: identifying the distinct patterns in diasporic Chinese entrepreneurship in historical and comparative perspectives and the relations between diasporic Chinese entrepreneurs and their ancestral homeland/hometowns; tracking the global and local forces that have transformed the ways in which Chinese migrants start and run their businesses in different national or transnational settings; the importance of local and transnational networks in business; the causes and consequences of entrepreneurship that are distinctly Chinese or are based on sub-ethnic identity; and the ways in which the understanding of global Chinese entrepreneurship would shed light on the general phenomenon of ethnic/immigrant entrepreneurship. Professor Min Zhou, director of the UCLA Asia Pacific Center provided welcome remarks and the opening keynote address on “Taishang, China and Global Value Chains” was delivered by Jieh-min Wu, from the Sociology Institute, Academia Sinica, Taiwan. UCLA Anderson’s Sherry Wu, assistant professor of management and organizations served as moderator for the Saturday morning panel and was joined by distinguished academics who shared their research with the audience. Funding for the symposium was provided by the Department of International and Cross-Strait Education, Ministry of Education, Taiwan, represented by the Education Division, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Los Angeles. The symposium was co-sponsored by the UCLA Anderson Center for Global Management and the Contemporary China Research Cluster, The University of Hong Kong.

2020 and Beyond: Spotlight on a Shared Future

February 2020

The CGM sponsored the fifth annual Los Angeles Global Health Conference (LAGHC) at UCLA’s Covel Commons. “2020 and Beyond: Spotlight on a Shared Future” brought together around 300 people from various disciplines across academia, NGOs, business and the public sector to discuss the current status of world health and provided an interactive educational forum to address innovative ways to tackle health disparities — both locally and globally. The opening keynote address, “How Do You Eat an Elephant? Learning Lessons for a Shared Global Health Agenda,” was delivered by Elizabeth Anne Bukasi, MBCHB, M. MED, MPH, Ph.D., PGD, MBE, chief research officer of Kenya Medical Research Institute. The day also included numerous breakout sessions that explored topics such as global crises: epidemics, disasters and threats; innovation in global health: film and technology; vulnerable populations: migrant and refugee health; and gender equality and sexual and reproductive care.

Spencer Feliciano-Lyons and Connie Jiang (far right) from the full-time MBA Class of 2020 presented in a breakout session on “Bridging the Digital Divide in Sweetwaters, South Africa.” They discussed elements of their CGM supported AMR field study project with the Human Sciences Research Council, in which they were tasked with identifying a viable long-term solution to increase affordable data access to the impoverished rural community of Sweetwaters in South Africa that would in turn help to better understand barriers to entry of mHealth applications. The presentation addressed the digital divide, focused on the implications of the divide on human and social development, and demonstrated how business school students approach issues of global health. The LAGHC was organized by students from medicine, public health and other disciplines from universities across the region, including the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Fielding School of Public Health, undergraduate departments and the USC Institute on Inequalities in Global Health, among others. The CGM was a silver sponsor.

Immigration and Health Care: Status, Access and Bridging the Disparity

February 2019

The 23rd annual UCLA Health Care Symposium, whose 2019 theme was “Immigration and Health Care: Status, Access and Bridging the Disparity,” explored the relationship between immigration and the health care system, and addressed how social justice is a means to improving access to health care among immigrants in the United States. The symposium brought together students, physicians, administrators, public health leaders and members of the local community. It helped to increase awareness of immigration as a public health issue and encouraged discussion on working together to end barriers to health care access and finding solutions to the health care disparities. The symposium is an expression of interest and excitement on the part of UCLA medical students ― who believe that students of all levels can be valuable contributors to the conversations that are reshaping our health care system and, consequently, our health. The CGM was a sponsor of the symposium, together with various cross-campus units such as UCLA Health, the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, the Fielding School of Public Health and the UCLA International Institute.

Water in the Middle East and Africa: A Nexus of Cooperation and Conflict

May 2018

UCLA hosted the inaugural international and interdisciplinary conference, “Water in the Middle East and Africa: A Nexus of Cooperation and Conflict.” The event brought together scholars and practitioners to address one of the most critical challenges of our time: water security. It was organized around three broad topics — food security, health and environment, and the geopolitics of water — with an understanding that these issues overlap and intersect. Speakers contributed a breadth of expertise and perspectives, from the vantages of engineering, earth system science, urban planning, public health, law, international relations and conflict resolution. The conference was open to students and scholars, professionals from industry and nonprofit organizations, government officials, and members of the general public interested in enriching their knowledge of the issues surrounding water scarcity and the innovative technology and policy solutions that will help to ensure a water-secure future. The keynote address on “Climate Change, Oceans and Human Health” was delivered by Distinguished University Professor Rita Colwell, whose interests at the University of Maryland College Park and as an adjunct professor at John Hopkins University are focused on global infectious diseases, water, and health. The conference was organized by a variety of cross-campus partners, led by the UCLA Y&S Nazarian Center for Israeli Studies. Partners included the Center for Global Management, UCLA Africa Studies Center, UCLA Center for the Study of International Migration, UCLA Center for Middle East Development, UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs and the Luskin Center for Innovation, as well as the UCLA Water Resources Group and the UCLA Water Technology Research Center.