Center for Global Management

COVID-19’s place in history is assured as the first pandemic to emerge in the twenty-first century. The pandemic left disorder and crises in its wake everywhere it struck. Drawing on disciplines including public health, politics, and socioeconomics, in her recent edited book How COVID-19 Took Over The Word: Lessons for the Future, Center for Global Management visiting scholar and policy expert Christine Loh, tracks the spread of COVID-19 to weave a coherent picture that explains how scientists learnt about the virus, how authorities reacted around the world, and how different societies coped. Written by a leading team of public health, policy, and economics experts, with contributions by global supply chain expert and CGM faculty director, Professor Chris Tang, and Hong Kong-based economist Michael Edesess, the book provides an in-depth analysis of various countries’ responses to the onset of the pandemic, as well as suggestions to increase capacity and capability to fight future pandemics. On May 9, the Center for Global Management (CGM) hosted a moderated discussion with Professor Chris Tang and Michael Edesess. During the hour-long conversation, moderated by Christine Loh, Tang and Edesess provided insights and perspectives on this complex subject and the many global issues that emerged. They provided an overview of global governance and international cooperation; discussed economic and social consequences of the outbreak; highlighted the supply chain challenges that surfaced; and examined and compared specific countries responses. They also shared their observations on lessons learned.

The conversation was part of the CGM’s World Today Discussion Series which engages the audience in interactive and enriching conversations around current issues that transcend borders. UCLA and Anderson faculty, alumni, board members and thought leaders share their perspectives on the critical global topics and issues that matter to our community and the world. Through balanced discourse, the series serves as a neutral forum to educate the community on global issues, while at the same time encouraging debate and examination. VIEW VIDEO

On Friday, May 5, the Center for Global Management (CGM), welcomed Jim Allen (’93), an alumnus of the full-time MBA program and member of the CGM’s advisory board, back to his alma mater for a lunchtime discussion with students. Allen was also in town for Alumni Reunion Weekend to celebrate his 30th year class reunion. Allen, who is a senior advisor within the Investment Banking Division at Morgan Stanley, started his career at Morgan Stanley in 1993, and most recently served as head of Morgan Stanley’s Latin America mergers and acquisitions practice from 2008 to 2022. Prior to that, he was a member of Morgan Stanley’s Media and Communications Group, covering the telecommunications industry in the United States and Latin America for over 10 years. His experience includes mergers and acquisitions, equity and debt capital markets financing, restructuring, and privatization transactions for corporate clients and governments throughout the Americas.

Students from the full-time, fully employed and executive MBA programs, interested in global management and business, including members of the Investment Finance Association and Latin American Business Association, joined the interactive session which provided an opportunity for interested MBA students to meet with Allen in an informal and interactive setting and hear his thoughts, insights and experience as a global investment banker and strategic advisor; his career transition from U.S. Navy to investment banking enabled by UCLA Anderson; and his experience doing business internationally within a highly global, U.S.-based multinational. Allen also shared his thoughts on the nearshoring/slowbalization trend and how it is impacting and expecting to impact different parts of Latin America and multinationals’ investment plans – which has become a very hot topic among clients at Morgan Stanley. Students received tangible advice as they think about their own careers, the current global environment, and the importance of being able to adapt as the environment evolves. Prior to Morgan Stanley, Allen served for seven years as an officer in the U.S. Navy, including six months as an exchange officer in the Chilean Navy. The discussion was organized by the Center for Global Management and supported by Investment Finance Association and Latin American Business Association.

On Wednesday, April 19, the Center for Global Management (CGM) hosted the second discussion of the academic year in its Global Management Speaker Series, supported by the Class of 2022.  Steve Totzke, president and chief commercial officer, Mattel, Inc. joined CGM faculty director, Chris Tang, distinguished professor and Edward W. Carter Chair in Business Administration for a fascinating moderated conversation. Totzke shared his thoughts on a variety of important global issues and trends, from physical toys to digital toys, from environmental to nearshoring, from selling to sourcing, and from product development to licensing. He discussed how he runs the Mattel global commercial organization in the midst of complex and changing economic, political and cultural environments in the United States and globally, and talked about some of the latest strategies in digital design and development, e-commerce, global product development, global supply chains, and leveraging IP in the digital world. He also addressed how he manages complex issues to drive global competitive advantage and shareholder value for the global toy company, with one of the strongest catalogues of children and family entertainment franchises in the world.

The CGM welcomed many members of the Class of 2022 back to their alma mater for an evening of discussion, networking and reconnecting. Current students from across all four MBA programs attended the evening that began with a networking reception and concluded with a networking dinner. The discussion was also broadcast live and attended by many UCLA Anderson alumni, current students and members of the broader UCLA and general communities. The Global Management Speaker Series, supported by the Class of 2022, engages thought leaders and the audience in timely conversations around global issues, opportunities and challenges. Through interactive and balanced dialogue,  the series provides students and alumni with global perspectives and insights on important topics, and prepares them to become successful leaders who can operate in a global context. The series was inspired by the resiliency of Anderson students who rose to the challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic and propelled communities and industries forward during the global shut down. VIEW VIDEO

On Wednesday, April 12, the Center for Global Management (CGM) hosted a lunchtime discussion in its Meet the Graduate Series with Yin Hui (’14), an alumna of the full-time MBA (FTMBA) program who served in many leadership roles during her time at UCLA Anderson, including director of the Greater China Business Association (GCBA), and student director of the 2014 Wilbur K. Woo Greater China Business Conference. Hui was also active with the Healthcare Business Association (HBA). Her experience at Anderson strengthened her belief in, and passion for global management, the importance of having impact, and bringing health care innovations to people across the globe. During an informal and interactive lunch, Hui discussed her time at Anderson and shared thoughts on how to maximize the academic, career and networking opportunities available. She addressed her career trajectory, some of the decisions and choices she made, and provided guidance on how students can maximize their MBA experience and use it as a launching pad for their career and passions.

Students from across the full-time, fully employed and executive MBA programs were inspired by Hui’s energy, passion and poise and left the discussion with some terrific tangible advice and tips as they navigate their own leadership, career and personal journeys over the coming months, during their time at Anderson and post-graduation. Prior to joining the FTMBA program, Hui worked for Deloitte Consulting as a consultant in the Shanghai office. Through on-campus recruiting, she completed a summer internship with Amgen in its corporate finance area and then accepted a full-time offer to return to join Amgen’s MBA leadership rotational program of Strategy and Finance (FLSLDP). She received diverse experience across various functional areas in the U.S., Japan and Asia Pacific region. Hui then dedicated over five years to Amgen’s Asia Pacific operations where she led a series of affiliate set-up and new product line launches in Japan, Singapore, Thailand and other countries across the region, while at the same time completing a Master of Public Health at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Recently, she returned to Southern California to join Amgen’s global team as Global Marketing Director where she leads the precision (personalized) medicine aspect of its business – an innovative approach to tailoring disease prevention and treatment that takes into account the differences in people's genes, environments and lifestyles. Hui believes that her global experience will continue to contribute to Amgen’s global product strategy to benefit patients around the world. The discussion, organized by the Center for Global Management , was supported by the Greater China Business Association and Healthcare Business Association.

About the Series

The objective of this series is to connect students with members of our global alumni community who are working across various industries and functions. In an informal and interactive setting, students can hear from graduates who emerged from Anderson with a solid understanding of global managerial, operational and policy issues. They will share their thoughts and insights on a variety of subjects, including their career trajectory post Anderson, the importance of having a global perspective in their various sectors as well as an understanding of global issues and their impact on business and society. They also will provide advice and guidance to current students interested in becoming well-rounded and well-informed global citizens.

Some multinational corporations engage in tax motivated profit shifting. For example, corporations move intangible assets such as patents and intellectual property (IP) to countries with low tax rates and then report the revenues related to those assets in the low tax rate countries in order to avoid paying the higher tax rates in other countries, such as the United States, in which they are headquartered and do significant business. Some corporations are able to penetrate markets in countries in which they have no traditional presence, such as a brick and mortar store. As a result, the revenues earned in those countries in which they have only a digital presence are typically not subject to that country’s taxing authorities.

For several decades, there has been a tax competition between countries lowering their tax rates to attract foreign investment. One effect of this competition is to degrade the tax base of countries. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)/Group of 20 (G20) Inclusive Framework has developed a plan to impose a global minimum corporate tax at 15 percent. In addition, a part of the plan would reallocate certain taxing rights toward the countries in which the users or customers are located, even if the company does not have a physical presence in that country. All corporations subject to the global minimum corporate tax will pay at least 15 percent of profits in taxes. Over 135 jurisdictions representing about 95% of the world economy have agreed to this plan.

On March 8, in UCLA Anderson’s Grand Salon, and remotely via Zoom, the UCLA Anderson Center for Global Management and UCLA School of Law’s Lowell Milken Institute for Business Law and Policy hosted the second discussion of the year in their joint Global Business and Policy Forum series, in its 10th year, that focused on the global minimum tax. Kimberly Clausing, the Eric M. Zolt Chair in Tax Law and Policy at the UCLA School of Law and Gonzalo Freixes, associate dean and adjunct professor of accounting, law and international business at UCLA Anderson, explored some of the impacts of a global minimum tax,  and the consequences it may have for corporations and future government policy both in the U.S. and globally.  First, Freixes provided some background on current and past U.S. law to provide a baseline understanding of the current law around U.S. taxation of international business transactions and how things have shifted in the last few years. Clausing then talked more specifically about the International Tax Agreement and the policy issues behind the global minimum tax. She explained why it was necessary, the changes that have to be made to implement and enforce it and what it seeks to achieve. She also shared her thoughts on whether it will have the desired effect of stopping or significantly reducing tax competition, other consequences we can expect, and lessons for multilateralism.

During the evening, there were many interactive table conversations where specific questions were discussed among the students who analyzed the issues from both a business and legal lens. Students shared their views on what  it means to have a fair tax system in a global economy and how does one judge fairness in this context. They also considered whether making tax competition transparent is desirable. In light of political forces that are promoting nationalism in various countries of the world, including the west, they reflected on whether they anticipate that some countries may ultimately walk away from an agreement on corporate taxation in order to appease domestic constituencies that demand local economic growth. The discussions were thought-provoking and raised many issues from both a business and legal lens. The discussion engaged students and faculty from the UCLA Anderson School of Management and the UCLA School of Law. VIEW VIDEO

Kimberly Clausing, holds the Eric M. Zolt Chair in Tax law and Policy at the UCLA School of Law. During the first part of the Biden Administration, Clausing was the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Tax Analysis in the U.S. Department of the Treasury, serving as the lead economist in the Office of Tax Policy. Her research studies the taxation of multinational firms, examining how government decisions and corporate behavior interplay in the global economy. She has published numerous articles in this area, and she is the author of Open: The Progressive Case for Free Trade, Immigration, and Global Capital (Harvard University Press, 2019). She is a nonresident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. She has worked on economic policy research with the International Monetary Fund, the Hamilton Project, the Brookings Institution, and the Tax Policy Center. Clausing has testified before the House Ways and Means Committee, the Senate Committee on Finance, and the Joint Economic Committee. Gonzalo Friexes, is an associate dean at UCLA Anderson where he oversees three of the schools 4 MBA programs (for executive and part-time MBA students and is an adjunct professor of accounting, law and International business. He has been a practicing lawyer for over 40 years and has been on the UCLA Anderson faculty for over 30 years. In addition to his administrative duties, Freixes teaches business law, international business law, business ethics, corporate and individual taxation, and real estate law and taxation in the MBA program and in the undergraduate accounting minor. He has lectured in numerous countries in Europe, Latin America and Asia on international business and tax subjects as well as on corporate governance, business ethics, international business law and trial advocacy.

On Thursday, February 23, the Center for Global Management (CGM) hosted an in-person lunchtime discussion with Ping Wang, a seasoned communications professional at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and research fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, who has led many communications projects that have helped the IMF break through to a new generation given increasing skepticism about multilateralism.  Students from the full-time, fully employed and executive MBA programs, interested in global management, joined the lunchtime session to learn more about the important role of the IMF in upholding globalization and building a framework for international economic cooperation. Wang addressed the history, role and purpose of the IMF in upholding globalization and multilateral cooperation, the role it plays during financial crises, and the kind of assistance it offered during the recent pandemic. She explained how the IMF is organized and funded, and explained its role in surveillance, funding and capacity development. Wang also touched on the technical assistance and training that the IMF provides to governments and shared that the lending capacity of the IMF is one trillion USD. Wang spent time to explain how the IMF is enhancing support to its 190-member countries as they pursue their Sustainable Development Goals, and introduced some IMF research on global economic analysis, and frontier thinking on future trends. While the IMF’s traditional areas of focus have included fiscal policy, monetary policy and financial stability, Wang shared details on some of its more recent areas of focus, such as climate change, women in the economy and inclusive growth. The discussion was organized by the Center for Global Management, and supported by Net Impact.

After three years of isolation, China is experiencing slow economic growth that has not been seen in 40 years, and a decline in population that has not been seen in decades. The sudden change of zero-COVID policy and subsequent reopening has also brought anxiety and relief. China is experiencing a debt mountain, the first decline in property invest in 20 years, a reluctance of private enterprises to invest, an increasingly low return on investment from infrastructure spending, and the consequences of decoupling. China’s previous great reopening, after the isolation of the Mao years, led to an explosion of prosperity as goods, people, investment and ideas surged across its borders in both directions. Both China and the world have benefited from such flows. Hopefully, China’s reopening will ultimately succeed but exactly how open the new China will be remains to be seen.

What does China's economic future hold?  Will the Chinese economy make a significant turnaround in 2023, rebound and resume its economic engine?   Whether it does is of great significance to the world. Professor Chris Tang, UCLA distinguished professor, Edward W. Carter Chair in Business Administration, and faculty director of UCLA Anderson’s Center for Global Management (CGM) discussed these questions  and trends, and the potential long-term consequences for the domestic and global economies. During a thoughtful and balanced virtual discussion, Tang addressed the impact of China’s zero-COVID policy, slow economic growth, the shrinking and aging population, and the U.S. decoupling trend and explained how to examine these issues logically. He also shared his thoughts on China’s reopening and its role in global trade.

The event was a featured discussion in the Wilbur K. Woo Greater China Business Series and was open to UCLA students, alumni, faculty, staff and members of the extended UCLA global community and general public.  The Wilbur K. Woo Greater China Business Series is organized by the Center for Global Management. UCLA Anderson’s Greater China Business Association (GCBA) and UCLA’s Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA) were collaborating partners. UCLA’s Asia Pacific Center and Cathay Bank  were supporting organizations. VIEW VIDEO

The Wilbur K. Woo Greater China Business Series engages leading executives, innovators, influencers, investors and academics in conversations around the major forces, trends and innovations in the region across society, enterprises and consumers. Through balanced discourse, the series serves as a neutral forum to exchange ideas and learnings, understand new norms and models, and provide forward-looking perspectives on advancements to better understand the trends, opportunities and challenges of doing business in and with the Greater China region.

On Wednesday, February 2, 2023, UCLA Anderson honored Brian Cornell, board chairman and chief executive officer of Target with the John Wooden Global Leadership Award, at a gala dinner held at The Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles.  First presented in 2008, the award is named for legendary UCLA basketball coach, author and leadership expert John Wooden (1910–2010). It is given each year to an exceptional business leader whose leadership style and service to the community reflect the high standards of performance, integrity and ethical values for which Wooden was known.  The recognition was last bestowed in 2022 to Kenneth C. Frazier, executive chairman of the board and former CEO of Merck.

As the most successful coach in U.S. men's college basketball history, John Wooden left a legacy of leadership that transcends athletics and spans generations. As a coach, prolific author and inspiring speaker, he dedicated his life to motivating people to achieve their highest potential. Wooden instilled in others a sense of pride, a commitment to ethics and a respect for teamwork. These fundamental principles translate seamlessly from the sports arena to the realms of business, management and leadership.

The 2022 John Wooden Global Leadership Award honored a corporate leader who personifies the ideals of achievement, principle and character associated with Coach John Wooden. Coach created the timeless, inimitable blueprint for achieving success in sports, business and life: The Pyramid of Success. It connects ethics, team spirit, skill, hard work, loyalty, competitive greatness and many more attributes in a unique way, and has served as a map for many contemporary leaders. Coach Wooden stands in the record books for winning seven NCAA titles in a row and 10 in 12 seasons. For his leadership, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2004. UCLA Anderson embraces the principles of character-based leadership taught by Coach, and gives the award each year to a global influencer who will ensure that his tenets live on and inspire millions of people.

Brian Cornell was chosen as this year's Wooden Award recipient in recognition of his visionary leadership, his  philanthropy, his career-long advocacy of diversity and inclusion in corporate leadership, and his commitment to establishing a positive and productive corporate culture to the benefit of Target’s team members and customers. UCLA Anderson Dean Tony Bernardo opened the evening's festivities, alongside Caroline W. Nahas, Korn Ferry senior advisor and chair of the UCLA Anderson Board of Advisors. In bringing Cornell to the stage to be recognized, Dean Bernardo said that the Target leader's many achievements and leadership positions told just part of the story of his distinguished career. "What's most notable to me is not what Brian has accomplished but how he accomplished it," Bernardo said. "Like Coach Wooden, Brian is team-centered and purpose-driven. His values are fundamental: integrity, excellence, respect and collaboration. He's lived those values, working incredibly hard at every step of his very high ladder."

At the banquet, Martin Jarmond, UCLA's Alice and Nahum Lainer Family Director of Athletics, engaged Cornell in an on-stage conversation about leadership, values and the Wooden legacy. "When I think about Coach Wooden, the first thing that comes to mind is consistency. Fundamental details were so critically important for him and there are a lot of parallels to leadership in business," Cornell said, adding that coaches and leaders face many challenges. "Never lose focus on the importance of your values, your purpose and your principles," he said. A tribute to John Wooden by Lacey Wooden, Coach Wooden’s great granddaughter, began the program and was followed by a tribute from Los Angeles Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts. Roberts spoke about his relationship with Coach Wooden and the ways in which Wooden's approach to coaching basketball influenced his own approach to managing a baseball team.

Brian Cornell heads the global, purpose-driven team of more than 400,000 behind Target, a leading American retailer with nearly 2,000 stores covering all 50 states. He joined Target in 2014 and quickly established a strategic direction that built on the company's strengths as a multicategory mass merchandiser, while spearheading investments in wages, benefits, training, diverse and equitable representation and a culture that helps all team members care, grow and win together.  In 2022, Cornell was named the "Visionary" by the National Retail Federation, and Target received the top ranking on People Magazine's 100 Companies that Care list. In recent years, CNN named him the Top CEO of the Year and Target ranked second on Fortune's Best Big Companies to Work For.  Prior to Target, Cornell spent more than 30 years in escalating leadership positions at leading retail and consumer-product companies. His work took him from North America to Asia, Europe and Latin America and provided insights that he leverages at Target today. Cornell currently serves on the National Retail Federation's executive committee and The Business Council and is non-executive chairman of the board for Yum! Brands. A career-long advocate of diversity and inclusion in corporate leadership, he is a board member for Catalyst, and Target recently received the Executive Leadership Council's Corporate Award for its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Cornell earned a bachelor's degree from UCLA in 1981 and attended UCLA Anderson School of Management, where he serves on the board of advisors.

The audience of over 500 included UCLA Anderson Board of Advisors members and other generous supporters, along with members of Coach Wooden’s family, members of the Anderson family joined current and past Wooden Fellows, UCLA Anderson students, alumni, faculty and senior leadership from across the UCLA campus for the ceremony.  Net proceeds from the annual event support fellowships for UCLA Anderson students who embody Coach Wooden’s leadership ideals and commitment to improving the lives of others. During the ceremony, the four 2022 fellowship recipients: Allen Chen (UCLA-NUS EMBA ’22), Samuel Fein (FTMBA ’23),  Sonia Ly (EMBA ’23) and Nick Sharma (FEMBA ’23) were recognized and awarded the John Wooden Global Leadership Fellowship, which is among the most prestigious honors Anderson students can receive. They took the stage to express their thoughts on what Coach Wooden’s values-based leadership means to them. Wooden Fellows are honored because they possess his focus on ethics, team spirit, skill, hard work and loyalty, along with a commitment to constant learning, continual improvement and innovation.  Each of the four 2022 John Wooden Global Leadership Fellows will receive a $35,000 fellowship. Read more about the 2022 Fellows.

Previous John Wooden Global Leadership honorees include: Kenneth C. Frazier, executive chairman of the board and former CEO of Merck; Mellody Hobson, co-CEO and president, Ariel Investments; Reed Hastings, co-founder and CEO, Netflix; W. James (Jim) McNerney Jr., retired chairman, president and CEO, The Boeing Company; Ursula Burns, former chairman and CEO, Xerox; Paul E. Jacobs, former executive chairman, Qualcomm; Robert Iger, chairman and CEO, The Walt Disney Company; Indra Nooyi, former CEO, PepsiCo; Peter Ueberroth, managing director, Contrarian Group, and president of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee; Frederick Smith, president and CEO, FedEx; Kenneth Chenault, former chairman and CEO, American Express Company; and Howard Schultz, former chairman and CEO, Starbucks.

After a three year hiatus due to the pandemic, the sixth annual Los Angeles Global Health Conference (LAGHC),  “Moving Towards Global Solidarity: Examining the Shared Impacts of COVID-19,” took place both virtually and in-person at UCLA on Saturday, January 28, 2023. The 2023 conference, hosted in Southern California, brought together approximately 210 individuals who joined either in-person or virtually from various disciplines across academia, NGOs, business, and the public sector to discuss timely topics in global health and provided an interactive educational forum to discuss innovative ways to tackle health disparities—locally and globally. Home to individuals from more than 140 countries speaking 224 different languages, Los Angeles's rich cultural diversity makes it an ideal place to examine the current status of global health. 

The LAGHC is organized by students from medicine, public health, and other disciplines from universities across Southern California, including UCLA, and, Kaiser Permanente, and others. The conference educates and connects with members of the Los Angeles communities on health equity topics in our own backyards and around the world. 

Amidst the persistent devastation that the pandemic sparked across the world, we find ourselves in a new opportune landscape for global health. With this new landscape, we can collectively work to dismantle the deep social inequities underscored by the pandemic, utilize novel solutions to improve healthcare delivery, and lean on one another to support the mental well-being of our world as a whole. The 2023 conference was centered around three primary themes: health-system equity, social justice, and public health infrastructure; the window of opportunity for health technologies; and making mental health and well-being a global priority.

The opening keynote address, “ Achieving Global Solidarity by Leading with a Health Equity Lens, “ was delivered virtually by Dr. Matifadza Hlatshwayo Davis, MD, MPH, director of health for the City of St. Louis, and a national and international medical contributor on COVID-19 with a particular focus on marginalized populations. The afternoon keynote delivered by Dr. Patricia Gordon looked at “Closing the Gaps: Increasing Global Health Equity for Women Through Innovation Programs for Cervical Cancer Prevention.” Dr. Gordon graduated from UCLA School of Medicine in 1982 and worked as a radiation oncologist in Los Angeles for 28 years. Her commitment to saving women’s lives in low and middle-income settings led her to an additional career as a non-profit leader and international women’s health advocate. In 2014, she founded CureCervicalCancer, which trains local healthcare professionals to screen and treat women for cervical precancer. The organization has established 106 sustainable and ongoing CureCervicalCancer clinics in Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Haiti, Guatemala, Vietnam, and training programs in rural China – where help is needed most. In 2021, she was nominated as a Top 10 CNN Hero of the Year for her efforts to fight the global epidemic of cervical cancer. 

The day also included numerous breakout sessions around the three key themes and included topics such as the impact of COVID-19 on our mental health, developing health technology peri-pandemic, COVID vaccination education in underserved communities, the impact of COVID-19 on the landscape of telemedicine, and impacts of COVID-19 on native communities.

The UCLA Anderson Center for Global Management was a silver sponsor of the event. Other sponsors included the UCLA International Institute, UCLA Health, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine and its Global Health program, UCLA AIDS Institute, and The Promise Institute for Human Rights at the UCLA School of Law, among others.

On Tuesday, January 24, the Center for Global Management welcomed Jon Niermann (’95), an alumnus of the FEMBA program and member of the CGM’s advisory board, back to his alma mater for a lunchtime discussion with students. During his career of over 30 years, Niermann has achieved success on both the corporate and entrepreneurial business worlds in the U.S. and Asia. He built his entertainment career with The Walt Disney Company and Electronic Arts, serving as president of both company's Asian operations, prior to starting his own media companies. Niermann left the corporate world after 22 years to start his own company, FarWest Entertainment (2010), a multi-platform (television, music, animation, digital) media and entertainment company that focused on bridging Asia with the West. In 2016, he co-founded Loop Media, Inc., which went public on the NYSE in 2022.  Loop Media is a Digital Out of Home video streaming company, that serves as a content platform for public venues and businesses – large and small. Loop is the largest provider of music videos and other short-form content to top businesses.

Students from all four MBA programs, interested in global management and business, including members of the Entertainment Management Association joined the interactive session to hear about Niermann’s successful career trajectory post-Anderson. He discussed his experiences working on the business and creative sides of large companies and then venturing into the entrepreneurial world full-time with his own media companies, and his 15 years of living in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo. He also shared his thoughts and insights on the global media and entertainment landscape, as well as the implications for the industry, in the short and longer terms, as a result of the trends that have been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic ,and addressed the pivot that Loop Media had to quickly made. He addressed lessons learned over the years, why he made certain decisions throughout his career, and provided students with some tangible advice as they think about their own career paths and industry pivots. The discussion was organized by the Center for Global Management and supported by the UCLA Anderson Entertainment Management Association.

To celebrate the Year of the Rabbit, promote familiarity with and understanding of the Asian culture among the Anderson community, and strengthen cross-club collaboration, on Thursday, January 19, 2023, the Center for Global Management supported the Greater China Business Association (GCBA), Asian Management Student Association (AMSA), Korean Business Student Association (KBSA), the Taiwanese Student Business Association (TSBA, and Southeast Asian Business Association (SEABA) to celebrate the Lunar New Year during Andernoon. Lunar New Year, which fell on Sunday, January 22, 2023, is one of the most important holidays in many Asian countries, and celebrated by even more people of Asian heritage globally. It marks the end of winter, beginning of spring, and the arrival of the new year. The rabbit is the symbol of longevity, peace, and prosperity in Chinese Culture, thus 2023 is predicted to be a year of hope.

During Anderson Afternoon on January 19, 2023, these clubs took the opportunity to invite the UCLA Anderson community to join and celebrate the Lunar New Year together. This year, over 200 UCLA Anderson students, faculty, and staff participated in the festivities. The North Terrace was transformed into a sea of red with lantern decorations and many different types of décor to bring out the best of the holiday spirit. Asian food was also served to fully indulge the community in the celebrations. UCLA’s Chinese Lion Dance Troupe, affiliated with the Association of Chinese Americans (ACA), known as ACA Lion Dance, performed 2 traditional lion dances for the students to enjoy. Lion Dance is a form of traditional dance in Chinese culture and other Asian countries, often performed at festivals, to bring good luck and fortune. Students also enjoyed some traditional Chinese candy.

The event was hosted by GCBA, AMSA, KBSA, TSBA, and SEABA, and supported by the CGM, Anderson Student Association and the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

Brazil receives over half of all investments made in fintech in Latin America and is home to the highest number of unicorns in the region. The rise of fintech in Brazil represents many of the main challenges and opportunities in the country. Despite facing many policy challenges, Brazil is highly digitized. While mobile banking has been commonplace for years, the recent pandemic accelerated trends in the banking sector where the adoption of digital payments and digital wallets had been rising fast, especially among citizens who previously had no access to banking services – propelling Brazilian fintech forward.

On January 19, the Center for Global Management (CGM) was honored to welcome Roberto Campos Neto (B.S. ’93, M.A. ’95), governor of the Central Bank of Brazil, back to his alma mater for a fascinating discussion on the Central Bank of Brazil’s innovation agenda and Brazil’s role and advances in fintech. During his 20+ year tenure at Santander, he initiated a global project on technology innovation as part of the "Digital Bank" initiative. He also launched initiatives on blockchain, digital assets, and other innovations shaping the financial markets of the future. During the discussion, the in-person audience, made up of students and alumni from UCLA Anderson’s MBA, PhD and MFE programs and students studying economics at UCLA, had the opportunity to hear from Governor Neto, a strong believer in technology and financial innovation, as he reviewed these technological developments and the Central Bank’s technology agenda, including Pix, an instant payment platform created and managed by the Central Bank of Brazil, which enables the quick execution of payments and transfers. He explored the impact and implications for Brazil, the U.S. and the world; discussed the risks and challenges faced by financial institutions and examined opportunities for startups, venture investors and the global investment community. The conversation, that was also broadcast live to a remote audience of alumni and interested members of the general community, was moderated by Sebastian Edwards, distinguished professor and Henry Ford II Chair in International Management. Dean Tony Bernardo delivered opening remarks. The discussion was a featured event in the CGM’s Latin American Business Series. The UCLA Latin American Institute and Anderson’s Latin American Business Association were supporting organizations. VIEW VIDEO

The Latin American Business Series engages the audience in interactive conversations with prominent and influential private and public sector leaders, that address the region’s important and influential role in the global economy, and the world. Through balanced discourse, leaders share experiences, insights and forecasts on the economic, political and social prospects for the region, and discuss business and investment opportunities. The series serves as a platform to build networks, exchange ideas and understand the trends, opportunities and challenges of doing business in, and with Latin America.

How should a firm go beyond financial measures to create a more environmentally sustainable and socially responsible future? On January 11, the Center for Global Management (CGM) hosted Margie Yang, chairman of the Esquel Group. Headquartered in Hong Kong and based in China, the Esquel Group is a family-owned, knowledge-based innovation company with textile and apparel manufacturing operations in mainland China. Professor Chris Tang, faculty director of UCLA Anderson’s Center for Global Management, and Professor Heiwai Tang (B.S. ’00), director of Hong Kong University’s Asia Global Institute moderated the inspiring conversation with Yang, who has long been an advocate for environmental conservation and sustainable production. Yang addressed how the company has embraced automation and environmentally friendly production processes in its operations in China, where it faces rising labor costs and stricter environmental regulation. She discussed the importance of transparency in supply chains and demonstrated how the company has developed a business model that makes money, protects the environment and empowers its people. It was an impressive, inspiring and insightful discussion and broad-reaching conversation. During the audience Q&A, Yang was asked how companies can make better ESG-related decisions while the standard for measuring ESG is neither fully established nor broadly accepted. She also addressed some lessons have been learned on how to tackle the supply chain challenges caused by the geopolitical issues and COVID-19 challenges in recent few years.

The event was featured as the inaugural discussion in the Wilbur K. Woo Greater China Business Series. This discussion was in collaboration with HKU’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Study Center and open to UCLA students, alumni, faculty, staff and members of the extended UCLA global community and general public. The Wilbur K. Woo Greater China Business Series is organized by the Center for Global Management. UCLA Anderson’s Greater China Business Association (GCBA) and UCLA’s Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA) were collaborating partners. UCLA’s Asia Pacific Center and Cathay Bank were supporting organizations. VIEW VIDEO

The Wilbur K. Woo Greater China Business Series engages leading executives, innovators, influencers, investors and academics in conversations around the major forces, trends and innovations in the region across society, enterprises and consumers. Through balanced discourse, the series serves as a neutral forum to exchange ideas and learnings, understand new norms and models, and provide forward-looking perspectives on advancements to better understand the trends, opportunities and challenges of doing business in and with the Greater China region.

Born in China in 1916, the late Wilbur K. Woo (B.A. ’42) received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from UCLA. He went on to become a major figure in LA's business, political, cultural and charitable arenas and was known for his decades of leadership in the Chinese-American community. Global reach starts with global thinking, and two decades ago -- recognizing the rapid expansion and modernization of China’s economy -- Wilbur Woo, the vice chairman of Cathay Bank, and his wife Beth endowed the Wilbur K. Woo Greater China Business Conference at UCLA (now rebranded as a Series) to show their gratitude for the training Wilbur had received at his alma mater. The Woos' goal was to facilitate dialogue, promote understanding, and strengthen the important ties between the Greater China region and the United States—to identify areas of collective opportunity, foster cooperation, and bring a group of leaders—both aspiring and current -- together to collaborate and learn together. These events and discussions have continued to have a powerful impact on our community—here at UCLA and beyond.

During winter break, a second group of over 30 students and alumni from all four of UCLA Anderson’s MBA programs, visited Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to explore how political and economic policies in Vietnam play out in one of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant economies, with a particular focus on entrepreneurship. The course was taught by George Abe, adjunct professor of entrepreneurship. This was the fourth global immersion course to focus on and visit the country. The last time was in December 2018. The course exposed students to a country that is not well understood, but that holds considerable importance to Asia and inevitably on the global scene.  During the in-country week, students had opportunities to hear from, and engage and network with entrepreneurs in the country, including successful UCLA alumni doing business in Vietnam, and with business and government leaders through fireside chats, company and accelerator visits, and smaller interactive group discussions. They were able to compare and contrast the start-up scenes in both cities too.

The inaugural sessions in Hanoi, included discussions with representatives from the U.S. Embassy Hanoi and the American Chamber of Commerce, that plays a key role in the commercial life of Vietnam. Students were provided with an overview of the history of Vietnam and the evolution of the country’s economy, trade, commerce and investment. They also heard about supply chain issues, corruption and education initiatives. In Hanoi, students learned about the power of social enterprises in the country with a visit to the Protec Helmet factory. Protec is a social enterprise, based in Vietnam, that channels profits into traffic safety through the operations of the Asia Injury Prevention (AIP) Foundation in Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia. Students toured the Protec Helmet factory that manufactures high quality helmets and employs the physically disabled. The AIP Foundation is a non-profit enterprise that combats and rises awareness about the growing traffic crisis in Southeast Asia and other developing low-income countries, and provides access to quality helmets and road safety education to promote safe behavior among high-risk road users. At the factory, students heard from Greig Craft and Hoang Thi Na Huong, president and founder, and chief executive officer respectively, of the AIP Foundation. Later in the week, students enjoyed a visit to VinUniversity, a private and nonprofit university located in Hanoi that was established by the private corporate Vingroup, following the approval by the Prime Minister of Vietnam in March 2018. Here, they learned more about the Vingroup ecosystem. Vingroup is the largest conglomerate of Vietnam, that focuses on technology, industry, real estate development, retail, and services ranging from healthcare to hospitality. Students were educated on how VinFast, a member of the Vingroup, has been the first Vietnamese car brand to expand into global markets, and the first to expand into producing EVs such as electric cars and electric scooters. They also learned about its presence and hopes for expansion in the U.S. marketplace and got to see some VinFast cars and the Vinhomes Ocean Park project.

To better understand the start-up scene in Hanoi, the group visited the Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST), a public university that is the first and largest technical university in Vietnam. In 2008, HUSK established BK Holdings within the university with the objective to mobilize resources of  government, organizations and individuals, domestic and foreign enterprises to participate in the research process, incubator and commercialization of science and engineering technology products of the university.  At its incubator space, students heard from founders of various startups involved in the edtech, deep tech and robotics, medical, and environmental space. Students also had an opportunity to break out into groups through interactive sessions with some of its start-up companies.

Over the weekend, the group flew to Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). Here, they visited Dreamplex, that provides co-working space, and were able to compare and contrast the start-up scene between Hanoi and the country’s largest city. At Dreamplex, students had the opportunity to tour the facility, and hear from and interact with some of its tenants. These included successful entrepreneurs and founders of five fascinating and quite advanced companies  providing online education for coding (CoderSchool), an employee engagement platform (Flambé), a general learning app (MoveUp Vietnam), a vocabulary app (WordsMine!), and a digital content application for audiobooks and e-books, among others (Fonos). In HCMC, students also had the opportunity to visit Zone Startups Vietnam. At the accelerator, they learned about empowering and supporting female tech entrepreneurs and enjoyed a presentation by a female co-founder from one of its startups, Medifood, whose products promote health and wellbeing. The time in HCMC also included a fascinating visit to Glass Egg, an art outsourcing studio and game developer/publisher to hear about the company’s history, evolution, and future aspirations. The visit included a tour of the facilities where students could observe the graphic designers develop , design and code the 3D visual environments for games. At Ho Chi Minh Securities Corporation (HSC), a leading a securities brokerage firm and investment bank in Vietnam, Quan Le ('00), chief partnership officer and Giang Trinh, chief executive officer discussed Vietnam’s stock market and capital markets.  In class, students had studied and read cases on both Glass Egg and HSC so these visits were particularly meaningful and informative. The group was also educated on the legal landscape in the country by Ms. Phuong Nguyen, a partner at Baker & McKenzie and two associates, including UCLA alumnus Tuan Minh Le (B.A. '10) and Rachelle Komarnisky. They were taught more about the main aspects of the Vietnamese business culture in professional services by Rizwan Khan, a partner at Acclime, a professional corporate services firm in Vietnam that helps companies that are looking to expand into Vietnam and Asia to navigate the complexities and challenges of the regional regulatory environment.

Opportunities to hear from, and network with alumni during the week were also provided. EMBA alumnus Calvin Lam (’01), chief executive officer of iBasic hosted the group. iBasic is an end-to-end designer, manufacturer and retailer of mid-priced underwear that operates a chain of specialty stores in Vietnam. Professor Abe led a fireside chat with Lam where he addressed iBasic and talked about some of his other business ventures, including forestry and a restaurant. Lam was very open in his explanation around starting a business in Vietnam, and the business climate in the country. At the conclusion of the week, the professor moderated another fireside chat with Crystal Lam, a Berkeley alumna and managing director of Vinawood. Lam shared her experience running and managing a business and manufacturing operation in the country. Vinawood is a Vietnam-based manufacturing company that specializes in wooden furnishings and is a leading global supplier of wood blind and shutter components. The company, that serves primarily the United States, Europe and Japan markets, is committed to developing products with timeless design through socially responsible practices.

During the week, students visited key sites of historical importance and cultural significance, experienced local culture, and enjoyed local Vietnamese cuisine. In Hanoi, they visited Hỏa Lò Prison (known as the “Hanoi Hilton”), a prison originally used by the French colonists in Indochina for political prisoners, and later by North Vietnam for U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. The prison site has been modernized while one wing has been retained as a museum.

A city tour of Hanoi also passed by notable sights, including the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum; Truc Bach Lake where former Senator John McCain was shot down and parachuted into the lake and was later taken prisoner during the Vietnam War; and the Temple of Literature, a temple dedicated to Confucius and Vietnam’s first national university. The group also strolled through the Old Quarter and past the Hoan Kiem Lake. Mid-week, students enjoyed a relaxing cruise around the amazing Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its emerald waters and thousands of towering limestone islands topped by rainforests. They visited its Thiên Cung Cave, in the south-west of Ha Long Bay, with intricate stalactite and stalagmite formations. In HCMC, students visited the War Remnants Museum. The deeply moving museum documents, through extremely informative and moving exhibits, many of the atrocities of the Vietnam War, known in Vietnam as the American War, and exposes war crimes and graphic photography. The French colonial period and conflicts with China are also documented. The city tour passed by well-known, prominent landmarks, including the Notre Dame Cathedral and Post Office. At the conclusion of the week, some students stayed to explore Vietnam while others headed home or explored other parts of southeast Asia after a truly memorable and enriching week in Vietnam.

During winter break, 35 students and alumni from three of UCLA Anderson’s MBA programs – executive, fully employed and full-time - visited Mumbai and Hyderabad to familiarize themselves with India’s business environment, and explore both the risks and opportunities offered by the Indian market for foreign investors and domestic entrepreneurs alike.

The course was taught by Romain Wacziarg, professor of economics and the Hans Hufschmid Chair in Management.  This was the sixth global immersion course to focus on and visit India, and the second time to incorporate both Mumbai and Hyderabad together. The last time was in December 2019. The course provided students with a general understanding of the business environment of India and conveyed familiarity with the specificities of the market ,and non-market environments of business in India. It also provided detailed knowledge of four critical sectors of the Indian economy: finance, entertainment, high technology and biotech/ healthcare. The sessions in India, featured meetings with business leaders and entrepreneurs, including UCLA alumni, academics, and relevant members of the civil society. Due to our destination cities being centers of finance and entertainment (Mumbai) as well as tech and biotech (Hyderabad), these sectors were also the subject of some emphasis during the in-country week. The time in India included visits to places of historical and cultural importance too.

While in Mumbai, the group was exposed to a wide range of sessions that covered the full spectrum of financial services and access. The inaugural session, included a discussion on microfinance, its history and current landscape in India with Anujeet Varadkar, the chief executive officer of Svatantra Microfin Pvt. Ltd. Svatantra is a microfinance institution (MFI) that helps women customers in rural villages become economically self-sustainable by providing micro-loans. Varadkar described the company’s operations, addressed the evolution of the MFI sector in India and the main players; shared some key industry statistics; and explained the role of Svatantra. On a more macro level, students visited the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the country’s central bank, that uses monetary policy to create financial stability in the country. The RBI is charged with regulating the country's currency and credit systems. Students heard from some of RBI’s senior staff members from the departments of economic and policy research, monetary policy, and fintech. They learned more about India’s monetary policy and financial regulations, the modernization of the country’s financial infrastructure, and the progress made towards payments and access to finance.

Students heard from Navneet Munot, managing director and chief executive officer of the Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) Asset Management Co. Ltd, an Indian private development finance institution based in Mumbai, and a major housing finance provider in the city. Munot provided an overview of the Indian economy, the mutual fund industry and asset management business in the country, including competition in the sector and growth in recent years. He also addressed the focus on ESG and how the company is spreading financial literacy digitally.  The group also had the opportunity to hear from Harish Madaan, a director at the Mumbai branch of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC). Madaan also provided an overview of the Indian economy and addressed government regulation and strategy. He talked about the global macro trends of deglobalization, climate change and digitization, and India’s initiatives and challenges in these areas. He also addressed the Central Bank’s endeavor around digital currency, known as the digital rupee. He described how structural changes across the globe have opened up new opportunities for India, a country with a favorable demographic structure to capture such opportunities.  Students also visited Axis Bank, the third largest private sector bank in India to hear about its strategy and new initiatives.

On the entertainment side, students visited Jio Creative Labs and Yash Raj Films. Jio Creative Labs works with numerous Bollywood celebrities and is an independent strategic business unit of Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd., established with the vision of becoming the new-age creative agency to service the ever-evolving needs of brands. Students learned about the media and entertainment landscape in India and the role of advertising and branding. They were provided with a summary of some of the different campaigns and advertising methods that are directed to various regions in India. They also heard about content production and industry outreach; and how revenue is generated in Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood (formerly as Bombay cinema), the film industry based in Mumbai. They learned about consumer behavior too. The group enjoyed a visit to Yash Raj films, an Indian film production and distribution company that mainly produces and distributes Hindi and Punjabi films. The company has grown to be one of the largest film studios in India and is the only privately held and fully integrated studio in the country, producing and having produced over 80 films. Akshaye Widhani, chief executive officer spoke about the company’s evolution, films that have defined the studio, and led a Q&A session. The group was also taken on a tour of the studios and learned about the process of set design.

To continue with the entertainment theme, students received presentations from representatives of Warner Bros. Discovery on the streaming business in India and expansion of the over-the-top (OTT) streaming by international players into the Indian Market. Tushar Singh, director of product international and expansion, APAC provided some fascinating facts on the users, where they are streaming, how they pay and what they are watching, and also on the expansion of the OTT platforms in India. Following this, Ali Hussein, chief executive officer of Eros Now, provided an overview of the company, its content type and subscribers, and its position in the global OTT market. Eros Now is an Indian subscription-based OTT, video on-demand entertainment and media platform that launched in 2012. It is owned and controlled by Eros Digital, the Indian digital media management arm of the Indian-American multinational media company Eros Media World.

In Mumbai, to complement the visits and presentations, students enjoyed a panel discussion at the historic Royal Bombay Yacht Club where various industry leaders addressed doing business in India from their own industry and personal perspectives. Panelists included UCLA Anderson alumnus Abhishek Agarwal (’10), co-founder and chief executive officer of CreditVidya, a leading player in the alternative credit scoring space in India that leverages alternative data, AI and machine learning to facilitate institutional credit for the underserved. Later in the week, the group visited CreditVidya in Hyderabad. Agarwal was joined on the panel by Vinati Mutreja, a successful Indian woman entrepreneur who is chief executive officer and managing director of Vinati Organics (the family business) and Karan Bhagat, chief executive officer and founder of IIFL Wealth and Asset Management, an Indian wealth management firm and diversified financial services company. The panel was moderated by Professor Romain Wacziarg.  A networking event followed. Alumni from UCLA Anderson’s full-time, UCLA-NUS EMBA and PGPX programs joined the evening.

Later in the week, the group flew to Hyderabad where the focus of the sessions was centered around health care, biotech and technology.  An overview of the biotech industry in India was provided during a fascinating visit to Bharat Biotech, the largest vaccine and bio-therapeutics manufacturer in India. Students learned more about the company, that has delivered over 4 billion vaccines doses all over the world and was among the first to develop vaccines for viral diseases such as Chikungunya and Zika. It also developed and manufactured the Covaxin during the pandemic. On October 12 2021, Bharat Biotech's Covaxin got approved for usage on children between the ages of 2 and 18. At Dr. Reddy’s Labs, students heard from Deepak Sara, the chief executive officer of active pharmaceuticals ingredients (API) and services, who provided an overview on the health care sector in India, the country’s biopharma industry, and India’s contribution to global health care. He described the evolution of Dr. Reddy’s Labs, an Indian multinational pharmaceutical company that manufactures and markets a wide range of pharmaceuticals in India and overseas, and explained how the company uses science and technology to accelerate access to affordable and innovative medicine. The company has over 190 medications and 60 APIs for drug manufacture, diagnostic kits, critical care, and biotechnology.

Following the visits to Bharat Biotech and Dr. Reddy’s Labs, students were taken on a tour of the LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI). LVPEI’s mission is to provide equitable and quality eye care to all sections of society. In 1987 in Hyderabad, LVPEI was established by Dr. Gullapalli Nageswara Rao, an academic ophthalmologist, with a generous contribution by L.V. Prasad, a pioneering Indian film producer, actor, director, cinematographer and businessman who was struck by the lack of good eye care in India. LVPEI is now a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Prevention of Blindness and a comprehensive eye health facility. LVPEI is a non-profit, multi-campus, non-governmental institution. With more than 200 eye-care centers in India, it is the largest eye-care network in the world. Students received a fascinating tour of the facility where they learned about and observed firsthand the different areas and levels of service and comfort given to patients, based on what they can afford to pay. 

During their time in Hyderabad, the group had the opportunity to visit the Microsoft campus and gain insights on how a large U.S. multi-national tech company operates in India. They were hosted at CreditVidya by Abhishek Agarwal (’10), its co-founder who they met earlier in the week in Mumbai. At CreditVidya, they met with members of Agarwal’s leadership team to hear more about how CreditVidya accelerates financial inclusion in India and enables access to affordable institutional credit by financially excluded citizens. They explained the company’s model and how this is done by running artificial intelligence (AI) and machine-learning (ML) models on traditional and alternative data for superior credit-risk assessment, and how its underwriting technology is opening the country’s loans market to over 250 million financially excluded citizens. Traditionally, financial institutions have been unwilling to lend to these citizens because they lack collateral and a credit history. CreditVidya’s technology is reducing the cost of processing loans from about $2 to less than one cent while overcoming a lack of credit history or collateral by leveraging loan applicants’ digital footprints to measure their creditworthiness. To determine creditworthiness, CreditVidya’s AI and ML platform leverages payment data, financial behavioral data, and device data stored on smartphones to help determine loan applicants’ ability and intent to repay loans.

At the conclusion of the week, the group was hosted by the Indian School of Business (ISB) at its Hyderabad campus.  Students received a fascinating presentation by Professor Amir Ullah Khan, a development economist and visiting professor from the Indian School of Public Policy who spoke about digital solutions to growth and development challenges in India. They later visited the I-Venture@ ISB to learn about India’s tech start-up scene and ecosystem, and the role of I-Venture@ISB  from Professor Bhagwan Chowdhry, faculty director of I-Venture and professor emeritus of finance at UCLA Anderson. I-Venture@ISB fosters entrepreneurship and nurtures start-ups. It has very specific programs that caters to entrepreneurs and ventures at all stages. The group heard how it is working towards creating a strong ecosystem of mentors, VCs and academicians to ensure the startup’s reach to market and growth. The group met with some of its start-up companies in the health care, digital health and agricultural space.

During the week, students also got to experience some of the culture, cuisine and sights of India. In Mumbai, they visited the Colaba and Fort areas, including the Kala Ghoda Statue, Rajabai Clock Tower and the iconic Gateway of India. They enjoyed a guided tour of Elephanta Caves, a collection of cave temples predominantly dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The rock-cut Elephanta Caves, situated on an island close to Mumbai, were constructed around the mid-5th to 6th centuries AD and contain rock cut stone sculptures and carvings that narrate Hindu mythologies. In Hyderabad, the group visited the Old City that was designed with Charminar as its centerpiece, a mosque and monument constructed in 1591 which is the most famous landmark of Hyderabad. At the conclusion of the week, some students headed home for the holidays, while other students remained in India to explore other parts of the country.

To celebrate the various cultures and identities of UCLA Anderson, the Center for Global Management actively supports events hosted by student clubs such as the South Asian Business Association (SABA), one of the largest identity clubs at Anderson. SABA celebrates the culture of South Asia and hosts all-Anderson events. One such event is the annual Diwali celebration. It is celebrated every year in the fall, usually in the months of October and November in the northern hemisphere (spring in the southern hemisphere). Diwali or Deepavali is the festival of lights that marks the victory of good over evil and is one of the biggest festivals celebrated primarily by the Hindu diaspora in South Asia.

While the festival is 5 days long, most people celebrate the third day which is marked by a puja, a feast, and fireworks. It is generally associated with Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and wealth. Diwali is also celebrated outside of non-Hindu communities. On November 9, 2022, close to 300 domestic and international students from Anderson’s FTMBA, FEMBA, MFE and MSBA programs attended the annual Diwali celebration. UCLA Anderson’s North Terrace was transformed and students, dressed in the most ethnic attire, danced and feasted on Indian food. Various aspects of Indian culture were on display with a Bollywood dance showcase by members of SABA from the full-time MBA and MSBA programs. Other activities to engage the attendees included booths for mehndi/henna tattoo and ethnic clothing. Each year, SABA creates a “home away from home” Diwali celebration for South Asian members of the Anderson community while at the same time, facilitates assimilation for other members of the community.  The Center for Global Management was a sponsor of the event.

International Education Week (IEW) is an annual celebration of international education and exchange initiated by the U.S. Departments of State and Education and observed by universities around the nation. IEW is a time to recognize and acknowledge the benefits and importance of the global mobility of students and scholars to study, research, or teach; of those who engage in community-based service learning at home and abroad; and of the continuing need to increase knowledge about the world, intercultural skills, and the capacity to solve global problems collaboratively.

IEW 2022 at UCLA ran from November 7 – 10, 2022. For the seventh year in a row, the UCLA International Institute led a large-scale UCLA cross-campus collaboration in observation of International Education Week through a mix of in-person and virtual programming. IEW took a deep look at the enduring value of international education and exchange through the eyes of faculty, students and alumni, and was attended by hundreds of Bruins (past and present) and the general public. The Center for Global Management is a cosponsor of IEW each year.

With support from 27 campus units, IEW 2022 offered students, faculty and staff a broad range of events and activities that showcased the depth and breadth of UCLA’s international educational and cultural resources. From martial arts workshops to art exhibits to lectures on international politics to international career events, there was something for everyone to enjoy. The week highlighted the immense value of international education for U.S. students — whether acquired through study abroad, language study, international internships, research or internationally oriented coursework — as well as the immeasurable contributions made to U.S. campuses by students and scholars from other countries, whose unique perspectives expand our understanding of the world. The broad array of activities can be viewed on the UCLA website for IEW.

The UCLA Global Conversation has become an IEW campus tradition. This year’s event, held on Thursday, November 10 at the UCLA Faculty Club and in cooperation with the Los Angeles Consular Corps Executive Committee, featured remarks from UCLA Chancellor Gene Block on "Global Challenges, Local Responses," and a moderated panel discussion among four consuls general who addressed the topic from the perspectives of their respective countries. Consul General Marcela Celorio from Mexico, Consul General Julie Duhaut-Bedos from France and Consul General Jane Duke from Australia joined Consul General Ahmed Shaheen from Egypt for a conversation, moderated by Cindy Fan, vice provost for international studies and global engagement. Chancellor Block set the context for the discussion, which addressed seven critical challenges facing global leaders, namely, the economy, global health, misinformation, mental health, climate changes, technological competition and education.

The enthusiastic support for International Education Week across campus again this year reflected UCLA’s status as one of the world’s leading global universities, one whose graduates and research have a global impact.

On November 4, the Centers@Anderson in collaboration with the 2022 Tech & Society Conference: New Visions hosted a fascinating and thought provoking discussion Neil Lindsay, senior vice president of Amazon Health Services where he is responsible for building Amazon’s emerging efforts to make it easier for customers to access the services and products they need to stay healthy. Since joining Amazon in 2010, Lindsay has held roles leading Worldwide Prime and marketing, as well as marketing for Amazon Devices, where he was integral in building Amazon’s consumer brand and global Prime programs, driving customer demand and accelerating engagement, and launching a variety of Amazon devices. The conversation, moderated by Professor Terry Kramer explored the future of health care and the importance of innovation, democratization and the patient experience. With a focus on the customer and the customer’s experience, Lindsay looked at it through three lenses: convenience, cost (value) and selection in both products and services. This is a helpful way to think about the art of the possible in health care and achieving positive health outcomes. He discussed the importance of technology as an enabler to connect customers to providers and providers to customers. Technology and the platform make it easier to connect, allow customers to find the services and products they need, and ultimately make it convenient and easier for them to navigate, choose and engage. He also addressed the importance of human interaction and how privacy and security need to be managed carefully and thoughtfully. This discussion was part of the Easton Center for Technology Management’s 2022 Tech & Society Conference “New Visions” and in partnership with Centers@Anderson, a collaboration among the Centers of UCLA Anderson. Video will be available shorty.

About the Post-COVID Customer Series.
COVID-19 has fundamentally changed definitions of customers, their preferences, their location and modes of purchasing products and services. The idea of "place" has changed — where people work, shop and are entertained. These changes have forced businesses and leaders to rethink their own definitions resulting in new customer segments and markets, new products/services, and new modes of delivery and interaction. This series will explore notable changes across a variety of sectors, new market opportunities, changing customer preferences, and best practices as well as notable failures. A deeper understanding of these will be fundamental to success in a post-COVID-19 world.

Over a decade since the development of Bitcoin, financial and legal systems struggle to catch up with the explosion of cryptocurrencies. Coinbase reported that as of July 2022, there were more than 10,000 tradeable cryptocurrencies. One study estimated that 321 million people worldwide owned cryptocurrencies as of mid-2022. Some analysts predict that the global blockchain market will grow by US$39 billion by 2025. The past two years have witnessed a rollercoaster in the cryptocurrency markets. Comedian Larry David starred in a Superbowl ad that touted the virtues of investing in cryptocurrency, even if the investor cannot understand how it works. In January 2022, Bitcoin was trading at $37,928. At the beginning of September 2022, it was trading slightly over $19,000. Yet, despite its potential for volatility and concerns about its impact on the environment and its use in criminal activity, cryptocurrency is seen by many as a possible future of money and exchange.

On November 2, in UCLA Anderson’s executive dining room, and remotely via Zoom,  the UCLA Anderson Center for Global Management and UCLA School of Law’s Lowell Milken Institute for Business Law and Policy hosted the inaugural discussion of the new academic year in their joint Global Business and Policy Forum series, now in its 10th year, that focused on cryptocurrency. The discussion centered around how cryptocurrency should be regulated, its implications for the U.S. and global economies, and the challenges we are likely to confront as cryptocurrency becomes more prevalent in daily transactions. Matthew Gertler (B.A. ’11), General Counsel of Reserve, which has created a stable universal digital currency, led the thoughtful discussion and interactive conversation that considered the state of cryptocurrency and how it may affect our future discussion. Gertler has been involved in fintech throughout his career, including time at Venmo, Earnest, and co-founding Digital Asset Research, an advisor to institutional investors in crypto. He was an associate at the international law firm, Milbank LLP, and also has his own law firm. Gertler earned his B.A. in economics and history from UCLA and a MSc in Digital Currency from the University of Nicosia. He also holds JD/MBA degrees from USC’s Gould School of Law and Marshall School of Business.

During the evening, there were many interactive table conversations where specific questions were discussed among the students who analyzed the issues from both a business and legal lens. Students shared their views on whether we will eventually stop using paper money and use digital currency for most of our transactions and whether or not this was concerning or if they were looking forward to the development. They also considered the consequences of eliminating or reducing the use of paper money and whether this type of decentralization, that is a corner stone of cryptocurrency, is sustainable. In the end, won’t trusted intermediaries need to be present to (i) supply trust during times in which trust in the cryptocurrency may be doubted and (ii) troubleshoot problems in transactions? They also considered whether we are exchanging one type of intermediary for another type of intermediary. Some of the current cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, have some serious externalities, namely, the enormous amount of electrical power needed to mine Bitcoin. Students reflected on how these costs should be measured against the benefits of a cryptocurrency and also whether there is there a way to capture the costs of those externalities and put them onto users. The discussions were thought-provoking and raised many issues from both a business and legal lens. The discussion engaged over 100 students and faculty from the UCLA Anderson School of Management and the UCLA School of Law. The Global Business and Policy Forum is a collaborative partnership between the Center for Global Management and UCLA School of Law's Lowell Milken Institute for Business Law and Policy. VIEW VIDEO

The Center for Global Management hosted a lunchtime conversation with Malawi-based Evelyn Udedi a project manager and research nurse with the UCLA Geffen School of Medicine and UC Global Health Institute, and South Africa-based Alastair van Heerden, research director, Centre for Community-Based Research, Human Sciences Research Council who has worked with a number of UCLA Anderson applied management program (AMP) field study teams to help strengthen health and development services in South Africa using business theory and approaches. They addressed technology innovation in health, using business approaches to strengthen government and non-governmental programs, effectively integrating services, and engaging with communities and service providers. They also shared their backgrounds and experiences working in Africa to improve health outcomes and promote equity in health care service, as well as collaboration with, and key learnings from UCLA Anderson’s AMP teams. The luncheon provided a wonderful opportunity for interested MBA and undergraduate students to meet with Udedi and van Heerden in an informal and interactive setting and hear about their important and inspiring programs and work in Africa to achieve these objectives. They were joined by Dr. Tom Coates, director of UC’s Global Health Institute and distinguished research professor of Medicine UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, and Laurie Bruns, Senior Africa regional director, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine. Students learned more about UCLA’s and UC’s Southern Africa programs, the importance of community engagement in underserved communities around the globe, and the ecosystems necessary to achieve lasting impact and meaningful change. They also discussed the changing world of public health and how innovation can come from inspiration taken from what people do in other countries and then applied here in the United States to achieve impact in our own local communities.  The lunchtime discussion, organized by the Center for Global Management, was in collaboration with the Center for Impact@Anderson, and UCLA Anderson’s Healthcare Business Association and Net Impact.

Sweden is known for its high quality of life measures and standard of living with relatively equal distribution of wealth. More than half of Sweden’s national energy supply comes from renewables and in 2021, Sweden ranked second in the UN Sustainable Development Report. Sweden has also long been a strong promoter of gender equality, ranking first in the EU on the Gender Equality Index. However, the war in Ukraine is driving economic slowdown in the Nordics as energy shortages accelerate and inflation continues upward – heightening macroeconomic risks for the country.

On October 6, the Center for Global Management (CGM) hosted Her Excellency Karin Olofsdotter, Ambassador of Sweden to the United States, for a presentation and moderated conversation with Professor Chris Tang, faculty director of the CGM. Ambassador Olofsdotter addressed current global issues, Sweden’s role in the EU and its decision to join NATO. She shared her observations on social and leadership issues, and environmental challenges of the future. She discussed how Sweden is making big strides towards safeguarding the future as well as conserving the past and addressed its ambitious goals for sustainability and gender equality. Ambassador Olofsdotter was joined by Okko-Pekka Salmimies, Consul General of Finland in Los Angeles who shared more about his own country’s decision to join NATO. UCLA students, faculty and staff gathered in the executive dining room for the conversation while others joined remotely via Zoom. Ambassador Olofsdotter is an accomplished diplomat. Her career in the Foreign Service started in 1994 with her first posting to the Embassy of Sweden in Moscow. In the years following, she worked in security policy and defense issues as well as in numerous leadership posts within the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, including serving as Chief of Staff for several of its Ministers and Director of the Ministers’ Office. She has also served as part of the Swedish delegation to NATO and at the Swedish EU Representation in Brussels, working with European security policy and defense issues. Prior to assuming the role as Ambassador to the United States, she served as Director-General for Trade at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. She has also held the position of Deputy Director-General and Head of the Department for Promotion of Sweden, Trade, and CSR at the Foreign Ministry. UCLA Anderson Dean Tony Bernardo provided opening remarks. The discussion was also co-sponsored by UCLA Anderson’s European Business Association and Women’s Business Connection The conversation was part of the CGM’s World Today Discussion Series that engages the audience in interactive and enriching conversations around current issues that transcend borders. UCLA and Anderson faculty, alumni, board members and thought leaders share their perspectives on the critical global topics and issues that matter to our community and the world. Through balanced discourse, the serves as a neutral forum to educate the community on global issues, while at the same time encouraging debate and examination. VIEW VIDEO

As the global economy was beginning to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia invaded the Ukraine and has been sanctioned from the West; relations between China and the U.S. have been deteriorating; and supply-chain shocks have roiled markets for food, energy and other commodities. Discussions on reshoring are on the minds of many business and political leaders. Is globalization over or is it merely changing shape?

On October 5, the Center for Global Management (CGM) hosted its inaugural event of the new academic year focused on the question Is Globalization Passé? Global strategy expert Jim Moffatt (’87), former global CEO and vice chairman of Deloitte Consulting joined CGM faculty director, Chris Tang, distinguished professor and Edward W. Carter Chair in Business Administration, and Moffat’s former professor,  in a moderated discussion around the question. Moffatt addressed the major challenges firms face during this unsettling period and explored the implications of both sides of the debate. Is globalization as the world has experienced over the last three decades dead, as Blackrock’s Larry Fink suggested in a letter to shareholders earlier this year? Or, is globalization still alive and simply evolving into a new kind of globalization that is more about security than efficiency that could change the world economy for the better, keeping the benefits of openness while improving resilience?  The conversation focused on many issues, including the future of trade, supply chains, the energy crisis and global investment, and touched on many regions, including Europe, Asia and Latin America. Moffat shared his thoughts on areas with growth potential and how growth can be achieved. He also addressed the importance of a global management education at UCLA Anderson and reiterated how essential it is for organizations and leaders alike to have a global mindset. The conversation was part of the CGM’s World Today Discussion Series and the Global Management Speaker Series, supported by the Class of 2022. The CGM welcomed many members of the Class of 2022 back to their alma mater for an evening of discussion, networking and reconnecting. Current students from across all four MBA programs attended the evening that began with a networking reception and concluded with a networking dinner. The discussion was also broadcast live and attended by many UCLA Anderson alumni, current students and members of the broader UCLA and general communities. The World Today Discussion Series engages the audience in interactive and enriching conversations around current issues that transcend borders. UCLA and Anderson faculty, alumni, board members and thought leaders share their perspectives on the critical global topics and issues that matter to our community and the world. Through balanced discourse, the serves as a neutral forum to educate the community on global issues, while at the same time encouraging debate and examination. VIEW VIDEO

In early September, during summer break, 36 students and alumni representing three of UCLA Anderson’s MBA programs - full-time, fully employed and executive – visited Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, to explore antecedents to and sustainability of the agglomeration of entrepreneurial business innovation, and related start up activity in Israel. The course was taught and led by Stuart Gabriel, Arden Realty Chair and distinguished professor of finance. This was the sixth global immersion course to focus on Israel and the fifth course to visit the country. A group was scheduled to visit in March 2020, however the in-country component was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Israel has become a global leader in cybersecurity, high-yield agriculture, water-conserving technology, largescale water de-salinization, and related efforts to sustain agricultural and urban development in arid zones. During the week in-country, presentations and site visits focused on venture capital, entrepreneurial activity and technological innovation, related social entrepreneurship, and the Israeli start up and contextual eco-system. Students also observed the sustainability of the Israeli start-up phenomena and ongoing efforts to spread those opportunities to weaker segments of society. Through visits and related analyses, the class explored policies, initiatives, and pre-conditions necessary to encourage innovation, enhance economic growth, and address sustainability concerns.

Tel Aviv University’s (TAU) Coller School of Management welcomed the group for the inaugural academic sessions. Cecile Blilious, head of impact and sustainability at Pitango VC delivered an excellent presentation on impact and sustainability innovation and investing in Israel, including a discussion on the new era of ESG and climate tech investing. This was followed by a fascinating overview of the Israeli high-tech ecosystem and startup landscape, including venture funding and the influence of the Israeli Defense Forces, with Orit Stav, managing partner of Israel Innovation Partners. Later in the week, Michael Eisenberg, co-founder of Aleph, addressed the group. Aleph is an early-stage venture capital fund with $850 million under management that is focused on partnering with Israeli entrepreneurs to build large meaningful companies and impactful global brands, including insuretech company Lemonade. Eisenberg discussed his company’s approach and also provided an assessment of the start-up and tech sectors in Israel. The group later visited Lemonade to hear firsthand about the company’s innovations in the insuretech space and how the company believes that the next insurance leaders will use bots, not brokers, and AI, not actuaries.

Professor Isaac Ben-Israel, head of TAU’s Blavatnik Interdisciplinary Cyber Research Center (ICRC), provided a high-level overview of the cyber revolution in Israel. This was followed by a discussion on how the cybersecurity ecosystem is developing in Israel and commentary on the country’s cyber unicorns. Miryam Steinitz, head of global corporate operations for Check Point, a leading provider of cyber security solutions to governments and corporate enterprises globally, was joined by Smadar Ludomirski. Ludomirski is vice president at Team8, the Israel-based firm founded by a team of intelligence vets and backed by companies such as Intel, Microsoft, Walmart and Cisco to develop and spin out cybersecurity startups. The group also had a unique opportunity to hear from Waze’s Fej Shmuelevitz, one of the first employees of the company. He shared the story of Waze, formerly FreeMap Israel and now a subsidiary company of Google. Students were fascinated to learn more about the company that provides satellite navigation software that they use on their smartphones in their day-to-day lives.

In Tel Aviv, the group visited Watergen, an Israel-based global company that creates a new water source of drinking water from humidity in the air. As populations around the world increasingly struggle to access clean, natural water, Bentzi Krespi explained how the company’s game-changing solution uses humidity in the air to create clean and fresh drinking water. Watergen’s innovative technology taps into the atmosphere – an unlimited, freely available resource – to provide drinking water to people everywhere, from the most remote rural village communities to commercial office buildings and to private homes. They have become a global leader in the development and implementation of water-from-air solutions based on their proprietary cutting-edge, patented GENius technology. Students also visited the Weizmann Institute of Science campus where they were educated on Israel’s foodtech sector and innovations in the foodtech space. Maya Ashkenazi Otmazgin, CEO and co-founder of biotech company Maolac, described how her company is developing bio-functional ingredients from specific bovine milk proteins to strengthen and support human and animal foods and supplements. She was joined by David Schwartz, Pepsico’s managing director and vice president of global tech investing and innovation, and Yaron Sfadyah, director of business development for Future Meat Technologies. Future Meat is a foodtech company that is racing towards bringing delicious and cost-effective cultured meat to the market by 2023. While at the Weizmann Institute, the group also had the opportunity to tour the Levinson visitors center to learn about the Institute’s central role in Israeli science and technology. Later, students separated into two groups to continue to study innovations in the foodtech space through visits to Remilk and Equinom. Remilk, is a multi-national Israeli company in the alternative protein space that specializes in the production of cultured milk and dairy products. The group listened and had a firsthand taste to experience how the organization is producing dairy that is healthy, delicious, affordable and 100% cruelty-free. They also received a tour of Remilk’s lab to better understand the process. At the same time, another group visited Equinom to experience how the company is creating a sustainable plant-based future. Equinom is a fully integrated food-tech company, combining agricultural know-how, culinary expertise and deep technology. At Equinom, the group was welcomed by marketing director, UCLA Anderson alumnus Josh Eidelman (’17). They learned about its food production and how Equinom is helping to ensure the supply of alternative proteins for the future.

At Syqe Medical, students witnessed the medtech company’s impressive scientific advancements and how Syqe is playing a fascinating and innovative role in the Israeli success story. They heard about the SyquAir inhaler and its sophisticated inhalation platform for pain reduction treatment using medical cannabis with programmable and personalized drug delivery, depending on the patient’s medical condition. Jacob Vogel, director of global sales and business development was joined by Perry Davidson, founder and CEO. On the last day in Tel Aviv, the group visited Save a Child’s Heart, an Israeli humanitarian organization that provides care to children worldwide with rheumatic and congenital heart disease, regardless of the child's nationality, religion, color, gender or financial situation. SACH also trains medical professionals in life-changing skills to take back to their home country. After hearing about the amazing work of SACH, students visited Wolfson Medical Center and its Children’s Hospital. Later in the week en Jerusalem, students also had the opportunity to hear from representatives at BrainQ, a company that is developing breakthrough precision neurology therapies using brain computer interface technology. BrainQ uses explanatory machine learning on proprietary data to extract biological insights from brainwaves and direct its therapy, and has developed a cloud based bioelectric therapeutic platform for repairing the brain. In Jerusalem, students also visited the Hebrew University and its Center of Entrepreneurship and innovation. Here they heard from British-Israeli journalist and author David Horowitz, founding editor of The Times of Israel, a current affairs online newspaper based in Jerusalem. With his deep expertise and prowess in this area, Horowitz provided a fascinating commentary on the country’s economic and political environment to build context regarding history, society, politics, geo-political environment and risks. The concluding session of the week as delivered by Yadin Kaufmann, an Israeli-American technology investor, social entrepreneur and writer. Kaufmann co-founded two venture capital firms: Veritas Venture Partners, an Israel-based fund investing in early-stage tech startups, and Sadara Ventures, the first venture capital fund to target Palestinian tech companies. He talked about the Palestinian start-up scene, developing a Palestinian start-up ecosystem, and spreading VC innovation, economic opportunity, and capacity to Palestinian neighbors. Kaufmann’s entity makes a profound contribution to efforts to spread that innovation, economic opportunity, and capacity to Palestinian neighbors and set a new context for related interactions.

The week also included a number of important contextual visits. Students visited Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial Museum, Israel’s official memorial to the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust, which was an extremely important visit to better understand the context and history of Israel. Yuval, the local tour guide provided excellent commentary throughout the week and was an encyclopedia of knowledge who shared many facts and figures to help everyone better understand Israel, its history as well as the country’s economic and political complexities and realities. Students also got to experience some of the culture and historical sites of Israel. They received a guided walking tour of the ancient port city of Jaffa, the southern and oldest part of Tel Aviv and enjoyed a beautiful panoramic view of Tel Aviv. They also explored the street art of Tel Aviv’s multicultural and bohemian neighborhood, Floretin. In Tel Aviv, students also had the opportunity to meet and network with UCLA Anderson alumni and eat amazing Israeli food. En route to Jerusalem, the group enjoyed winetasting at the Tzuba Estate Winery in the Judean Hills, where all the wines are kosher. In Jerusalem, they visited the Mount of Olives, one of the city’s most famous landmarks that is holy to Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Adjacent to Jerusalem’s Old City, the Mount of Olives provides a stunning viewport over Jerusalem. Yuval led a walking tour of major historical and holy sites in the Old City, including the Room of the Last Supper, Zion Gate, Western Wall and Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Students walked along the Via Dolorosa, a street within the Old City of Jerusalem, believed to be the path that Jesus walked on the way to his crucifixion, and a celebrated place of Christian pilgrimage. After the program ended, some participated in the optional day trip to Masada, the ancient fortification in the southern area of Israel, located on the eastern edge of the Judaean Desert, overlooking the Dead Sea and took a dip in the Dead Sea. A number of students stayed on to enjoy additional time in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, and some headed to Jordan before departing back to the United States. It was a fascinating and extremely memorable, meaningful and impactful week.

For nearly two decades, academics, public intellectuals, investment managers and sometimes even ordinary investors in highly developed economies have been engaged in public conversations around the purpose of the corporation. Specifically, whether corporate directors should focus their energies and corporate resources on environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals even when doing so may adversely impact corporate financial performance and shareholder value. The stakes at issue are quite high. Corporations, big and small, play a critical role in generating value in the economies of most developed nations. Historically, an investor has invested in a venture based upon the investor’s prediction of the venture’s ability to earn profits for the investor who, in turn, could use those profits at the investor’s discretion to fund whatever projects the investor believed was important (e.g., building a personal villa or supporting an environmental cause). The corporation was agnostic as to how its shareholder used the profits distributed by the corporation, even if the shareholder used distributions to fund movements or support legal changes detrimental to the corporation. With the ESG movement in the U.S. and elsewhere, corporations are principal actors in attempting to achieve certain broader societal goals, including environmental sustainability and social responsibility. In turn, requiring them to divert earnings away from shareholders to satisfy those goals, even if some shareholders do not share the belief that such goals are in the shareholders interest.

On April 12, in UCLA Anderson’s executive dining room, and remotely via Zoom, the UCLA Anderson Center for Global Management and UCLA School of Law’s Lowell Milken Institute for Business Law and Policy hosted the second discussion of the year in their joint Global Business and Policy Forum series (the ninth year of the partnership). Christopher S. Tang, distinguished professor, Edward W. Chair in Business Administration and faculty director for the Center for Global Management joined Stephen Bainbridge, William D. Warren Distinguished Professor of Law for an informative presentation and thought-provoking discussion on the broad landscape of ESG and whether ESG is the road to a brighter future or a wrong turn in the history of the corporation and corporate governance. The discussion that addressed different perspectives and raised a myriad of complex issues that companies and stakeholders are struggling with, engaged around 90 students and faculty from the UCLA Anderson School of Management and the UCLA School of Law in public conversation and dialogue. The Global Business and Policy Forum is a collaborative partnership between the Center for Global Management and UCLA School of Law's Lowell Milken Institute for Business Law and Policy. VIEW VIDEO

On Wednesday, April 6, the Centers@Anderson and Professor Terry Kramer, hosted a conversation with Paul LeBlanc, President of Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) to discuss the changing role and delivery mode of education. LeBlanc shared his thoughts on how technology can help move the education sector closer to equity with increased access to a broader group of "customers." He also addressed the capabilities of technology in relation to education, and what he believes are the responsibilities of leaders in education, business and government. The audience had the opportunity to learn from LeBlanc’s extensive experience working with innovative models in higher education, his learnings for other sectors and his fascinating views about social systems and institutions. UCLA Anderson Dean Antonio Bernardo and UCLA School of Education & Information Studies Dean Christina Christie provided opening remarks. The conversation, moderated by Terry Kramer, faculty director of the Easton Technology Management Center, was delivered in a hybrid format. Students, including those enrolled in Professor’s Kramer spring quarter Technology and Society course, joined the discussion live in the Crown Auditorium while others tuned in remotely via Zoom. A networking reception was held for UCLA Anderson students following the event.

Paul J. LeBlanc is President of Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) and author of Students First: Equity, Access, and Opportunity in Higher Education. Under the 18 years of LeBlanc’s direction, SNHU has grown from 10,000 students to over 165,000 learners and is the largest non-profit provider of online higher education in the country. LeBlanc serves on the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine’s Board on Higher Education and Workforce. In 2018, he was awarded the prestigious TIAA Institute Hesburgh Award for Leadership Excellence in Higher Education. LeBlanc immigrated to the United States as a child, was the first person in his extended family to attend college and is a graduate of Framingham State University (BA), Boston College (MA), and the University of Massachusetts (PhD). From 1993 to 1996, he directed a technology start up for Houghton Mifflin Publishing Company, was President of Marlboro College (VT) from 1996 to 2003 and became President of SNHU in 2003.

This was the fifth discussion of the academic year in the Centers@Anderson Innovation: Strategies for Success Series. The discussion was a collaboration among the Centers at Anderson, in partnership with the UCLA School of Education & Information Studies and was open to UCLA students, alumni, faculty, staff and members of the extended UCLA community and general public. VIEW VIDEO

Innovators and influencers explored the metaverse and its role in the future of work, shopping and social engagements; the role of blockchain as an enabling platform for innovations in financial services; the role of electric vehicles and autonomous vehicles in the future of transportation; and the role of public policy in shaping the type of innovations that will evolve in the future.

A notable technology-driven transformation is occurring in the Greater China region fueling a digitization of numerous industries and companies and enabling new business models. The scale and momentum of this technology-driven transformation has been enabled by Government policy, changes in consumer preferences and enterprise driven innovation. In a short period of time, China has transitioned to become one of the world’s largest digital economies. Digital innovations that emerge in the region will not only shape its own ecosystem, but also serve as a reference for digital ecosystems that are evolving elsewhere. The paths taken by companies in the region as well as the government have implications and create broad-based learnings for new and traditional players in the region and in the United States.

The 2022 Wilbur K. Woo Greater China Business Conference, organized by the Center for Global Management was delivered over three days in a fully virtual format and brought together leading executives, innovators, influencers and investors for a series of conversations around the major forces, trends and technology-based innovations in the region. The conference attracted many UCLA students, alumni, faculty, and interested members of the global community to hear experts share their thoughts and perspectives on the key enablers required to advance technology commercially in sectors such as retail, finance and transportation; provide a forward-looking perspective on new advancements; and address how technology is driving the transformation of society, enterprises, and consumers around the world and the contextual leadership that is imperative to adapt to shifting dynamics and an increasingly digitized global economy.

Day 1, included an opening keynote address and fascinating discussion with Jennifer Zhu Scott, executive chairman of The Commons Project, a non-profit public trust to build digital goods as a public service. She addressed the landscape of innovation occurring in the Greater China region and the data economy and metaverse as drivers of future growth in Internet services.  Zhu Scott shared her views on the latest areas of innovation, assessing the role of responsible leadership and the role of government. She had a distinct ability to look at the world and drive a compelling vision for innovation and leadership imperatives, and possessed an ability to assess the role of business in society and the ability to look across geographies to identify best practices. Zhu Scott is also the founder of Radian Partners, a private direct investment firm focusing on Artificial Intelligence. She has contributed significantly to the global technology community and led multiple initiatives to build awareness and solutions for ethics in technology and data ownership. She has had a distinguished career with many accolades and accomplishments, including being recognized as a Forbes World's Top 50 Women in Tech in 2018. VIEW VIDEO.

Zhu Scott’s keynote address was followed by a panel discussion on the future of e-commerce and retail and the role of social commerce, that looked at the great retail integration and virtualization of services and social commerce. In this session, Chris Tang, distinguished professor at UCLA, Edward W. Carter Chair in Business Administration and faculty director of the CGM moderated a discussion with UCLA Anderson alumna Grace Huang (’02), founder and CEO of DeepZero and co-founder and CEO of iPinYou; Phil Kim, managing director Asia Pacific, The Jerde Partnership; and Pamela Mar, executive vice president knowledge and applications, Fung Academy, The Fung Group. They discussed the major trends propelling Chinese eCommerce in the future and explained how the explosion of social commerce is driving shopping interest and purchases. They also shared observations on how the desire for convenience and efficiency will rapidly narrow the gap between on-demand and traditional ecommerce and explained how the seamless integration between the retail and social landscape will be improved supply chain agility. VIEW VIDEO.

On day 2, conversations explored the role of electric vehicles and autonomous vehicles in the future of transportation and the role of blockchain as an enabling platform for innovations in financial services. China has become a global leader in smart cities and over the last decade, with targeted technological innovation, has developed smart city infrastructure and massively invested in the digital transformation of its cities. In the first session, Feng An, founder and executive director, Innovation Center for Energy and Transportation joined Stella Li, executive vice president, BYD Company Ltd. and president of BYD Americas and Bill Russo, founder and CEO, Automobility Ltd. and chairman of the automotive committee for AmCham Shanghai. They explained how the mobility sector will become ground zero for a convergence of industries that include automotive, transportation, software, hardware, and data services creating both opportunity and uncertainty for AV players from components vendors to mobility service providers. The discussion was moderated by Terry McCarthy, CEO, American Society of Cinematographers. VIEW VIDEO. In the second session, panelists addressed the future of financial services in the region and the ongoing transformation of FinTech. Michael Sung, chairman, CarbonBlue Innovations and Professor, Founder and Co-Director, Fudan Fanhai Fintech Research Center was joined by Jason Tu, CEO, MioTech and Robin Wong, CEO, Mocasa. In a conversation moderated by Kar Yan Tam, Dean, School of Business and Management, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), panelists provided insights on the areas of innovation they find most promising, the unique attributes of consumers in the region and how this influences commercial opportunities, the appropriate role of government as an enabler and the contextual differences between the Greater China Region and the U.S.  They also examined the convergence that could reshape the role of financial services players, new partnerships that could emerge and new opportunities for growth to serve consumers in the region. VIEW VIDEO.

The final day of the 2022 conference explored and the role of public policy in shaping the type of innovations that will evolve in the future. Ambassador David Gross, partner at Wiley Rein and former U.S. Ambassador for International Communications and Information Policy delivered the closing keynote address and provided a 360-degree view on the state of technology today, the rapidly changing public policy environment globally and its impact on the technology sector and tech-driven innovations. In an engaging conversation, moderated by Terry Kramer, faculty director of the Easton Technology Management Center, Ambassador Gross addressed various technology policy issues to help the audience understand the complexity and nuances of local context. Key topics included learnings and emerging areas of public policy focus including anti-trust, data privacy and the role of government.  Ambassador David Gross, a senior member of Wiley’s TMT group, is widely recognized as one of the world’s foremost experts on international telecommunications and Internet policies, having addressed the United Nations General Assembly, and led more U.S. delegations to major international telecommunication conferences than anyone else in modern history. VIEW VIDEO.

From the world’s manufacturing center to the emerging technology leader, the Greater China region has undergone a tremendous technology -driven transformation, including massive digital transformation. This transformation has not only reshaped the global landscape of technology development but will be a significant future driver of technology-based innovation and value creation going forward across many domains, including retail and e-commerce, mobility, fintech and cleantech. The closing session of the 2022 conference provided a macro review of the Greater China region, its unique context, non-market risks and rapidly changing public policy environment and implications for technology companies. The session was moderated by Christine Loh, visiting professor, UCLA Anderson and former deputy minister for the environment, Hong Kong SAR Government. Loh was joined by Andy Rothman, investment strategist, Matthews Asia and Albert Wong, CEO, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park who shared their insights and observations on the region’s unique context. They discussed the region’s innovation journey, the major forces and key enablers that have helped contribute to its rapid growth in technology-driven innovations and shared their thoughts on where investment is happening and the areas they find most promising in terms of specific innovation as well as important areas of future growth. VIEW VIDEO.

Technology is a key focus at UCLA Anderson—almost every industry is impacted by technology and our leaders must understand the role of technology, tap its opportunities, mitigate negative externalities and be prepared to lead in a world that is increasingly technology-based.  In “normal’ times,” the Center for Global Management would have recently returned with a large group of MBA students from Shenzhen and Hong Kong for one of its Global Immersion courses, taught by Terry Kramer. While in-country for this course, students are able to learn and witness firsthand the remarkable innovations and tech transformations happening in the region and hear from many of the remarkable speakers. For 2022, the course was redesigned and delivered in a hybrid format and the 2022 conference sessions were mandatory elements of the course. While the Center for Global Management looks forward to resuming an on-the-ground experience in the Greater China region for Anderson MBA students soon, the Center was pleased this year to be able to highlight these same issues for a broader global audience.

Born in China in 1916, the late Wilbur K. Woo (B.A. ’42) received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from UCLA. He went on to become a major figure in LA's business, political, cultural and charitable arenas and was known for his decades of leadership in the Chinese-American community. Global reach starts with global thinking, and two decades ago -- recognizing the rapid expansion and modernization of China’s economy -- Wilbur Woo, the vice chairman of Cathay Bank, and his wife Beth endowed the Wilbur K. Woo Greater China Business Conference at UCLA to show their gratitude for the training Wilbur had received at his alma mater. The Woos' goal was to facilitate dialogue, promote understanding, and strengthen the important ties between the Greater China region and the United States—to identify areas of collective opportunity, foster cooperation, and bring a group of leaders—both aspiring and current -- together to collaborate and learn together. This conference has continued to have a powerful impact on our community—here at UCLA and beyond.

The Wilbur K. Woo Greater China Business Conference, organized by the Center for Global Management has for many years been UCLA’s largest conference focused on the Greater China region. UCLA Anderson’s Greater China Business Association (GCBA) and UCLA’s Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA) were collaborating partners. The 2022 conference was also a collaboration with UCLA Anderson’s Easton Technology Management Center. It was sponsored by Newport Asia LLC and Cathay Bank at the gold and silver levels, respectively. The China General Chamber of Commerce – Los Angeles, Los Angeles World Affairs Council and Town Hall and the UCLA Asia Pacific Center were supporting organizations.

On Thursday, March 31, 2022, UCLA Anderson recognized Ken Frazier, executive chairman of the board and former CEO of Merck with the John Wooden Global Leadership Award, at a gala dinner held at The Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. First presented in 2008, the award is named for legendary UCLA basketball coach, author and leadership expert John Wooden (1910–2010). It is given each year to an exceptional business leader whose leadership style and service to the community reflect the high standards of performance, integrity and ethical values for which Wooden was known. The recognition was last bestowed in 2019 to Mellody Hobson, co-CEO and president of Ariel Investments. Because of the pandemic, the award was not presented in 2020.

John Wooden's legacy of leadership transcends athletics and spans generations. As a legendary coach, prolific author and inspiring speaker, he dedicated his life to motivating individuals to achieve their highest potential. Wooden instilled in others a sense of pride, a commitment to ethics and a respect for teamwork. These fundamental principles translate seamlessly from the sports arena to the realms of business, management and leadership.

The 2021 John Wooden Global Leadership Award honors a corporate leader who personifies the ideals of achievement, principle and character associated with Coach John Wooden. Coach Wooden created the timeless, inimitable blueprint for achieving success in sports, business and life: The Pyramid of Success. It connects ethics, team spirit, skill, hard work, loyalty, competitive greatness and many more attributes in a unique way, and has served as a map for many contemporary leaders. Coach Wooden stands in the record books for winning seven NCAA titles in a row and 10 in 12 seasons. For his leadership, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2004. UCLA Anderson embraces the principles of character-based leadership taught by Coach Wooden, and gives the award each year to a global influencer who will ensure that his tenets live on and inspire millions of people.

Frazier was chosen as this year's Wooden Award recipient in recognition of his business leadership, his philanthropy, his focus on innovation and his commitment to promoting racial and economic equity. "Ken Frazier has epitomized ethical and visionary leadership throughout his career," UCLA Anderson Dean Antonio Bernardo said. "He has encouraged innovation and is a passionate champion for social justice, racial equality and financial inclusion. His emphasis on values-based leadership personifies the qualities of the John Wooden Global Leadership Award."

At the banquet, Ken Chenault, a past honoree who is chairman and managing director of the venture capital firm General Catalyst, and former CEO and chairman of American Express, engaged Frazier in an on-stage conversation about leadership, values and the Wooden legacy. As the conversation began, Frazier noted how special it was to be in the same company as past John Wooden Global Leadership Award winners, including Chenault, who received the award in 2009. Chenault asked Frazier about his widely-quoted idea that a corporation should have a soul. "How can a company have a soul?" Frazier asked in response. "There are two elements. The first element is purpose. Every company has a purpose: to serve society in its own unique way. These companies should be more than just vehicles for wealth creation." His own company, he said, "exists to alleviate human suffering around the world. And the people who come to work every day really believe in that. The second element is conscience — do the company's strategies and behaviors align with its stated values?" In accepting the award, Frazier added, "I think the most important thing for a leader is that they really believe in the core values of the company. Ultimately, you have to decide what's right for the company, not just for the short term but for the long term." "It all comes back to Coach Wooden," Frazier said. "He taught people to care about others. It wasn't about winning, it was about teaching people how to maximize the value of their lives."

Kenneth C. Frazier serves as executive chairman of Merck’s board of directors, a role he began in July 2021 following his retirement from a decade-long tenure as Merck’s president and chief executive officer. Under his leadership, Merck delivered innovative, life-saving medicines and vaccines, as well as long-term sustainable value to the company's multiple stakeholders. Frazier substantially increased Merck's investment in research, including early research, while refocusing the organization on the launch and growth of key products that provide far-reaching benefits to society. He also led the formation of philanthropic and humanitarian initiatives that built on Merck's 130-year legacy. Frazier's contributions, particularly in the legal, business and humanitarian fields, have been widely recognized. He sits on numerous boards and is co-founder and co-chair of OneTen, a coalition of leading organizations committed to upskilling, hiring and promoting one million Black Americans into family-sustaining jobs. OneTen is committed to facilitating a meaningful, measurable, and lasting impact on racial and economic justice. As a strong advocate for social justice and economic inclusion, Frazier is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including being named one of the "World's Greatest Leaders" by Fortune magazine, as well as one of Time's 100 Most Influential People.

The audience of around 450 included UCLA Anderson Board of Advisors members and other generous supporters, along with members of Coach Wooden’s family, members of the Anderson family together with Basketball Hall of Famers: Keith Erickson and Jamaal Wilkes (B.A. '74), who played for Coach Wooden, and Ann Meyers Drysdale (B.A. '79), who played for the Bruins women's team and whose brother David played for Coach Wooden. They joined past Wooden Fellows, current UCLA Anderson students, alumni, faculty and senior leadership from across the UCLA campus for a ceremony that included a welcome by 2009-2021 Wooden fellows. 

Net proceeds from the annual event support fellowships for UCLA Anderson students who embody Coach Wooden’s leadership ideals and commitment to improving the lives of others. During the ceremony, the four 2021 fellowship recipients Uzair Alaidroos (FEMBA ’23), Bianca Judy Choe (FEMBA ’22), Jason D. Crockett (EMBA ’22) and Miranda Fang (FTMBA ’22) were recognized and awarded the John Wooden Global Leadership Fellowship, which is among the most prestigious honors Anderson students can receive. Each of the four 2021 John Wooden Global Leadership Fellows will receive a $35,000 fellowship. Read more about the 2021 Fellows. They took the stage to express their thoughts on what Coach Wooden’s values-based leadership means to them. Wooden Fellows are honored because they possess his focus on ethics, team spirit, skill, hard work and loyalty, along with a commitment to constant learning, continual improvement and innovation. While UCLA Anderson was unable to hold an award event in 2020 because of the pandemic, UCLA Anderson recognized the outstanding 2020 John Wooden Global Leadership Fellows, whose strong, values-driven leadership continues to honor Coach’s legacy. Jesse Brandon Baker (EMBA ’21), Ariana Cernius (J.D. ’17, FTMBA ’21), Kelsey Kawana (FEMBA ’22), Mitchella Gilbert (FTMBA ’21) and Stephen Johnson (B.S. ’05, FEMBA ’21) also took to the stage.

UCLA Anderson, in partnership with Coach John Wooden’s family, honors one exceptional leader each year with this prestigious award for his or her exemplary leadership and service to the community. Past recipients of the John Wooden Global Leadership Award include: Mellody Hobson, co-CEO and president, Ariel Investments (2019); Reed Hastings, co-founder and CEO, Netflix (2018); Kevin Plank, CEO and chairman, Under Armour (2017); W. James McNerney Jr., retired chairman, CEO and president, the Boeing Company (2016); Ursula Burns, chairman and CEO of Xerox (2015); Paul E. Jacobs, executive chairman of Qualcomm Inc. (2014); Bob Iger, chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company (2013); Indra Nooyi, chairman and CEO of PepsiCo (2012); Peter Ueberroth, chairman of Contrarian Group (2011); Frederick W. Smith, president and CEO of FedEx (2010); Kenneth Chenault, president and CEO of American Express Co. (2009); and Howard Schultz, chairman, president and CEO of Starbucks (2008). VIEW HIGHLIGHTS

During spring break, another group of students from Anderson’s full-time, fully employed and executive MBA programs had the opportunity to travel together to Santiago, to study Chile and Its New Constitution and what it means for business in the southernmost country in the world.  The course, titled “Doing Business in a Rapidly Changing Emerging Country: Chile and Its New Constitution,” was taught by Sebastian Edwards, distinguished professor, Henry Ford II Chair in International Management and a native of Chile. This was the seventh global immersion course to focus on and visit Chile and the fifth time that Professor Edwards had led such a course to Chile.

In October 2019, and to the surprise of most analysts, major demonstrations erupted in Chile. They were massive and at times violent. This process, which this course studied in detail, resulted in the election of a Constitutional Convention, which will write a new constitution for the country. This new “law of the land” will determine the way in which Chile organizes its society, its politics, and its business in the next 40 to 50 years. What is remarkable about this process is that it is the first time a Constitution is being written by a body with gender parity: an equal number of men and women, by design. In addition, the Constitutional Convention has reserved seats for indigenous people, for the First Nations. During the course which spanned two quarters, students learned how economic policy in Chile – the most successful country in Latin America in the last three decades – affects business opportunities. An important feature of the course is that it put Chile’s case in context with that of the rest of the Latin American nations (special mention was given to Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Venezuela). The course also analyzed the way in which politics affects both economics and policy options. Before the in-country week, on-campus class sessions addressed some of the most important economic, business, social and political aspects of the country, cultural issues as well as social and business challenges. While the pandemic inhibited many physical visits to companies, throughout the immersive week in Chile, students heard from many prominent business leaders, academics, politicians and senior policy makers as well as successful entrepreneurs. A number of Davos-style conversations helped illuminate Chile’s economic and business environments and covered many of the country’s key sectors providing students with a feel for what it is for business leaders to live in an environment where future rules of the game are being determined.

The inaugural session in Santiago took place at Centro de Estudios Publicos (CEP), a private non-profit academic foundation dedicated to the study and production of knowledge on issues of public interest, and one of the most influential thinktanks in the country. Carmen Le Foulon and Lucas Sierra, researchers with CEP provided terrific context and foundation for the week as they addressed the current political, social and economic conditions in Chile and the Constitutional Convention. They also touched on educational challenges due to the pandemic, violence and security, and the migration crisis.  Later in the week, students had a unique opportunity to hear two very different perspectives on the future of the Chilean economy from two well-known and influential economists, Juan Andres Fontaine, former minister for the economy, development and reconstruction under the government of President Sebastian Pinera and Ramon Lopez, professor of economics at the University of Chile. They addressed geopolitics, described the Chilean economic model and highlighted some of the key issues including taxes, inequality, the labor market and pension system. Towards the end of the week, philosopher, political scientist, author and economist, Leonida Montes, director of CEP provided a terrific wrap up on the evolution of Chilean society and shared his views on the future of Chile and where he sees the country going.

Mining is extremely important to the Chilean economy.  Chile is the world’s main copper producer and the world’s second producer of lithium compounds. Danilea Desormeaux, research director of the mining consulting firm, Vantaz provided a fascinating overview of the mining sector in the country and its current status and trends.  As she compared and contrasted the sector with that in Peru, Australia, China, South Africa and the United States, she also addressed global warming and how mines can be decarbonized. This was complemented, later in the week by a discussion with Loreta Silva, former deputy minister of public works in the government of President Sebastian Pinera who presented an overview and forecast of Chile’s investment climate. During her discussion, she addressed the importance of mining to the country’s economy and touched on some of the challenges for the sector, including geopolitics, environmental and social issues and the importance of working with local communities. Students also learned about the Cerro Dominador solar power plant project in the Antofagasta Region of Chile, located in the Atacama Desert which, when finished will be the largest concentrated solar power plant with storage in Latin America. Juan Jose Chavez de la Fuente, business development and energy management director described the project and some of its regulatory and financial challenges. The project is part of Chile's national renewable energy program, intended to provide Chile with cleaner energy, while also reducing its dependency on fossil fuels like coal and natural gas. The construction, operation and maintenance of the plant will act as a catalyst for regional socio-economic development, creating a large number of direct and indirect jobs in construction, development, commissioning and plant operation as well as a network of services that will promote economic growth in the region.

UCLA Anderson alumna, Pamela Gidi (’99), discussed Chile’s recent transformation as the digital hub within the Latin American region. Gidi is the former undersecretary and vice minister of telecommunications who was appointed by President Sebastian Pinera to lead telecommunications and digital development in the country from March 2018 to June 2021, during Pinera’s second government. She was responsible for the first 5G tender in Latin America, as well as a number of other tenders that led to position the country as the digital hub in the region.  Gidi also shared her own personal journey and career trajectory since graduating from UCLA Anderson in 1999. UCLA alumnus Ricardo Garcia (M.A. ’89), CEO of the Chilean headquartered fishing and seafood farming company, Camanchaca, also addressed the group and shared his own story since graduating with an MA in economics from UCLA in 1989. Camanchaca currently exports fish and shellfish to more than 50 countries around the world.  Achieving well-managed, sustainable fisheries is vitally important for Chile. The country relies heavily on fisheries, and a healthy marine environment, for economic growth and local livelihood. Garcia discussed the importance of the fishing sector to the Chilean economy, changes in consumer preferences over the last few years and during the pandemic, branding, and environmental and social concerns. In 2019, the company began a thorough review of its strategies related to the challenges facing the planet and identified and prioritized aspects on which the company must make progress and which formed the basis of the company’s current Sustainability Model, aiming to provide a framework for addressing environmental and social challenges, and accelerate cultural change in its employees.

Students were also provided with an overview of Chile’s financial markets and investing in Latin America from Alfonso Duval, CEO of Moneda Asset Management, a successful boutique asset management firm in Chile, and a leading asset manager in Latin America with 25 years investing in Latin American companies. Duval also addressed the importance of human capital, diversity and ESG considerations. Sustainable investment is key to what Moneda does and ESG has been part of the company’s DNA from the beginning.  Students learned more about Chilean capital markets and the country’s pension system again later in the week from Arturo Cifuentes, a finance professional based in New York and Chile. Manola Sanchez, board member of the Banco de Credito e Inversiones and the first female dean of the Universidad Adolfo Ibanez (UAI) Business School also addressed the group on this visit. While she touched less on banking and the financial markets, Sanchez, who was the first Chilean woman to obtain an MBA from Harvard, talked openly about education, the business culture in the country, women in the workforce, diversity and inclusion and her own career path. During the week, students were exposed to a number of extremely successful and influential female leaders in the business, political and art worlds in Chile. They were inspired and really enjoyed the personal stories of speakers which made them real and relatable.

The group also had the opportunity to learn about entrepreneurship in Chile from Andres Liberman, chief information officer at one Chile’s unicorns, Betterfly. An insurance-tech startup company, Betterfly provides a digital benefits platform through which employers can incentivize healthy habits -- such as walking or meditation. The idea is that employees will get perks such as growing life insurance or the option to direct funds to charitable causes, while the company sees fewer sick days and lower medical costs for healthier workers. Liberman described the company’s three pillars: Prevention (physical and mental wellbeing features), Protection (personalized innovative financial products) and Purpose (ability to make positive social impact/donations). He addressed the company’s business model in detail and highlighted the importance of having a positive social impact.

From the extreme north with the driest desert in the world to the austral south with eternal ice and inverted waterfalls, there are many wonderful experiences in the southernmost portion of the world making tourism a very important sector for Chile and one of the main sources of income for the country. Towards the end of the week, students heard from Gonzalo Undurraga, CEO of Explora, a family-owned business and luxury hotel owner and operator, focused on South America - its hotels serve as the base camp for exploration. The first property of Explora in Patagonia, launched in 1993 is situated in the heart of the Torres del Paine National Park. He talked about evolution of the Explora brand, the business model of the company as well as the vulnerability of the model, the company’s strategy and its profound commitment to conservation. Professor Edwards likes to incorporate an art/cultural session into the week which is very appreciated by students and adds another dimension to the learning experience. During this particular visit, students had the opportunity to hear about Chilean art, Latin American artists and art investment and take a look at paintings from a financial perspective. They also learned about the art market today, including Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT) and public auctions from Ventura Charlin.

Before hearing about Chile’s important wine industry, students learned about the market for beer in Chile, specifically ABInBev’s evolution, its ecosystem and the differences in the beer market across emerging markets, developing markets and developed markets. The importance of ESG goals, ESG strategic priorities, natural ingredients and local impact were also highlighted. Chile produces almost 5% of the world’s wine. 70% is exported, mostly to China, the UK, U.S. Japan and Brazil. Following Cifuentes’ discussion on Chile, its capital markets and why Chilean wine is good for you, the group visited Kingston Family Vineyard in the Casablanca Valley, which has been recognized among the best wineries in Chile and for “making some of Chile’s best pinots” (Food & Wine). Students had the opportunity to hear about the business of wine and learn the story of the Kingston Family Vineyards from founder and CEO, Courtney Kingston who joined remotely from California.  Students were given a tour of the winery and during dinner, enjoyed wonderful wines, paired with various courses, while looking out on spectacular views over the Casablanca Valley.

Time in Santiago would not be complete without a visit to the Museum of Memory and Human Rights, a Chilean museum dedicated to commemorate the victims of human rights violations during the military regime of Augusto Pinochet between 1973 and 1990. Students learned more about the coup d’etat in Chile, its consequences and the transition to democracy through a tour of the museum which they found to be extremely moving and emotional. During their time in Chile, in addition to hearing from very successful and influential UCLA and UCLA Anderson alumni, students also had the opportunity to network with UCLA Anderson alumni during an evening reception at the W Hotel. They saw firsthand the power of the UCLA brand and network in Chile. Students also enjoyed a Santiago city tour. They visited La Moneda, Presidential Palace, Plaza de Armas, Mercado Central and enjoyed 360 degree views of Santiago from Sky Costanera, the tallest building in Latin America. Some students hiked San Cristobal Hill and visited the Bella Vista area, known as one of the most significant meeting points for Santiago’s bohemian life with art galleries, jewelry shops, colorful houses, several restaurants and an active night life.  Students traveled a lot on foot to experience the city the way locals travel. When the program concluded, some stayed in Santiago, some headed to Patagonia, while others visited the Atacama Desert or headed back to the U.S. or other countries in the region. Students were amazed by the week, and thoroughly enjoyed their time in-county – they learned a great deal, were inspired, met good friends and had a truly immersive experience together. 

During spring break, 38 students representing all four of UCLA Anderson’s MBA programs - full-time, fully employed, executive and UCLA-NUS executive MBA – together with one alumnus, visited Paris and Bordeaux, to learn about the largest country in the European Union (E.U.) and one of the E.U.’s founding members.   The course, focused on “France: Its Diversified Economy, Its Global Brands and Its Role in the European Union,” and was taught by Gonzalo Freixes, adjunct professor of accounting and associate dean of the FEMBA and EMBA programs. This was the third global immersion course to focus on and visit France and the second time that Professor Freixes led such a course to the France.

Historically, economically and culturally, France is one of the most important nations in the Western world.  It has the seventh largest economy globally and is home to some of the world’s best-known brands.  France is the United States’ oldest ally and has a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.  France was also a colonial power with colonies in every region on Earth.  Its contributions to the development of democracy, diplomacy, literature and law are significant.  With the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the E.U., France now has increased influence in the policies of the European Union and some companies have started moving headquarters from London to Paris.   Despite its economic and political success, France has faced many challenges in recent decades including immigration, terrorism, income inequality, conflicts with organized labor, public protests and a growing nationalist movement.  In electing President Emmanuel Macron in 2017, French voters rejected the mainstream political parties of the left and right in favor of a pro-E.U. and centrist candidate whose new political party subsequently won a majority of the seats on the National Assembly.  Macron has implemented regulatory and labor reform to grow France’s economy – but public resistance has been strong from labor activists. Macron was re-elected as France’s president in April 2022, making him the first French leader to be re-elected in 20 years.

This course explored France’s history, economy and its role in international affairs. Through both pre-travel lectures and sessions that took place during the in-country week, that included time in both Paris and Bordeaux, students learned about France’s major industries, its luxury brands, and its recent efforts to support entrepreneurship. During the week, students heard from, and engaged with, many distinguished and influential business leaders, including a number of UCLA Anderson alumni. They also visited places of historical significance and cultural importance. The series of lectures, presentations, moderated discussions, company visits and visits to important cultural and historical locations helped illuminate Frances’s political, economic, and business environments.

The week began in Paris where students heard firsthand about the business environment in France from prominent and successful UCLA Anderson alumni, including Sebastien Declerq (’97), partner and head of retail and business banking at Oliver Wyman and Aiman Eizzat (‘91), CEO of Capgemini, headquartered in Paris and a global leader in consulting and technology services. Students learned about the luxury industry in France and managing luxury brands from senior leaders with Louis Vuitton and Moet Hennessy LVMH. Natacha Rafalski (’95), president of Disneyland Paris shared the story of Disneyland Paris and discussed her experience with running a U.S. theme park in Europe. The group also received presentations on France’s health care system from Fredric Pette (’02), co-founder and CEO of BioMAdvanced Diagnostics, a biotech/medtech startup. This was complemented by a visit to and tour of Future4care, Europe’s fast-growing health-focused startup accelerator. Students heard from Future4care’s CEO, Agnes De Leersnyder about the startup accelerator, which is also an Institute providing content on digital health and delivering reference certifications. One of the highlights of their time in Paris was a visit to the Parc du Princes football stadium, home since 1974 to the famous football club, Paris Saint Germain where the students learned more about the importance of the club’s brand and its training and development center. Later in the week, students enjoyed a visit and plant tour at ArianeGroup, a European leader of space launchers and a joint venture between the European aerospace company Airbus and the French group Safran. While in Paris, students tasted the famous French cuisine, toured some of the city’s main sights and cruised on the River Seine, a popular way to see Paris. Some students also attended the Paris Opera.

Students transferred by TGV, France’s intercity high-speed train, to Bordeaux, hub of the famed wine-growing region of France. In Bordeaux, they visited Bernard Magrez Start-Up Win, the first start-up incubator located in the heart of the vineyards that is dedicated to wine, vines, wine tourism and digitization. They also visited CEA Technologies in Pessac. The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) is a key player in research, development and innovation. Following a discussion with Sarah Weldon (’96), strategic partnerships, on the technology and business start-up landscape in France, the group received a tour of CEA Tech’s technology platforms and showroom. On the final day, the group enjoyed a walking tour of Saint Emilion Village, a fascinating village in the Southwest of France and a UNESCO heritage site, where they visited its Monolithic church, the largest in Europe, and the catacombs. Saint Emilion is a small wine appellation that has long gained a reputation as one of the greatest wine regions in the world.  The progam concluded at Chateau de Ferrand in Saint Emilion, one of the oldest chateaus in the appellation, founded in the 17th century. Students toured the estate and learned about its history as one of the few Bordeaux properties to have remained in almost the same family’s hands since inception. They enjoyed some winetasting and a lovely closing dinner. It was a wonderful way to conclude the week. Some students stayed in France to travel around and explore while others returned back to the United States with fond memories of their time in one of the most important nations in the Western world.

The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) which builds on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) largely retains NAFTA’s commitment to lowering trade barriers and accomplishes extensive modernization and innovation (although it rolls back trade openness in the auto sector). USMCA presents an opportunity for the three countries to “build back better,” reduce North America’s economic reliance on China and leverage the region’s collective talents, capital, and expertise to develop a more competitive, sustainable, and inclusive North American economy. The importance of USMCA is amplified by growing geopolitical competition with China and the COVID-19 pandemic which has underscored the need to expand and strengthen resilient supply chains by reshoring activities within North America. However, protectionist policies of the three countries could hinder economic development and supply-chain resiliency in the region. Will USMCA truly help the United States “build back better,” and provide a sustainable framework for the region to work as key partners on important and forward-looking issues.

Since its debut in a United Nations report in 2006, ESG—the acronym for environmental, social, and governance issues—has captivated the attention of businesses, governments, and academics. Today, ESG is the most widely accepted measure of firms’ sustainability and social impact. The ESG movement is creating a new incentive for companies to collect and disclose information about financial, environmental sustainability, and social responsibility performance and is forcing CEOs to construct measurable means to describe and present their businesses. In less than two decades, ESG investing has evolved into a US$35 trillion industry. While it is gathering momentum around the globe, companies and stakeholders have struggled with the myriad of complex and inconsistent sustainability standards, frameworks and metrics. Given the recent announcement at COP26 of the creation of an International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) that will provide the foundation for consistent and global – environmental, social and governance reporting standards, are companies more likely to pivot their operations to a more environmentally sustainable and socially responsible future?

On February 24, the Center for Global Management (CGM), in collaboration with the Center for Impact hosted a discussion around these issues with internationally renowned experts in environmental issues and ESG. Professors Christine Loh, undersecretary for the environment, Hong Kong SAR Government (2012-17) and chief development strategist, Institute for the Environment, HKUST joined Magali Delmas, director of the UCLA Center for Corporate Environmental Performance and  Center for Impact@Anderson and explained why the ESG movement, unlike the lack luster CSR initiative, is motivating action by corporations. They explored key challenges and opportunities for practitioners and researchers in ESG and explained why in the wake of climate change, social injustice and income inequality, corporations need to change the way they operate and go beyond the traditional financial measures by taking various ESG measurements into consideration. The discussion was moderated by CGM faculty director,  Chris Tang, distinguished professor and Edward W. Carter Chair in Business Administration. The discussion was part of the CGM’s World Today Discussion Series.  This series engages the audience in interactive and enriching conversations around current issues that transcend borders. UCLA and Anderson faculty, alumni, board members and thought leaders share their perspectives on the critical global topics and issues that matter to our community and the world. Through balanced discourse, the series serves as a neutral forum to educate the community on global issues, while at the same time encouraging debate and examination. VIEW VIDEO