The MBA Global Business Forum is a themed speaker-series course designed to look at current trends in global business and hold discussions regarding international issues facing companies. Leaders from international businesses and other organizations, as well as faculty members from various departments and specializations are invited to share their perspectives with seminar participants.
GBF for Credit
The Global Business Forum (listed as an IBUS 500 in the time schedule) is offered every quarter with a different theme, and is a 2-credit class. Students may apply a maximum of 6 Global Business Forum credits towards their MBA degree elective requirements.
2024-25 GLOBAL BUSINESS FORUM THEMES
Fall 2024: International Trade and Geopolitical Dynamics
This quarter will explore how international trade and geopolitical dynamics impact global organizations. We will invite leaders from public and private sectors to untangle the complex relationships between trade and politics to answer questions such as: How do government and corporate leaders anticipate, respond to, and impact political events around the world? How do companies leverage and mitigate risks associated with trade disruptions? How will global businesses respond to US political events (such as the November presidential election)?
Winter 2025: Global Approaches to Fashion and Lifestyle
Globally, the clothing industry employs more than 300 million people along the value chain (MacArthur Foundation 2019). In 2020 the World Economic Forum reported that the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of humanity’s carbon emissions. Fashion and lifestyle is a growing industry with global implications for people, planet, and profits. GBF will invite a diverse portfolio of speakers to discuss how the fashion industry is impacting global economies and to explore how multinational companies integrate diversity in cultural aesthetics and lifestyles into their product offerings, marketing, and design decisions.
Spring 2025: Doing Business with India
According to a Bloomberg report released in spring 2024, India is projected to be the third largest economy in the world by 2027. The GBF will host executives who have worked in India or have built and maintained significant relationships with companies in India to share their insights, perspectives, and experiences. Speakers will be asked to discuss and identify opportunities in India, their predictions for the future of India, and how it will impact the global economy.