A focus on global business: Interim Dean Robert hosts forum

On March 3, Interim Dean Chris Robert hosted the Dean’s Global Business Forum in Bush Auditorium to an audience of students, faculty, staff and community members.

In “Global minds, digital futures: When do the robots take over?,” the dean led a discussion with three accomplished world travelers and global business professionals to explore various perspectives on how the global business world is changing. Panelists included: Derek Kessen, BS BA ’05, managing partner of OnCenter and Heron Ventures; Doug McHoney, BS Acc, ’96, JD ’99, global leader of international tax services for PriceWaterhouseCoopers; and Nathalie Scharf, director of the U.S. Commercial Service in St. Louis for the U.S. Department of Commerce and International Trade Administration.

Topics covered included environmental, social and corporate governance investing; the role of women in the development of the global economy; and the evolution of the workforce and the skills students need for careers in the future. In closing, the dean invited panelists to share a story about an adventure they had in traveling abroad.

Dean Robert said his vision for the event was to bring global issues to Cornell Hall for the benefit of business students, as well as for the campus community as a whole.

“From the moment they join our college, our students are expected to understand the global nature of business,” he said. “Exposure to the complexity of global business is crucial as our students head into internships and post-graduation employment.”