IMBA Students Engage with Advisory Board in Roundtable

March 18, 2015

International Business School Suzhou (IBSS) recently held the latest in a series of International Advisory Board meetings in the Central Building of Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) earlier this month. To conclude the day-long meeting, Board members were invited to join a roundtable discussion on the topic of Future Trends in Management, with current and prospective students from IBSS’s International MBA for Executives programme.

In addition to senior staff from the Business School, the Advisory Board consists of leading industry and business professionals from China and around the world, who come together to analyse the development of the School and to offer suggestions and advice on how best to achieve the Schools key mission: to contribute to society through its education, research and business engagement.

Friday’s session was chaired by Aleem Sheikh, Executive Director of Qatar Solar Energy, and covered a number of important topics such as the IBSS Innovation Hub, the School’s Executive Education Programmes and the possibility of an IBSS Business Practitioners Conference at some point in the future. The Board also investigated ways in which IBSS can raise its profile globally and within China in general.

Following on from the official meeting a smaller group of Board Members joined Professor Youmin Xi, Executive President of XJTLU and Professor Sarah Dixon, Dean of IBSS for the IMBA roundtable discussion hosted by Roberto Donà, Professor of Practice and Head of MBA Progammes at IBSS.

The six panel members were Aleem Sheikh, Julie O.Neil, APAC Platform Director at Coca Cola, Reyad Fezzani, Chairman and Chief Executive of Regenerate Power LLC and Energy Finance Company, Chow-Khong Tan, Corporate VP of Operations and Managing Director of AMD (Advanced Micro Devices), Professor Chunjun Zhao from Tsinghua University, and Lilian Fandriana, CEO of BHM PTE., Ltd.

Students currently studying on the International MBA for Executives programme at IBSS listened as the board members gave insight into some of the major macro trends they have faces as managers which dictate the future strategy of their businesses. The group touched on technology and creativity, dynamism in emerging markets, cultural de-globalisation and problems relating to an ageing population, all of which have had some impact on the operation of businesses in recent year.

The seminar ended with a fascinating group discussion with staff, students and board members commenting on how insightful the roundtable had been for all involved.

March 18, 2015