Maria Jenson, Executive Director
Maria is the executive director of the Center for Global Business and the Economy. Prior to joining the GSB in 2010, Maria was a marketing director for General Mills, Inc. Her 16 year career included roles domestically and internationally. Prior to business school, she worked for Stanford University in various finance roles. Maria has an MA in Higher Education Administration, an MBA, and a BS from Stanford University.

Katherine Robinson, Associate Director
Katherine is responsible for the Global Experience Requirement and managing the Global Management Immersion Experience (GMIX). She has extensive experience in international business with a focus on Latin America. While living in Santiago, Chile she worked for American Express Bank and consulted for Cisco Systems and Hewlett Packard. Upon returning to the US, she managed international corporate accounts for DoubleClick. Katherine holds an MA from The Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy at Tufts University and a BA from Duke University.

Kara Harris, Assistant Director
Kara focuses on advising the Global Study Trips student leaders and coordinating all program logistics and implementation. Prior to joining the GSB Kara worked at Room to Read, a social entrepreneurial non-profit focused on literacy and girls education in Asia and Africa. Kara has also worked to improve domestic education through her tenure managing a service-learning program for youth in Oakland, CA. Kara completed her MA in International Educational Administration and Policy Analysis at Stanford University and a earned a BA from Westminster College.

Viji Jagannathan, Assistant Director
Viji advises students on the Global Speaker Series and serves as the global resources expert to the GSB. She manages content and communication and acts as liaison with other schools and departments within Stanford University. Viji also co-manages a health care related research project in Zambia for the Global Supply Chain Forum. Prior to the GSB, Viji managed programs, international seminars, and outreach at the US-Asia Technology Management Center at Stanford University's School of Engineering. She has an MA from the University of Washington, and a BA from the University of Madras.

Kimberley Williams, Assistant Director
Kimberley Williams oversees the annual CGBE Global Conference as well as speaker events, global seminars, and student run globally-focused events. Kimberley has been at the GSB since 2005 and previously worked as the Special Events Manager in the MBA Program, Prior to the GSB, Kimberley worked in the hospitality industry at the Hotel del Coronado in Southern California. Kimberley completed her MTA in Event Management and also received a BA from The George Washington University.

Irina Lechtchinskaia, Program Coordinator
Irina manages the finances, oversees the database of global contacts and administers the Global Resource Center providing support and resources for students, staff, faculty and visitors. Irina has more than 20 years of work experience in environmental research, higher education and non-profit organizations. Before joining the GSB, she worked in Russia, France and the US with the New York Press Association, the Center for International Development at SUNY, and INSEAD. Irina holds an Engineering Degree in Hydrology from Tomsk University in Russia and a Diploma of Specialized Education in Geo statistics from Paris School of Mines.

Liam Anderson, Program Manager
Liam is responsible for STEP (Stanford-Tsinghua Exchange Program) and provides support for the GMIX program and Global Study Trip administration. He has worked as a product manager with Bank of America’s online banking division and as a corporate paralegal. He has also taught English as a Second Language in France, Spain and Taiwan and an ESL certificate course. Recently he managed international exchange programs for high school students. Liam completed his MBA at the HEC Paris School of Management and has a BA from the University of California, Berkeley.