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Alumni News

Words of Wisdom

Setting Sail on Your Global Career
Currently a quarter of the GSB electives have a global focus. When Wendy Richards
(MBA '82) was a student, there were only two. Wendy shares her perspective on how she crafted her global career and the importance of a global viewpoint.


Bumpy Road to Savoir Faire
Global business means more than jet lag and a dog-eared passport. It can also give new meaning to boo-boo. Three years ago Kazuo Yoshi, SEP '93, visited Spain as a project manager for his company. First time he took a shower he turned on the tap that said "C"—full blast. He quickly learned "C" stands for caliente, which in Spanish means hot. He thought it stood for cold. Ouch! As more people visit, work, and retire in countries not their own, they find increasing opportunities to make cultural faux pas—or boo-boos, as they say en anglaise. Details

It Was Important To Learn How To Delegate
Amar Raj Singh (CRT Social '94, Exec. Short) has been the managing director of Guinness-UDV, India for five years and previously worked at Coca-Cola and Soaltee Group. As an accountant, Singh explained that it is important to learn how to delegate. "I soon realized that delegating gave me time to do bigger things.… It was a learning experience for me to look after things like government relations and corporate social responsibility." This helped Singh set up the first 5 Coca-Cola plants in India. Financial Times (Registration required)

Move Swiftly and Set a Good Example
When Roger K. Deromedi (MBA '77)was appointed sole CEO of Kraft Foods in December 2003, he was determined to move quickly. Within three weeks he rolled out a new organizational structure complete with a fresh vision, updated mission statement, and unifying global strategy. "People thought I was crazy, but one of the biggest questions when you run a big company is, can you move fast enough?" Deromedi felt it was critical to show by example the type of corporate culture he wanted Kraft to embrace. "Part of the reason I reorganized so quickly was to provide a demo of how I wanted the company to operate. People start seeing a certain behavior, they know what they are responsible for. They mimic that behavior." Details

Good People Become Great Leaders
Carl Stern (MBA '74) advises Stanford students to retain a global perspective. Details

Women in Business: Career Changes, Global Management, Reaching the Top
GSB alumni discuss various aspects of women in business, including women in global management. Details