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Global Management Program

 
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Global Speakers Series

The Global Management Program (GMP) seeks to enrich the GSB community’s global perspective by inviting top executives, government leaders, and other distinguished guests to speak on globally relevant topics as part of its Global Speaker Series. Speakers share personal reflections on leading a global career and inspire students to develop as future leaders in their fields of choice.

 
William Felix Browder, Founder & CEO, Hermitage Capital Management (October 2009)photo-William Broder, Hermitage Capital Management

In the world of investing, few can boast a personal saga as colorful and dramatic as Bill Browder's. The famed fund manager recounted his tale of going from "the largest portfolio investor in Russia" to "one of the biggest enemies of the state".

David Morgan , Chairman of J.C. Flowers & Co. LLC, Australia, and Director of BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc (April 2009)Michael Grimaldi

"Don’t let fear of failure hold you back, but rather use it to drive yourself" advised Dr. David Morgan, the former CEO of Westpac Banking Corporation. The speaker addressed the MBA students and talked about his early childhood and how he was able to convert adverse situations into opportunities.

Michael Grimaldi, President and CEO, GM Daewoo Michael Grimaldi (February 2009)

Mr. Michael Grimaldi spoke about how his unit has become an integral part of General Motor’s operations around the world. The joint venture, of which GM owns 51 percent, has $14 billion in sales and 20,000 employees.

 
Joseph Stiglitz , Professor, Columbia University (January 2009)Joseph Stiglitz

Like a pathologist who examines cells and tissue to determine what ails the patient, economist Joseph Stiglitz has been dissecting the U.S. economy to find out what caused its spiral into recession. The Nobel winning economist talked to the students at an event organized by the Global Speaker Series and co-sponsored by the Latin America Club.

 
Abdallah S. Jum'ah , President and CEO of Saudi Aramco (November 2008)Abdallah S. Jum'ah

The leader of the Saudi Arabian Oil Company, the world’s largest producer of crude oil, says he doubts that either the current instability of world financial markets or a U. S. push toward oil independence will stop his company’s growth, in a talk jointly organized by the Global Speaker Series, View from the Top, and the Middle East & North Africa Club.

Manuel Medina-Mora, Chairman and CEO of Citigroup Latin America and Mexico (November 2008)

Manuel Medina-MoraIt’s much greater than the subprime crisis, says Medina-Mora. But the current economic turmoil can teach us a great deal.
This talk was jointly organized by the Global Speaker Series and co-sponsored by the Latin America Club.

Vicente Fox, Former President of Mexico (March 2008)

Vicente FoxMexico, the United States' largest trading partner with Latin America's highest per capita income, is expected to become the world's fifth largest economy by the year 2040 former Mexican President Vicente Fox told a Business School audience.

Michael Ducker, President, International, FedEx Express (February 2008)

Michael Ducker speaking to GSB studentsBy keeping its eye on technology, International FedEx Express avoids going the way of the Pony Express, the firm’s president, Michael Ducker, told a Business School audience.

Carlos Brito, CEO, InBev (February 2008)

Carlos BritoDeveloping a cohesive corporate culture that trains leaders from the ground up and rewards strong performers based on merit is an important ingredient in financial success said Carlos Brito, chief executive officer of the Belgium-based company InBev, the world’s second-largest brewer.

Paul Idzik, COO, Barclays (January 2008)

Paul IdzikTo remain a top-tier competitor in its field, Barclays PLC faced replacing two-thirds of its top positions and even members of its executive committee. “Doing the right thing is often hard,” COO Paul Idzik told a Stanford Graduate School of Business audience.

Sérgio Rial, President, Cargill (January 2008)

Sérgio Rial, President of Cargill Brazil, a global leader in food and agricultural products, shared his experiences of managing a fast-growing business in Latin America and of working for one of the world’s largest private corporations. He joined Cargill in 2003, holding the positions of CEO of Seara (poultry) and head of Cargill Food Ingredients Latin America.

Carlos Ghosn, Nissan and Renault (November 2007)

Carlos Ghosn Vehicle sales in the United States, Europe, and Japan are either stable or declining, Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Nissan and Renault told a Business School audience. So he is looking to new markets such as India, Russia, China, Brazil, and Africa—where sales are expanding an average 20 percent annually.

Paulo Diniz, CFO, COSAN (November 2007)

Paulo DinizAs the demand for alternative fuels grows, Brazil’s Cosan-one of the world’s top growers and producers of sugarcane and ethanol-wants to increase its share of the world market for ethanol, the firm’s chief financial officer Paulo Diniz told a Stanford Graduate School of Business audience. 

Narayana Murthy & Sudha Murty (October 2007)

Narayana and Sudha during lunch with students Narayana Murthy and Sudha Murty, two of India’s best known executives of Infosys Technologies Ltd and Infosys Foundation respectively, share their experiences in leadership and management with current MBA students during a visit to campus as the first Denning Distinguished Fellows in Global Business and the Economy.