Students and alumni gathered to participate in the Executive Challenge, where MBAs are challenged with real-world business scenarios. Story
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Yes I (Gulp) Can: Peter Henry’s Obama Adventure
Economist Peter Henry spent 10 intense months in the maelstrom of national politics, leading then candidate Barack 0bama’s group on Economics, Globalization and Trade Policy during the 2008 campaign. He collected position papers and tracked down surrogates who could knowledgeably speak for the Obama Campaign on economic issues. He even found himself in front of the microphones.
Stanford Hosts Silicon Valley Roundtable for White House Office of Social Innovation
White House Office of Social Innovation officials gathered with Silicon Valley philanthropy, business, and nonprofit leaders in a roundtable convened by the Center for Social Innovation at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Stanford MBA Class First to Graduate Under New Curriculum
The 2009 commencement ceremonies at the Graduate School of Business marked several firsts and lasts. The MBA class was the first to complete the newly redesigned curriculum and it also was the first class that had 100 percent participation toward a cash gift of $1.1 million in pledges and matching funds. The ceremony was also the last for Robert L. Joss, who retires as Dean after 10 years of service.
Biodesign: Curing With Innovation
The objective of Stanford’s Biodesign program is to teach medical-technical innovation by giving graduate students and fellows the opportunity to develop medical products and bring their innovations to market. The course draws graduate students from business, engineering, and other disciplines.
What's It Like to be the Boss of the "Most Interesting Man in the World?"
He’s suave, he’s wise, and his advice is always: “Stay thirsty, my friends.” Jose Antonio Fernandez, chairman and CEO of FEMSA, the largest bottler in Latin America, is the man behind the ad campaign featuring The Most Interesting Man in the World.
In Africa and at Home, Supply Chains Are Getting Kinder and Greener
Solutions to supply chain problems from motorcycle parts in Africa to grocery delivery and solar power in the US were shared at the Advancing Socially and Environmentally Responsible Supply Chains Conference presented by the Stanford Global Supply Chain Management Forum and the Center for Social Innovation at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
New Source of Loans for GSB’s International Graduate Students
Stanford Graduate School of Business announced the launch of a new private loan program through Star One Credit Union to provide financial assistance to students admitted to the School’s MBA, PhD, and Sloan Master’s programs. An especially welcome relief to international students, the custom loans, which cover tuition and living expenses, will be available to those without a U.S. co-signer.
Stanford Social Innovation Review Article Offers Ways to Promote Ethical Conduct
In the summer 2009 issue, two Stanford Law School scholars examine the ethical issues that arise specifically in the nonprofit sector. Also in this issue, GSB coauthors Bethany Coates and Garth Saloner spotlight Kiva's path to becoming a nonprofit, and advantages as well as the costs of being 501(c)(3).
Oracle CFO's Career Didn't Follow Straight Path
When Jeff Epstein earned his Stanford MBA in 1979 and went to work for Boston Consulting Group on Sand Hill Road, he didn’t know about a young company a mile away—a company that would later become Oracle. Three decades later, Epstein is Oracle’s chief financial officer, but his path was no simple one-mile drive.
Leadership Means Responsibility
In his View from the Top speech, Dean Robert Joss defines what it means to be "at the top": "It's any position where you take responsibility for a group with a mission to fulfill."
Three Honored as Distinguished Teachers
Faculty members Ilya Strebulaev, Baba Shiv, and Alan Jagolinzer were honored with 2009 Distinguished Teaching Awards by students in the School’s MBA, PhD, and Sloan Master’s Program, respectively.
Garth Saloner Named Ninth Dean of Stanford Graduate School of Business
Economist Garth Saloner, a scholar of entrepreneurship and business strategy, will be the next dean of Stanford University's Graduate School of Business, President John Hennessy and Provost John Etchemendy announced May 26.
Former Foes Unite to Bridge the K-12 Achievement Gap
Liberal and conservative groups are forming unprecedented alliances to improve K-12 education in the United States, sparked by a study from McKinsey & Co. that put a $700 billion price tag on the education achievement gap, Jonathan Schorr told the 2009 Stanford Business of Education Symposium.
Banker David Morgan Takes a Positive Look at Failure
Before he costarred with Olivia Newton-John and long before he ran the biggest bank in Australia, David Morgan got a life lesson that was every bit as valuable as it was brutal.
Stanford Social Innovation Review Wins 2009 Maggie Award
Stanford Social Innovation Review is a 2009 Maggie Award recipient for its successful redesign. The journal is published by the Center for Social Innovation at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Diagnostic Test Technology Will Change Medical Treatment
Of the $2.2 trillion spent on U.S. health care in 2008, diagnostic tests accounted for just 2 percent of total dollars spent. Yet the results of such tests drive 70 percent of treatment decisions, speakers told the Health Care Summit at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Six Faculty Named to Endowed Chairs
Six Business School professors have been honored with new endowed chair titles. Honored with new academic titles are Professors Anat Admati, Jonathan Berk, Charles Jones, Dale Miller, Jesper Sørensen, and Sarah Soule.
SEIU Head Urges Unions: Join Today’s Economic Revolution
"No single generation has ever witnessed so much change in a lifetime," SEIU President Andy Stern told a Business School audience, and unions must be part of that change.
Michael Harrison Named 2009 Davis Award Recipient
J. Michael Harrison, an operations researcher who admits “I live in a pretty abstract world,” is the 2009 recipient of the Robert T. Davis Award, presented by the Stanford Business School deans to recognize a colleague for a lifetime of service and achievement.
First Reliance Dhirubhai Fellows
Named for Stanford MBA Program
Five individuals from diverse regions of India have been selected as the first-ever class of Reliance Dhirubhai Fellows. They will receive full financial support during their two-year MBA studies at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, starting in September 2009.
Time Warner CEO Honored with Excellence in Leadership Award
The Stanford Graduate School of Business honored Time Warner Chairman and CEO Jeff Bewkes, who has played a pivotal role in reshaping the entertainment industry, with the School’s 2009 Excellence in Leadership Award.
Conference Aims to Advance Socially and Environmentally Responsible Supply Chains
More than 150 supply chain management experts, practitioners, and policy makers are expected to gather at a conference May 21 at the Stanford Graduate School of Business to exchange best practices for sustainable supply chains. Registration is now open for executives, nonprofit leaders, policy makers, and academics.
Google Goes to Carnegie Hall
MBA student Tim Lee is the innovator behind the April Carnegie Hall premier of an orchestra selected via international internet auditions.
Turning on The Light For Customers on Tiny Incomes
Sam Goldman, MBA '07, CEO of D.light Design, finds himself running an international company whose customers are some of the poorest people in China, India, or Tanzania. The firm grew out of the Business School course Design for Extreme Affordability. Goldman talked to the Stanford Reporter.
Google’s Schmidt: 2009 is a Good Year
to Be a New Graduate
Google Chairman and CEO Eric Schmidt told a Business School audience 2009 is a good time to be graduating. "Assets are cheap and expectations are set realistically. . . .Change happens when things are hard."
Michael Shanahan Honored with 2009 Arbuckle Award
Capital Research and Management Co. Chairman Emeritus R. Michael Shanahan, who helped his firm blossom into one of the three largest U.S. mutual fund companies, has received the 2009 Arbuckle Award recognizing leadership.
Gates CEO Jeff Raikes: Have a Plan But Be Flexible
Gates Foundation CEO Jeff Raikes has taken a circuitous path to lead one of the world’s largest philanthropic organizations. He started out on the farm then fell in love with software development. As his father advised, he’s flexible.
Colombian Vice President Santos Urges Investment, Free Trade
Colombia still has problems with drug cartels but a dramatic drop in violence and greater government investment in education, health, and democratic institutions makes it a good country for corporations to invest, Colombian Vice President Francisco Santos told a Business School audience.
GM-Daewoo Venture Feeling Global Turmoil
The new electric Chevy Volt will be built in Michigan, but the cells for its battery pack will come from South Korea as part of the GM Daewoo Automotive & Technology venture. The global venture is not immune to the current economic turmoil, Michael Grimaldi, MBA ’76, told a Business School audience.
Brenda Barnes Champions Women Returning to The Work Force
Brenda Barnes has broken a lot of stereotypes as the CEO of Sara Lee Corp., including making sure corporate America is aware of the hidden talents of women who once stayed at home but who today want to re-enter the work force.
Just Translating It into Spanish Isn’t Enough
to Reach Hispanic Audiences
Four Hollywood media experts agree successful niche marketing requires starting from scratch to reach each distinct audience segment. “Whatever market you’re targeting, you must approach that market freshly and sell to it,” one speaker, writer and producer Roberto Orci Jr., told a Stanford Business School audience.
Today’s Market Behavior Shouldn’t Be a Surprise
Says Joseph Stiglitz
The Great Depression taught lessons about financial market behavior that were forgotten says economist Joseph Stiglitz who blames both Wall Street and mortgage lenders for the current economic chaos.
Risk Taking is Necessary Says Dimon of JP Morgan Chase
Risk-taking has to be calculated, says Jamie Dimon of JP Morgan Chase. "You’ve got to decide what you want to do and what happens if it goes wrong." Any CEO worth his salary knows, "The business takes place in the detail."
New Fellowship Created for MBA Grads
Launching Social Ventures
Commitment to social entrepreneurship by a growing number of Stanford Graduate School of Business students has inspired the School to create a new fellowship award that will provide substantial financial and strategic support to graduates starting social ventures.
Business School Announces Comprehensive Budget Reductions
In response to decreased endowment revenue, a projected drop in executive education revenue and expected alumni-giving declines, the Graduate School of Business announced a comprehensive expense reduction plan on Jan. 13.
Sandra Day O'Connor Remembers Harry Rathbun
Legendary Business School professor Harry Rathbun helped persuade a young student named Sandra Day to change her studies from economics to law. In April, after 30 years on the U.S. Supreme Court, Justice O'Connor reflected on Rathbun's philosophy during a new lecture series named for him.
Final Exam Includes Real-World Lessons
The annual MBA Executive Challenge is a day-long final exam requiring teams of students to face teams of alumni volunteers simulating real business scenarios. It's tough, it's stressful, and it's enjoyable.
UK's Lancaster University Honors Barth
for Accounting Contributions
Business School accounting professor Mary Barth is described as an “international standard setter” by the Lancaster University Management School which has presented her with an honorary degree recognizing her service to the profession.
Committee Named To Select Next Dean
Stanford Provost John Etchemendy, chair of the search committee, said the group will spend December and January gathering input from the Business School community about needs of the School, desirable characteristics for the next dean to possess, as well as recommendations for specific candidates.
Green Tech Must First Make Economic Sense Says Khosla
Zero emission buildings and hybrid vehicles, have broad appeal, but any climate change solution must first make economic sense in order to truly be effective venture capitalist Vinod Khosla, MBA ’80, told a Business School audience during the School’s 2008 von Gugelberg Memorial Lecture.
Market Stresses Won’t Halt Saudi Arabian Oil’s Market Dominance, says CEO 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.
Developing Nations Offer Big Market Opportunities,
Says Intel’s Otellini
Intel CEO Paul Otellini, has spent over 30 years shaping the chipmaker as well as his own career. What does the future hold? How about cell phones in Africa and the computer market in China?
Aspen Institute Names Baron Winner of
Lifetime Achievement Award
The Aspen Institute Center for Business Education has announced that Stanford Graduate School of Business professor David Baron is the winner of the 2008 Faculty Pioneer Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Stanford Social Innovation Review Celebrates Five Years
As it celebrates its fifth anniversary, the award-winning quarterly journal, the Stanford Social Innovation Review, has doubled its circulation and broadened its scope to include more cross-sector themes and content.
Testing New Ways to Avoid Foreclosures,
Says HUD Secretary Preston
Housing Secretary Steven Preston acknowledged the current economic turmoil is “a time in history like no other,” but added it’s also an opportunity to solve problems in ways that have not been attempted before.
Hundreds Celebrate First Night at Knight
Students, alumni, faculty, and staff donned hard hats and munched canapés during the Oct. 10 party celebrating the start of construction of the School’s new Knight campus.
Three MBA Students Killed in Car Crash
Three students from the Stanford Graduate School of Business lost their lives when the car in which they were riding crashed near Big Sur, Calif., on Oct. 10.
Stanford, GSB Professors Debate Bailout Plan
Panel discussion ran the gamut from how the U.S. got into this mess; how this crisis fits in with past credit crises; and whether the financial sector is really sufficiently “different’’ than the rest of the economy to warrant a $700 billion rescue courtesy of the American taxpayer.
Robert Joss to Step Down as Dean
Robert L. Joss, dean of the Stanford Graduate School of Business, will step down at the end of the current academic year. Joss’ major achievements include the development of a new MBA curriculum and groundbreaking of a new 360,000-square-foot, environmentally sustainable business school campus scheduled to be completed in 2011.
Class of 2010 Settles In
The MBA Class of 2010 settled in on September 15 with advice from top Business School officials who challenged the 372 class members from 52 different countries to step out of their comfort zones, and urged them to always aim for something big.
Effects of the Government Takeover of
Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae
Business School Finance Professor Darrell Duffie discusses the effects of having the country’s two largest mortgage finance companies placed into conservatorship and what it means for taxpayers and the economy. [Video]
Stanford Business School Breaks Ground on New Campus for 21st Century
The Stanford Graduate School of Business formally broke ground on its new business school campus September 10. Designed to fulfill the academic needs of the School’s new MBA curriculum and other programs, the 360,000-square-foot campus will be named the Knight Management Center.
First Hand Look at a Scandal
Douglas Brown, MBA ’61, describes his experience cleaning up a state agency after a few bad apples spoiled the barrel. (From Stanford Business, August, 2008)
How to Prevent Cheating
To minimize corruption, leaders must pay attention to incentives, say those who study and teach ethics. (From Stanford Business, August 2008)
Why I Came to Business School
"Change lives, change organizations, change the world," was just a slogan to John Russ, MBA ’08, until a GSB alum showed him one way it becomes concrete.
Three Faculty Named to Endowed Chairs
Three Business School faculty: Chip Heath, Peter Henry, and Larissa Tiedens, have named to endowed chairs.
Montgomery Named INFORMS Fellow
David B. Montgomery has been inducted as an inaugural fellow of the INFORMS Society for Marketing Science in recognition of his contributions to marketing science. Montgomery, the Kresge Professor of Marketing, Emeritus, was honored at the group’s conference in June 2008 in Vancouver, B.C.
Daryn Dodson Gets a Presidential Nod
Daryn Dodson, MBA ’07, received a personal thank you for his efforts on behalf of small business owners in hurricane-ravaged New Orleans from President Bush during an August 20 speech to detail the Gulf Coast recovery effort.
Digital Nagging Can Keep You Healthy
Your cell phone or PDA can help you stay healthy by nagging you to exercise and eat right say Stanford researchers. The University is prototyping a program by Wellsphere, a young company founded in the living room of Ron Gutman, MBA ’05, that helps people track their progress online.
Summer Institute Helps Make Hybrid Cars Noisier
A bright idea that brought several Stanford graduate students to the Business School’s 2007 Summer Institute for Entrepreneurship is going to work to help Prius and other hybrid cars make enough noise that pedestrians will notice them.
New Zealand Government Grant Supports
Summer Entrepreneur Scholars
A New Zealand government grant is helping three graduate students who are interested in starting businesses attend this year’s Summer Institute for Entrepreneurship at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Stanford Business School Honors Class of 2008
Family and friends gathered in Frost Amphitheater on June 14, 2008 to honor this year’s 445 graduates, including 374 who received the Master of Business Administration degree.
$1.2 Million Gift from MBA Class of 2008
Shatters Business School Record
The graduating MBA Class of 2008 left One Million Dreams, the name adopted as they set out to raise one million dollars as a class gift to the School. Their record-breaking $1.2 million gift exceeds previous records both in the percentage of participation by the class and dollar amount pledged and raised.
Historic Tree Falls
Stanford University’s last surviving Bicentennial Oak, an historic coast live oak tree believed to have been alive in 1787, has succumbed to age.
Saloner, Barnett, Flanagan Receive Teaching Awards
Professors Garth Saloner, Bill Barnett, and Robert Flanagan were honored May 27 by students at the Graduate School of Business who presented them with 2008 distinguished teaching awards.