Dear Colleagues,
The Academy of Management International Management Division Teaching Committee is pleased to announce our next webinar on the timely topic of "Politics, Conflict, and Technology– Challenges and Opportunities for the Future of Global Business. A Conversation with Global Business Executives" on November 20th at 12 noon EDT moderated by Gerhard Apfelthaler, Dean, California Lutheran University. Registration is required to attend the webinar. Please see details below. – Carl Fey, Chair AOM IM Division Teaching Committee and BI Norwegian Business School, carl.fey@bi.no
Academy of Management
International Management Division
Teaching Committee Presents a webinar on
"Politics, Conflict, and Technology– Challenges and Opportunities for the Future of Global Business. A Conversation with Global Business Executives"
November 20th, 9am (PDT), 12pm (EDT)
Webinar (Zoom)
Registration required at https://clu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nqNn62kMRkShBEcsF6Z7pw#/registration
The global business landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace. In an era where geopolitical tensions, armed conflicts, and technological advancements can significantly impact the business world, understanding their intricate relationships is crucial.
Join us for a thought-provoking exploration of the interplay between politics, armed conflict, technology and more in the dynamic world of global business. "Politics, Conflict, and Technology– Challenges and Opportunities for the Future of Global Business" is a unique opportunity for members of the International Management Division to engage with senior executives who are faced with external changes in the global environment on a daily basis.
In this webinar, a panel of global business executives will shed light on the challenges and opportunities that this complex landscape presents. Our distinguished panel of global business executives will engage in a candid and insightful dialogue, unveiling their secrets to navigating this complex web of influences. The panel of executives from different industries will field questions from the audience, making it an engaging experience where your curiosity can be quenched and your knowledge expanded.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to gain valuable insights you might be able to integrate into your teaching practice and engage in a lively discussion with business executives who shape the future of global business.
Moderator: Gerhard Apfelthaler, Ph. D. Dean, School of Management, California Lutheran University
Panel of Executives including:
- Mike Colleran, Senior Vice-President and Corporate Officer, Nissan North America (https://www.nissanusa.com/). (confirmed)
- Stefano Pelle, former EVP, CEO and COO of Perfetti van Melle, Piaggio India, and Ferrero India. (confirmed)
- Dr. Markus Tomaschitz, Chief Human Resources Officer and Corporate Spokesperson, AVL (www.avl.com). (confirmed)
- Marina Lubinsky, Chief Information Officer, The Cheesecake Factory (not confirmed)
Biographies
Mike Colleran is Senior Vice President, Nissan U.S. Marketing and Sales, Nissan North America, Inc. He was appointed to this position in June 2020. In this role, Colleran has responsibility for all sales and marketing activities for the Nissan Division in the U.S. Previously, Colleran was corporate vice president and chairman of INFINITI Motor Company, based at their global headquarters in Yokohama, Japan. He was responsible for managing the brand, business operations and all marketing and sales for INFINITI globally. Prior to that, Colleran was group vice president of INFINITI Americas, overseeing INFINITI's overall performance in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and leading the brand's strategic direction, planning, retail and marketing efforts. Colleran joined Nissan Motor Corporation in 2011 as vice president, Sales, for
Nissan Canada, and was responsible for Nissan's dealer network operations across Canada. He subsequently worked as regional vice president of the North East U.S. and was responsible for regional sales and marketing, incentive spending, distribution, dealer network development, financial controls, and dealer and customer satisfaction. Before Nissan, he also held other sales and operations leadership roles in Saab Automobile and Cadillac. Colleran has a bachelor's degree from California Lutheran University and a MBA from Marymount University in Washington, D.C. He served in the United States Marine Corps for eight years, obtaining the rank of Captain.
Stefano Pelle is a seasoned senior leader who worked for multinational companies in Europe, the Middle East and India. From 1998 to 2014, Stefano Pelle worked for Perfetti Van Melle, a Dutch-Italian global company - with brands such as Chupa Chups, Mentos, or Alpenliebe - and one of the world's largest manufacturers of sugar confectionary and chewing gum. While at Perfetti Van Melle, Stefano first served as the Managing Director for India and subsequently as Executive Vice-President and COO for the South Asia, Middle East, and Africa regions. Later on, he joined Piaggio and then Ferrero as Chief Executive for the Indian market. During his time at Perfetti Van Melle, he also oversaw Russia and the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
Dr. Markus Tomaschitz is the Chief People Officer of AVL, the world's largest independent company for the development, simulation and testing of powertrain systems for passenger cars, commercial vehicles, construction, large engines and their integration into the vehicle. Dr. Tomaschitz holds a master's and a doctoral degree in Business Administration from Karl-Franzens University in Graz, Austria as well as an MBA from California State University Hayward (East Bay). Before joining AVL, he held positions in HR at Oracle as well as Magna International Europe, where he was Director for Education and Research. From 2003-2006, he also served as the CEO of FH Joanneum University of Applied Sciences, one of the most innovative institutions of higher education in Austria. Dr. Tomaschitz is also a member of the Advisory Board of International Business School of Austria, member of the Advisory Board of FH Joanneum University of Applied Sciences as well as on the Advisory Board for FIBAA, the German University Accreditation Body for business programs. He frequently lectures at universities worldwide and has published several books and articles.
Marina Lubinsky is Senior Vice President and Chief Information officer (CIO) at The Cheesecake Factory. Prior to her role at the Cheesecake Factory she was SVP and CIO at Oakwood Worldwide as well as an information technology consultant. Her background includes IT leadership positions with AIG, Disney, and Accenture. Lubinsky holds a Master of Science degree in electrical and computer engineering from the Technical University of Denmark. She is a member of the CIO Executive Council and the National Association of Professional Women.
Gerhard Apfelhtaler is the Dean of the School of Management at California Lutheran University. Previously, he held leadership positions at a number of universities in his native Austria, and he served in Austria's diplomatic service as Austria's Deputy Trade Commissioner in Los Angeles, and as Commercial Attaché at the Austrian Embassy in Singapore. He has published several books and articles in leading academic journals, co-founded the European Journal of International Management, and he serves as an External Reviewer for the Oman Academic Accreditation Authority.
Sample Questions for Panel
- How do disruptions to the supply chain, for instance through conflict, impact your global business?
- How do you build resilience in your organization that helps it weather disruptions?
- Is on-shoring and near-shoring really happening or will globalization as we knew it going to continue?
- What lasting impact has the COVID-19 pandemic had on your organization?
- How do you see the impact of new technologies such as generative artificial intelligence influence your company / your role / your customers?
- How prepared are college graduates (esp. from business schools) for a dynamic, rapidly changing environment?
- How has your own industry / job changed in the last decade / since you started?
Other Notes
Quote from The Economist (October 7, 2023): "These are anxious times for the bosses of Western multinational companies. After decades of being wooed by governments the world over, many now live with an ever-present fear of being caught in the crossfire of fraying geopolitical relations. An increasingly assertive China has now taken to slapping exit bans on the executives of foreign firms … [and it goes on] … American chief executives are contending with the regulatory zeal of Brussels just as their European counterparts are dealing with a more interventionist America. Both groups are trying to tap the cash gushers of the Gulf without appearing to cosy up to its authoritarian rulers. A diplomatic spat between Canada and India over the alleged assassination of a Sikh activist on Canadian soil will have sent shivers down the spines of many Western business grandees. Trouble, it seems, is everywhere."
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Carl Fey
Professor
BI Norwegian Business School
Oslo
(474) 139-2551
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