SPRING 2005
VOL. 6 NO. 2

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As I look forward to celebrating another Smith School commencement in May, I am reminded of the remarkable school year that is coming to a close. February’s announcement of yet another generous gift from alumnus and longtime supporter Bob Smith certainly stands out as a transformational moment for the Smith School. The gift will provide tremendous support to our continuing efforts to advance the quality of the school and expand our reach across the globe.

No business – or business school – can last for very long as an isolationist. Competitors are everywhere. Organizations of every size must think globally or they will not survive. But you don’t become global by sitting in your backyard or reading a book about China. You must actually be global. Fortunately, pursuing global strategies is easier than it has ever been. Information technology enables firms to collaborate along international boundaries and share intellectual capital. Vast networks make it easy to move capital, whether for lower-cost labor or specialized expertise. Information is exchanged across the globe at light speed, and real-time supply chains enable goods to move nearly as fast.

Still, if organizations are to succeed globally, they need our help. True leaders for the digital economy are leaders who know how to manage in the complex global environment. Any business school graduate without a global orientation is doomed to be obsolete. So at Smith we explore and seize opportunities that provide students and executives with the skills they need to understand and manage cross-cultural issues and challenges.

The Smith School’s expansion in China and Europe over the past year is part of our strategy to build innovative global alliances that help us meet the rapidly changing needs of the world’s business education marketplace. Experts predict China will need tens of thousands of additional MBA graduates ever year for the next several years, in order to keep up with economic development. The Smith School is helping China meet this challenge by delivering Executive MBA and other business programs in Beijing and Shanghai. And our unique partnership with ChinaCast Communications Holdings allows us to deliver executive programs well beyond China’s largest cities via satellite technology.

The Smith School’s international moves over this past year are aligned with our mission to ascend to a position as one of the top global business schools. They expand our influence on business across the globe and enable us to provide students with the skills they need to lead global companies. And, as we actively engage in the creation of world-class management education on three continents, we are growing our international network. We now have more than a dozen international members on our Board of Visitors, and the school’s first China chapter of the Alumni Association boasts nearly 100 members.

If business schools are to adequately prepare their students to succeed and adapt to the dynamic global marketplace, then they must also think and act globally. With the continued support of our alumni and other friends, such as Bob Smith, we are meeting this challenge.

Dean Howard Frank