Exploring Business as a Force for Good at INSEAD's Global Business Leaders Conference

Abu Dhabi, 15 October 2014 - The prevailing aspiration of any business is performance, while that of society is progress. The Global Business Leaders Conference, held by INSEAD, the leading international business school, explores how these objectives can work together through a series of presentations and panel discussions focusing on ‘Business as a Force for Good’. Taking place on October 20th 2014 at Etihad Towers, the fourth annual Global Business Leaders Conference will feature influential speakers from around the region including H.E. Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan and H.E. Dr. Amal Abdullah Juma Al Qubaisi.

“As a business school of the world, INSEAD aspires to create a collaborative learning environment that brings together people, cultures and ideas to transform individuals and organisations. The Global Business Leaders conference features local business leaders and INSEAD faculty members who discuss the issues affecting the world of business as well as the strategies to overcome them,” said Ilian Mihov, Dean, Professor of Economics, Novartis Chaired Professor of Management and Environment, INSEAD.

Miguel Lobo, Associate Professor of Decision Sciences and Director of INSEAD’s Abu Dhabi Campus added, “INSEAD develops responsible, thoughtful leaders who create value, both in business and their communities, so exploring how organizations can create positive change in the world is an important part of our mission. We look forward to hosting key decision makers and guests at what is set to be a valuable platform for knowledge sharing and thought leadership.”

A panel discussion delving into the relationship between capitalism and society will be discussed during the ‘Irreconcilable Differences? Capitalism, business and society’ discussion hosted by Subramanian Rangan, Professor of Strategy and Management, the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court Endowed Chair in Societal Progress, INSEAD. Gilles Hiary, Professor of Accounting and Control, The Mubadala Chaired Professor in Corporate Governance and Strategy, INSEAD will explore the route to success in the corporate world with the ‘Path to CEO/Board’ panel discussion.

Key local business figures participating in the panel discussions include Fadi Ghandour, Founder and Vice Chairman, Aramex, Mark Houghton, Managing Director, Odgers and Berndston Middle East, Jonathan Richard Holmes, 

Managing Director Korn/Ferry International Middle East and Dr. Tommy Weir, Founder and Managing Director, Emerging Markets Leadership Centre. Chief Executive Officer of FGB, Andre Sayegh will also be featured in the ‘Interview with a CEO’ segment where he will share insights from his 30-year career in the banking and financial sector as well as transforming FGB into a leading regional organization. 

About INSEAD, The Business School for the World

As one of the world’s leading and largest graduate business schools, INSEAD brings together people, cultures and ideas to change lives and to transform organisations. A global perspective and cultural diversity are reflected in all aspects of our research and teaching.

With campuses in Europe (France), Asia (Singapore) and Abu Dhabi, INSEAD’s business education and research spans three continents. Our 146 renowned Faculty members from 34 countries inspire more than 1,300 degree participants annually in our MBA, Executive MBA, specialised master’s degrees (Master in Finance, Executive Master in Consulting and Coaching for Change) and PhD programmes. In addition, more than 12,000 executives participate in INSEAD’s executive education programmes each year.

In addition to INSEAD’s programmes on our three campuses,  INSEAD participates in academic partnerships with the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia & San Francisco); the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University near Chicago, and  Johns Hopkins University/SAIS in Washington DC. In Asia, INSEAD partners with Tsinghua University in Beijing and the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) in Shanghai.  INSEAD is a founding member in the multidisciplinary Sorbonne University created in 2012, and also partners with Fundação Dom Cabral in Brazil. 

INSEAD became a pioneer of international business education with the graduation of the first MBA class on the Fontainebleau campus in Europe in 1960.  In 2000, INSEAD opened its Asia campus in Singapore. And in 2007 the school began an association in the Middle East, officially opening the Abu Dhabi campus in 2010.

Around the world and over the decades, INSEAD continues to conduct cutting edge research and to innovate across all our programmes to provide business leaders with the knowledge and sensitivity to operate anywhere. These core values have enabled us to become truly 'The Business School for the World.'