The Business SummitThe Global Business Summit Leading in Business and Beyond was the culmination of the Centennial year for Harvard Business School alumni. Held on campus October 12-14, 2008, the Business Summit featured thought-provoking discourse, debate, and insight into the seminal topics facing the global community. World leaders, renowned experts, and HBS faculty took center stage on issues, such as globalization, business and society, and the meaning of leadership in the 21st century.

Global Business

  • The Technology Revolution and its Implications for the Future A breakout session with Professor David Yoffie Tuesday, October 14, 2008 This panel brings together technology leaders in hardware, software, services, and venture capital to discuss how the technology landscaping is changing, and the implications for vendors and consumers, large and small.
  • Leading Science-Based Business A breakout session with Professor Vicki Sato Tuesday, October 14, 2008 This panel discusses the challenges and opportunities related to leading a science-based business.
  • Global Branding and Advertising A breakout session with Professor Youngme E. Moon Monday, October 13, 2008 Panelists discuss how branding and the advertising industry have evolved, and the key trends and challenges facing marketers and advertisers today.
  • Global Supply Chain A breakout session with Professor Janice H. Hammond Monday, October 13, 2008 Panelists offer their thoughts on the evolution of their companies' (Esquel, Li & Fung, and Flextronics) global supply chains and respond to questions about the impact of the financial crisis.
  • Globalization of Innovation and R&D A breakout session with Professor Stefan H. Thomke Monday, October 13, 2008 Panelists describe how their organizations benefit from a global approach to innovation, and how they cope with innovation-related challenges.
  • Managing Human Capital: Global Trends and Challenges A breakout session with Professor David H. Thomas Monday, October 13, 2008 Panelists share insights on human capital management from their unique vantage points.
  • Enterprise Risk Management A breakout session with Professor Robert S. Kaplan Tuesday, October 14, 2008 Professor Kaplan provides his perspective on why risk management plays an important role in firm performance. Panelists discuss the leading-edge risk management processes used at their firms.
  • Global Environment—Transformed Organization A breakout session with Professor Clayton M. Christensen Tuesday, October 14, 2008 Professor Christensen moderates two panels of executives who have led major transformations. In addition to asking each to describe his or her organization's transformation, he asks about the role globalization played and asks each panelist to comment on whether he or she sees globalization as a one-way street or if there is a u-turn along the way.
  • Real Estate A breakout session with Professor Howard H. Stevenson Tuesday, October 14, 2008 This panel discusses the global real estate crisis, the future of securitization, and predictions for the future of the U.S. real estate market.

China

  • China in the Global Economy A breakout session with Professor William C. Kirby Tuesday, October 14, 2008 The panel discusses the economic outlook for China, as well as the opportunities and challenges related to doing business in the country.
  • China: Opportunity and Challenge A breakout session with Professor F. Warren McFarlan Tuesday, October 14, 2008 This session focuses on key insights from the new MBA course "Doing Business in China" developed by Professors McFarlan, Kirby and Abrami. Building on ten recent cases, panelists discuss opportunities and challenges facing domestic and foreign companies operating in China.

China & India