About

Building upon a rich legacy of global engagement in business education.

The Global Initiative is anchored by a team based in Boston with more than 65 staff sitting in key regions around the world to contribute to the school’s global strategy and research. We play a critical role in the School’s efforts to build a deep understanding of and expertise in global business practice and innovation. Executive Education and Harvard Business Publishing represent nearly 50 additional staff members sitting outside the United States.

Eighteen global locations help to build on our legacy of global engagement by supporting our faculty’s international research, administering academic programming in their regions, providing advice to MBA students interested in careers abroad, and developing corporate relationships with potential FIELD Global Immersion partners.

A Global History

Explore key dates in our global history to see how Harvard Business School has been a leader in developing field-based research for management education around the world.

2022

Senior Researcher hired in Nairobi to provide research support for the Africa Research Center and growing faculty interest in the region.

2021

Mid-US Research Center opens to provide support for activities across Mid-US region.

2019

Senior Researcher hired in Lagos to provide research support for the Africa Research Center and growing faculty interest in the region.

2017

Africa Research Center opens in Johannesburg, to provide support for activities across sub-Saharan Africa.

2015

To support increased geographic research diversity and faculty interest, senior researchers are placed in Singapore, Dubai and Tel Aviv.

Latin America Research Center, São Paulo, establishes a more formal presence in Brazil.

2014

In FY14: 59% of publically available cases produced were global in nature, 51% of Executive Education participants were from outside the U.S., and 32% of MBA alumni were living abroad.

2013

Middle East and North Africa Research Center opens in Istanbul

2012

MBA students travel abroad for the required global component of the new Field Immersion Experiences for Leadership Development (FIELD) course. This first year of the program culminated in over 900 first-year MBA students traveling to 10 countries on a weeklong immersion.

2010

Harvard Center Shanghai opens.

2008

The School's Centennial year culminates in the Global Business Summit, featuring thought-provoking discourse, debate, and insight into the seminal topics facing the global business community.

2006

India Research Center opens in Mumbai.

2005

Latin America Research Center and the Division of Faculty Research and Development host the first HBS international Research Symposium, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

2004

Gayle and Robert F. Greenhill (MBA Class of 1962) establish the Gayle and Robert F. Greenhill Family Endowment for Global Research, providing permanent funding to support the School’s international research and course development activities.

1996

The Global Initiative is formed, building on the School’s legacy of global engagement by supporting and encouraging a global perspective in research, study and practice.

1990

Internationalization of MBA admissions. The School sees a jump to 21% of First-Year students being international, representing 58 countries.

1983

HBS’ 75th Anniversary Research Colloquia covers a range of global topics, including U.S. Competitiveness in the World Economy, World Food Policy Issues, and Competition in Global Industries.

1981

Prof. Louis Wells, Jr. is named the first Herbert F. Johnson Professor of International Business.

1971

The MBA catalogue lists 15 courses relevant to international business, and international students comprise 16% of the MBA student body.

1966

Division of International Activities creates a program to provide MBA graduates with jobs in developing countries.

1962

HBS helps to develop an “Institute of Management” in India.

1960

More than 235 HBS cases have been translated into nine languages.

1957

MBA students create the International Business Club.

1955

Office of International Relations opens at HBS to coordinate activities of faculty abroad and improve foreigners’ time on campus.

1954

Ford Foundation awards a grant to help HBS found the Turkish Institute of Business Administration. Turkish teachers receive HBS training and 12 HBS faculty spend time in Turkey to assist teaching there.

1951

HBS helps to found American Universities Field Staff (AUFS), a nonprofit that sends correspondents around the world to conduct research, give lectures, interview students and meet local faculty.

1946

International enrollment in the Advanced Management Program (AMP) skyrockets, and the School brings in South African business leader Harvey Bishop to direct the program.

1942

Professor of International Relations, J. Anton de Haas, goes to Colombia to assist in creating a college of business administration there.

1933

HBS Alumni inaugurate the first clubs abroad, in London, Paris and Shanghai.

1920

HBS faculty conduct a review of the curriculum, establishing “Foreign Trade” as a specialization.

1910

One of the first HBS instructors, Selden O. Martin, travels to Latin America for research to augment existing courses.

1908

First International MBA students enroll from Paris and Shanghai.

Original MBA curriculum includes courses in French, German and Spanish, in anticipation that students will require foreign language skills in their business careers.