11 April 2005
By Brian Salazar, MBA’05

Babson’s Third Annual Symposium on Global Management took place on Friday, April 8 at Olin Hall. The event, sponsored by the W.F. Glavin Center for Global Management and the Babson European Business Group, focused on current global business issues. The morning included group workshops by esteemed Babson professors, William Bygrave, Jean-Pierre Jeannet, and James Henderson that set the stage for three discussion topics surrounding global business: The Entrepreneurial Advantage of Nations, Managing Global Leadership, and Enabling a Global Strategy. The global strategy session also featured Alan Lewis, President and CEO of Grand Circle Corporation, a travel company that provides “high touch” experiential vacations throughout the world for retired Americans.

The morning continued with a panel discussion in Olin Auditorium led by Professor Jeannet to examine the challenges of operating in a global context through the eyes of Babson Alumni and other business professionals. In attendance were: Mr. Alan Lewis from Grand Circle Corporation; Ms. Tina Adolfsson, M’95, from The Gillette Company; Mr. Feyzi Celik, M’92, from OnePin, Inc.; Mr. Jeffrey Merrihue, M’85 from Accenture Marketing Sciences; and Mr. Gobind Sahney, M’83 from Sahney and Company. Each of the panelists shared their background as international professionals, discussed the primary issues they face operating in a fast-changing global environment, and offered some key points of advice for Babson students looking to immerse themselves in a global company.

Following the panel discussion, Professor Jeannet presented the following Global Management Awards on behalf of the Glavin Center:

Global Rookie Award – Mr. Phillip Silitschanu, M’3, Editor for Edge Global Edition by Cerulli Associates, and Ms. Kathy Young, B’03, International Marketing Associate for the Holmes Group, both received awards for their efforts in global business only a few years since graduating from Babson.

Globe Trotter Award – Mr. Jeffrey Merrihue, M’85, was recognized for his work in several international markets following his time at Babson. As Global Managing Partner for Accenture Marketing Sciences, Mr. Merrihue has applied his past experiences in Europe, Asia, and the Americas to the role of global marketing. Mr. Merrihue’s CV spans industries as diversely as it does continents.

International Manager Award – Mr. Gobind Sahney, M’83 and Mr. Andres Galindo, M’95, Founder & General Manager of D-Porte S.A. both received the Glavin Center award for their achievements in international management experience.

(Andres Galindo, M'95 receiving the International Manager Award)

Furthermore, members of Babson’s first MBA class of Global Concentrators were recognized for their participation and enthusiasm with regards to their study of global business.

Finally, the event was capped off with a networking reception, where faculty, students, and guests could interact and share their thoughts and experiences in the global arena.