Have Ideas, Will Travel
With a growing body of knowledge supported by its global research centers, the School last May conducted its first research symposium abroad, hosting an all-day event in Rio de Janeiro for a select group of 45 Latin American business leaders and academics.
“We wanted to showcase the international research of our faculty, especially research on issues facing a particular region of the world,” said HBS professor Krishna Palepu, senior associate dean for International Development and a co-organizer of the event. “We also wanted faculty to have a chance to bounce their ideas off key decision-makers in the region so they can validate their ideas and increase their impact.”
The symposium featured presentations by five HBS faculty members, a panel discussion on microfinance, and a luncheon address by the president of Brazil’s Central Bank, Henrique Meirelles (AMP 93, 1984). “We had a very good exchange of ideas,” said Gustavo Herrero (MBA ’76), executive director of the Latin America Research Center in Buenos Aires and a symposium co-organizer. HBS also has research centers in China, India, Europe, and Silicon Valley and a research office in Japan.
Rio participants “were very impressed by the commitment of the School and of our faculty to work on issues that are important to them,” Palepu observed. Based on the success of the Rio event, Palepu added that the School is tentatively planning two more international symposia next year, in India and in Europe.
