Reunions
Schedule | 25th-45th & Executive Education
Schedule | 25th-45th & Executive Education
October 14–15, 2022
Last Updated: October 13, 2022
On-Campus Program
Below is a listing by day of the anticipated on-campus program open to all Reunion attendees. The confirmed schedule, including times, locations, and activities organized by classes and Executive Education programs is accessible on the HBS Events app once you've registered for Reunion. Information is published to the app as it is confirmed or updated.
Faculty presentations take place in the morning over two blocks of time.
- Friday, October 14
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- 8:30 am – 9:15 am
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Dean's Welcome Address
Dean Srikant Datar - 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
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Visit Stamps Reading Room, Baker Library, 3rd Floor
Exploring a new career opportunity, working on a pitch deck, or interested in finding out more about a competitor? We can help! Talk to a Baker librarian to learn how to best use our resources and services to support your research. Contact us at infoservices@hbs.edu with your questions or just stop by! - 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
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Faculty Presentations
Dignity, the Populist Backlash, and the War in Ukraine: How to Imagine the Next Global Economy
Professor Rawi Abdelal
Watch the livestream on Friday, October 14 at 10am ET– Less InfoThe greatest challenge to the sustainability of our current era of globalization comes from within the US. Most Americans now reject globalization. What can we learn from parts of the developed world where the backlash is also profound—or more muted? One conclusion: It is not just about money. Those who feel left behind feel they have lost respect and dignity. The populist backlash also coincides with a shift in the global balance of power. We will explore the ways in which the disappointments with globalization in the West connect to the efforts of other great powers to rewrite the rules of the system.
Financial Markets as Monetary Policy Tightens
Moderators: Professor Malcolm Baker (PHDBE 2000), Professor Fritz Foley (PHDBE 2002)
Speakers: Seth Klarman (MBA 1982 I), Aileen Lee (MBA 1997 D), Paul Finnegan (MBA 1982 B), Glenn August (MBA 1987 H)– Less InfoCapital markets defied simple logic after the onset of Covid, quickly rallying to all-time highs in 2021. In 2022, the focus of policy makers has shifted from stimulating a pandemic economy to tightening financial conditions and combating inflation around the world. So far, indices which track fixed income market volatility have reached their highest levels since March 2020; mortgage rates in the US have doubled since the start of the year; credit spreads are markedly wider; global equity indices are in bear market territory; and the number of global IPOs has dramatically slowed in 2022. Is this the start of a new trend, with parallels to 1970s stagflation, or an opportunity to find bargains? Our panel of alumni active in investment management will share their insights about current market conditions and their implications for the economy, for public markets, for venture capital, for private equity, and for distressed investments. Alumni will leave this session with a better sense of the risks and opportunities in markets today.
Renew Your Work and Life
Dr. Timothy Butler, Senior Fellow; Director of Career Development Programs– Less Info*This session will run 90 minutes.*
Reunion brings the opportunity to reflect. Do you find yourself considering new ways to contribute to family, community, or work? This program will allow you to look more deeply into the essential elements that are always present when making the decisions that bring you closer to work and life fulfillment. Dr. Tim Butler will guide participants through exercises, working individually and in small groups, to help you gain clarity about what matters most in your work and life, better understand what you need and want in your life, and determine what action needs to be taken in your life.Value Innovation: The Rise and Fall of the Circus
Professor Ramon Casadesus-Masanell– Less InfoJoin Professor Casadesus-Masanell for a discussion on value innovation through the lens of the circus. In the mid-1800s, when the circus came to town, stores and factories closed, and children were let out of school. The circus was gaudy, noisy, and bustling. It represented an escape from the mundane into a world of intrigue and adventure. However, by the 21st century, the circus had begun to lose its appeal. Had an overreliance on nostalgia proved to be the bane of the circus? In this session, we will define the concept of value innovation and highlight its beliefs as well as limitations as a technique for breakthrough growth in crowded, competitive spaces.
CASE STUDY The Tulsa Massacre and the Call for Reparations
Professor Mihir Desai– Less InfoNo pre-reading required to attend this modified case discussion.
How should historic social injustices be addressed? Survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Massacre and their descendants believe they should be addressed through reparations. In this modified case discussion, participants will consider the specific issue of reparations for the Tulsa Massacre, the idea of reparations generally, and the use of reparations to respond to the effects of slavery and racist governmental policies in the US. Participants will leave with a sense of how to engage with social issues as a business leader, a facility in talking about complex social issues, and a greater understanding of the merits of reparations.A New Way to Measure Shareholder Returns
Professor Mihir Desai– Less InfoTotal Shareholder Returns (TSRs) are a dominant measure of company returns but are deeply flawed. We propose an alternative measure that isolates operational performance from financial engineering, titled Core Operating Shareholders Returns (COSRs). In the process of disentangling COSRs from TSRs, we provide a comprehensive verdict on the buyback revolution and the results are fairly damning.
The Fearless Organization
Professor Amy Edmondson– Less InfoIt’s becoming clear that today’s organizations are (and will continue to be) in a state of flux, as new experiments in work arrangements disrupt teams, a demand for innovation intensifies, and risks multiply. How to inspire and enable people to contribute their knowledge in timely, fearless ways has moved to center stage for leaders across industries. In this session, we will explore why psychological safety matters now more than ever for success in hybrid and shifting work environments, as well as how to help people team across boundaries of all kinds to accomplish challenging work together.
Why Startups Fail
Professor Thomas Eisenmann– Less InfoMost startups fail. About two-thirds of venture capital investments do not earn a positive return. Surprisingly, late-stage startups fail at the same high rates as early-stage ventures. Professor Eisenmann will discuss patterns that explain a large fraction of these failures and what entrepreneurs can do to anticipate patterns and reduce mortality risk. Participants will learn how founders can decide whether to pull the plug on their struggling startup, and if they do, how they can “fail well” in ways that leave their relationships and integrity intact, facilitate learning from the experience, and position them for their next career move.
COVID, the Great Resignation, and the Future of Work
Professor Joseph Fuller– Less InfoWhat is going on in the US labor market? What is the Great Resignation and will it have lasting impact on the economy? What explains America having a record number of job openings and near record-low workforce participation at the same time? What can be done to create opportunity for the 40% of American workers stuck in low-wage jobs? This session will feature recent research from the School's Managing the Future of Work Project. Participants will gain an understanding of what lies beneath the headlines and of the various forces that will shape work in years to come.
Managing a Polarized Workforce
Professor Francesca Gino– Less InfoOne of the toughest challenges leaders face is managing diverse perspectives. At the same time, productive disagreement and engagement with opposing views are crucial to high-functioning teams and organizations. Drawing from my research I will discuss how leaders can approach disagreements productively and help employees at all levels do so. Tactics include training that defuses fears of disagreeing; encourages people to cultivate a receptive mindset; teaches people to choose words carefully, hedge claims, and emphasize areas of agreement; and fosters a culture of tolerance. Honing these skills can decrease frustration and negativity and is well worth the effort.
Deep Purpose: The Heart and Soul of High-Performance Companies
Professor Ranjay Gulati (PHDOB 1993)– Less InfoDrawing upon my recent book, I will offer a compelling reassessment of purpose as a management ethos, documenting the performance gains and social benefits that become possible when firms get purpose right. Based on extensive field research, I will show how deep-purpose companies energize their enterprise by inspiring employees and fostering greater loyalty and trust with customers and partners. Purpose is also a compass with which these firms effectively navigate the inevitable tradeoffs across stakeholders and balance their short- and long-term goals. Ultimately, a deeper engagement with purpose holds the key not merely to the well-being of individual companies but also to humanity’s future.
Can Consumers, Big Tech, and Retailers Fix Health Care?
Professor Robert Huckman– Less InfoAmidst calls to increase consumerism in health care, large tech companies and retailers are making bold moves into the industry. These health care “entrants” aim to leverage their general skills in serving consumers to address barriers in health care delivery. Will these new entrants be competitors or partners with respect to existing health care players? Drawing upon examples of entrant moves into health care—at Walmart, Best Buy, and Amazon—this session will help participants understand the landscape of current efforts to embrace consumerism in health care and the significant challenges that remain in realizing its full potential.
Five Ways to Make Things Better: Taking Positive Action in a Troubled World
Professor Rosabeth Kanter– Less InfoEven can-do achievers can feel overwhelmed by big societal problems and the challenges they pose to business and personal life. Positive action requires leaders to “think outside the building” to open new pathways, forge new coalitions, and find sources of personal nurturance. Professor Kanter will outline 5 tactics for coping, transcending, and contributing to solutions to respond to the COVID pandemic, deal with war and cultural conflicts, or combat climate change, whether as entrepreneurs in startups, seasoned business leaders, or concerned citizens and parents. The session will include lessons on what can make things worse, when the goal is to make life better.
Decarbonizing the Americas
Professor Tarun Khanna (PHDBE 1993)– Less InfoHow can global energy companies, with substantial fossil fuel-burning assets, navigate decarbonization of their portfolio and the transition to renewables without sacrificing financial performance or putting off investors? Over what time horizon? In this session, we will discuss how setting ambitious net-zero energy goals means taking calculated risks at the frontiers of science and technology, making the most of growing green energy public and private infrastructure, working with your shareholders, and convincing the board to go along with the plan.
Fintech and Small Business Lending: How Technology Is Changing the Game
Senior Fellow Karen Mills (MBA 1977)– Less InfoSmall businesses have often faced gaps in access to credit. An explosion of new online fintech lenders is providing small-dollar loans to businesses within days, with easy online applications and innovative credit algorithms. Is this a good development for America’s small businesses? Senior Fellow Mills draws on her experience as former head of the United States Small Business Administration and member of President Obama’s Cabinet to discuss recent developments in this market. Participants will leave this session with a sense of both the underlying causes of the online fintech lending boom and the open questions faced by regulators, borrowers, and traditional banks.
What’s Next in My Life?
Laurie Matthews, Career & Professional Development
Lauren Murphy, Founder, Pivotal Executive Coaching– Less InfoDo you see change ahead on your horizon, and you’re not sure how to put it all together optimally? Are you considering an encore or portfolio career, or do you want to explore a new path altogether? Maybe you’re wondering what a meaningful partial or full retirement might look like. If these topics resonate, join this hands-on workshop in which participants will learn efficient frameworks for ongoing life and career planning; consider work and life dimensions to help them create their next chapter; and network with peers who are also developing their next paths, wherever they may lead.
Value-based Strategy: Keys to Exceptional Financial Performance
Professor Felix Oberholzer-Gee– Less InfoIn this interactive session, I will share my research on companies that achieve exceptional financial performance. Our discussion will be based on my strategy course and the recently published book Better, Simpler Strategy. I will walk the participants through a simple framework that helps identify opportunities to create value for customers, employees, and suppliers.
CASE STUDY Facebook (Meta): Can Ethics Scale in the Digital Age?
Senior Lecturer George Riedel– Less InfoNo pre-reading required to attend this modified case discussion.
Facebook, recently renamed Meta, has built a hugely successful in a very short period of time, and it’s done so largely without any legal or regulatory guardrails. Join us for a case discussion exploring two major challenges facing the company and society: privacy and trust breaches, and a growing sense of the “tragedy of the commons” in moderating content. Can management be trusted to self-regulate, or will regulators or other stakeholders need to play a more significant role to address a growing range of harms? Participants will leave with an understanding of how the business model creates challenges at scale and a greater sense of complexity of the regulatory and governance issues facing this and similar business.China's Century? The Logic and Limits of China's Global Leadership
Associate Professor Meg Rithmire– Less InfoDepending on the source, the People's Republic of China is either the next global technological and financial leader or teetering on collapse. How has the Chinese Communist Party managed rapid modernization while maintaining its monopoly on political power, and what does the country's domestic trajectory say about the CCP's global role? Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how China works and how the Chinese leadership see the world.
THE VERY FIRST HBS CASE STUDY: The General Shoe Company
Professor Jan Rivkin (PHDBE 1997)
Please read the 1-page case– Less InfoAdvance preparation is helpful, but not required. We have linked the original The General Shoe Company case, and will provide copies in class.
In 1921, Professor Clinton Biddle penned the very first HBS case: "In a plant of the General Shoe Company, it has come to the attention of the chief executive that many of the piece workers throughout the plant are in the habit of discontinuing their work three-quarters of an hour before closing time." Why are the workers leaving early? What can the chief executive do about it? Participants in this session will see whether a one-page case written a century ago can still spark a conversation and deliver valuable lessons.
Please read the 1-page case and consider these questions:
As the chief executive of the General Shoe Company...
- What might you do to address the problem identified in the case? What are your options?
- What would you do to choose among your options?
The C-Suite Skills That Matter Most
Professor Raffaella Sadun– Less InfoFor a long time, companies looking to hire key executives knew what to look for: somebody with technical expertise, superior administrative skills, and a track record of successfully managing financial resources. When courting outside candidates to fill those roles, they often favored executives from established large companies, with proven operational expertise. That practice now feels like ancient history. So much has changed during the past two decades that companies can no longer assume that leaders with traditional managerial pedigrees will succeed in the C-suite. Join this interactive session to learn about the latest research on executive recruiting.
Entrepreneurial Solutions to World Problems
Professor Emeritus William Sahlman– Less InfoThe world has a seemingly infinite supply of problems. Fortunately, entrepreneurs view problems as opportunities. In this talk, I will focus on entrepreneurs trying to deliver better health and education outcomes at lower cost and in less time. I will also discuss the role of ventures in addressing climate change. Some of the popular solutions to these challenges (e.g., Medicare for All, free community college, and elimination of fossil fuels) seem unlikely to work as currently envisioned. I will also address the current preoccupation in the media and politics with what is wrong, rather than how to fix problems at scale.
Seven Lesson from RCTOM That Unpack the Global Supply Chain Mess
Professor Willy Shih– Less InfoHow did global supply chains become such a mess, and how does an understanding of the Beer Game and the “National Cranberry” case help me sort this out? Participants will leave this session with a reminder of how what they learned during their first-semester RC applies to everyday problems.
Space: Understanding the New Era on the Final Frontier
Professor Matthew Weinzierl– Less InfoNo industry is more important to the future of humanity than the space industry, and the current moment is more important to that industry than any since 1969. These are bold claims, but in this session we will engage them as we discuss the revolution being driven by companies such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, Made In Space, Spire, and more. Participants will leave this session with an understanding of the core economics of the sector, the evolving relationship between private and public actors, and both the challenges and promise of this Commercial Space Age.
CASE STUDY Government in the Metaverse: A Live Case Discussion
Professor Mitch Weiss (MBA 2004)– Less InfoNo pre-reading required to attend this modified case discussion.
Web3 has come for government. Cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies have wound their way into public services. DAOs and NFTs have arrived on the political scene. Now public officials are tip-toeing into the metaverse. Barbados will open an embassy in Decentraland, an online world. Seoul’s mayor has announced plans for a metaverse platform for his city. The question for them and us: Should other officials should follow? Participants will leave with a sense for Web3 technologies being explored by governments and the private companies that engage them, as well as the potential political, social and commercial implications of these new partnerships.
Pathbreakers: The Next Generation of HBS Faculty
Assistant Professors Anke Becker, Jorge Tamayo, Marlous van Waijenburg, and Jonathan Wallen– Less InfoToday’s assistant and associate professors will help keep HBS at the forefront of management education with their innovative ideas and tools, groundbreaking research, and rigorous scholarship. Select assistant professors were invited to present their research to the entire HBS faculty this semester, and here will reprise those 7-minute talks. Join to learn from and engage with the next generation of HBS faculty.
Tours and Info Sessions
A Grand Tour of the HBS Campus
– Less InfoThe Harvard Business School campus started out with seven buildings in its original campus plan in the 1920s (a number of years after the School’s founding in 1908) and has since grown to more than 35. Take a historical walking tour of the campus’s main buildings, with anecdotes and explanations galore. Who was HBS’s first benefactor? What was the first HBS case about? Who is Arthur Rock? Where are the Harvard Innovation Labs? What are the newest buildings, including the newly opened Klarman Hall? At the end of this fun- and fact-filled tour, participants will know all that and much more.
*This tour’s capacity is 40 people, and begins on the Baker Library steps. If you would like to take a self-guided tour, check out the Smartguide tour app.
Contemporary Art Tour
Melissa Renn, Collections Manager, HBS Art and Artifacts Collection– Less InfoLed by Melissa Renn, Collections Manager of the HBS Art and Artifacts Collection, this tour will feature highlights of contemporary art here on campus, from works in the Schwartz Art Collection to outdoor sculptures on view through the C. Ludens Ringnes Sculpture Collection. This walking tour will feature works by a diverse and international group of artists, including Marina Abramović, Shimon Attie, Melvin Edwards, Simone Leigh, Thaddeus Mosley, Lorraine O’Grady, Jaume Plensa, and Yinka Shonibare.
* This tour begins in the Spangler Food Court Rotunda and can accommodate 25 people.*Tour of the Live Online Classroom
– Less InfoThe HBS Live Online Classroom is a one-of-a-kind virtual classroom that allows faculty to interact in real time with students and alumni from around the world, much as they would in a traditional HBS classroom. Through this platform, now in its second iteration, we have created a space that will allow engagement with up to 96 participants at a time in a fully immersive produced experience. Join a tour of the virtual classroom to hear about how and why this unique learning platform was built.
* This tour will begin at the Cumnock Hall Entrance, and can accommodate 20 people at a time in the Live Online Classroom. Tours will be staggered every 20 minutes for the time block.
Tour of the Harvard Innovation Labs
– Less InfoParticipants will attend a tour of the Harvard Innovation Labs, a vibrant, cross-disciplinary ecosystem for the Harvard community to explore innovation and entrepreneurship while building deeper connections. An excellent example of the One Harvard vision, the Harvard Innovation Labs supports innovators from all 13 Harvard schools through three labs: Student i-lab, Launch Lab X GEO for alumni, and the Pagliuca Harvard Life Lab for biotech and life science startups.
- 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Class Programming - Open to All Reunion Guests
Connections & Conundrums in Achieving Organizational Success
Professor Emeritus Ben Shapiro (MBA 1965, DBA 1970)– Less InfoProfessor Shapiro, and several of his colleagues, believe that they understand why some organizations succeed and some don’t. The presentation will begin with an explanation of that “secret sauce.” Then, we will jointly explore, in traditional HBS discussion mode, the relationships between the source of success, and the nature of the management team. The goal is to learn how to predict organizational success rather than just explain it after the fact.
Hosted by the Class of 1977.
- Saturday, October 15
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- 8:30 am – 9:30 am
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Connections, Conversations, and Community. Enjoy Breakfast in Batten while engaging with others and contributing to conversations. This is an opportunity to meet, hear from, and foster relationships with fellow alumni and HBS leaders who share in issues and challenges that matter to you. The following connection topics and conversations will be taking place:
Title: Connecting on Climate Solutions
Join: Lynn Schenk, Director Business and Environment Initiative; Julia (Brady MBA 1997); and Ned Harvey (MBA 1997)
Description: Are you working, investing or advocating in the domain of climate solutions? Please join us if you are interested in connecting with other alumni and HBS efforts in this area.Title: When Health Care Met Business
Join: Blavatnik Fellows in Life Science Entrepreneurship and Healthcare Initiative Leadership
Description: What technologies will make the biggest impact in the health care system and who will build and lead those ventures? Come talk about life science entrepreneurship, the next generation of leaders, and the future of health care.Title: How Can Leaders Advance Diversity, Equity & Inclusion?
Join: Colleen Ammerman, Director, Race, Gender & Equity Initiative; Terrill Drake, HBS Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer; Drew Keller, Director, Institute for the study of Business in Global Society
Description: What actions can you take to further impact DEI results and where can you direct your influence to effect progress? We welcome everyone interested in engaging in the conversation to consider the possibilities.Title: Non-Profit Board Service
Join: Amelia Angella (MBA 2001), Associate Director Social Enterprise Initiative
Description: Do you currently serve on a non-profit board, or are you considering a seat on one? Come together with other alumni to share your experiences on effective non-profit governance and the essential roles and practices and trends in modern board leadership.Title: Entrepreneurship at HBS and Harvard: How is the ecosystem evolving?
Join: Thara Pillai, Director, Alumni Programs & Engagement, Harvard Innovation Labs
Description: Do you know how many new ventures are started each year? Or how much Harvard-founded ventures have raised? During the past 10 years, an increasing number of students and alumni are launching or joining startups. Whether you are an entrepreneur, investor, or just interested in sharing your domain expertise through mentoring or advising, we invite you to come and learn about what HBS and the Harvard Innovation Labs have been up to and connect with others in the ecosystem.Three Research Skills in 30 Minutes (+ Q&A)
– Less InfoThis session is geared toward anyone – from budding entrepreneurs to established executives – who wants to learn how Baker Library can help move their ideas forward.
- 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
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Faculty Presentations
Can Evidence-Based Information Shift Preferences Towards Trade Policy?
Professor Laura Alfaro– Less InfoFueled by a series of recent political events and actors, anti-globalization has been growing. From the rise of political platforms pinning blame on openness to imports and immigration to the public’s exposure to explicitly anti-global rhetoric and fast but not always research-methods-based online information, political actors have succeeded in giving voice to this set of economic grievances. In this session, we will review online surveys on attitudes towards globalization and economic policy to answer the question: Does the information that the public is exposed to online influence their views on trade policy? And by how much?
CASE STUDY Leading Innovation in Turbulent Times
Professor Lynda Applegate– Less InfoNo pre-reading required to attend this modified case discussion.
The case “Andonix: Leading Innovation in Turbulent Times” looks at David Yanez, a Mexican factory worker who migrated to Detroit to found a new venture in 2017 that provided a Software as a Service (SaaS) platform to empower—rather than replace—front-line workers. Andonix was just launching its MVP in Detroit automotive plants when COVID shut down businesses around the world. Yanez pivoted and developed a mobile app that would enable front-line workers to safely return to work. Between Q4 2022 and Q4 2021, Andonix grew its revenues by over 100% and expanded to other industries. Leave this session understanding how to lead innovation, growth, and transformation during turbulent times.The Future of Entertainment, Media, and Sports
Professor Anita Elberse– Less InfoWhat does the future of entertainment look like? Fueled by advances in digital technology, will a select few superstars in media and sports come to have a bigger impact on popular culture than they do now, and how will they use their power? Will we see bigger bets on likely blockbusters, more intense competition in areas such as streaming and esports, and more industry consolidation? Drawing on dozens of recent case studies, Professor Elberse will walk participants through the likely future of the entertainment industry and outline the most effective business strategies and biggest entrepreneurial opportunities in these sectors.
5 Technologies That Will Change the World. How Will They Affect Your Journey as a Leader?
Professor Shikhar Ghosh– Less InfoE.O. Wilson observed that the “real problem of humanity is that we have Paleolithic emotions, medieval institutions, and godlike technology.” We will examine 5 recently developed “godlike technologies” that have passed commercial viability and are on track to change the foundations of business and society by 2032—AI, blockchain, ubiquitous networks, synthetic biology, and brain-computer interfaces—and examine their impact on who we are as individuals and as a species. What does it take to live a purposeful life in an age where everything can change and where existential threats are real?
Your Best Employees Are Burning Out
Senior Lecturer Hise Gibson (DBA 2015)– Less InfoBurnout, retention, and renewed labor organization are critical challenges for leaders, especially amid COVID-19 and a looming recession. Leaders must ask themselves: What is it about my organization’s culture that is contributing to such a high level of mental stress for my employees? Why are people leaving my organization or refusing to return to the office in such high numbers? What is my response, and how are my employees receiving it? Participants will leave this interactive session with a framework for retaining talent.
Opportunities and Risks in Health Care Created by COVID
Professor Regina Herzlinger (DBA 1971)– Less InfoThe crush of patients created by COVID enabled the creation of sites for care outside the traditional hospital, such as retail pharmacies, ambulatory surgery centers, urgent care centers, telemedicine, and wireless sensors. Public policy mirrored these changes by allowing access to telemedicine and pharmaceuticals by mail and by redefining care of the home as an insured benefit and the ownership role of physicians. Some newly public health insurers added technology as a major asset, and VCs and PEs invested heavily in these new businesses. How sustainable is this new health care system, and what opportunities and risks does it create for patients, employers, and investors?
The Political Polarization of Corporate America
Associate Professor Elisabeth Kempf– Less InfoExecutive teams in US firms are becoming increasingly partisan. We establish this new fact using political affiliations from voter registration records for top executives of S&P 1500 firms between 2008 and 2020. The new fact is explained by both an increasing share of Republican executives and increased assortative matching by executives on political affiliation. Departures of politically misaligned executives are value-destroying for shareholders, implying the increasing political polarization of corporate America may not be in the financial interest of shareholders.
Pragmatic Approaches to Reducing Mental Health Deterioration
Carin Knoop (MBA 1994), Executive Director, Case Research and Writing
Bahia El Oddi (MBA 2019), Founder, Human Sustainability Inside Out– Less InfoThe World Economic Forum deems mental health deterioration as an imminent risk for humanity in the next two years. Talk of issues of mental health and work, once taboo, is now constant. In this session, we will explore why many pandemic responses – apps, time off, mindfulness webinars – have disappointed us. We will assess how companies can instead focus on why we get ourselves and our colleagues in trouble at work in the first place, and in doing so, increase the return on investment in employee well-being.
Competing in the Age of AI
Professor Karim Lakhani
Watch the livestream on Saturday, October 15 at 10am ET– Less InfoWe have entered a new era in which artificial intelligence (AI) is challenging the very concept of how a company is put together. AI-centric organizations exhibit a new operating architecture, redefining how they create, capture, share, and deliver value. Professor Lakhani will discuss how reinventing the firm around data, analytics, and AI removes traditional constraints on scale, scope, and learning that have constrained business growth for hundreds of years. From Airbnb to Ant Financial, research shows how AI-driven processes are vastly more scalable than traditional processes, enable companies to straddle industry boundaries, and open up powerful opportunities for learning.
Direct-to-Consumer Brands: A Fad That Will Go Away or Disruptive Force That's Here to Stay?
Professor Rajiv Lal– Less InfoIn the last decade, there has been a dramatic rise of direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands such as Dollar Shave Club, Harry’s, Glossier, and Allbirds. These brands entered mature markets dominated by established players like Gillette, L’Oréal, and Nike, and yet they grew rapidly to attain valuations over $1 billion. At the same time, some DTC brands, such as Casper, saw a significant drop in their valuation after going public. Are DTC brands a fad or a real disruption? And how should incumbents respond?
Climate Adaptation: How Investors Think About Resilience
Senior Lecturer John Macomber– Less InfoWildfire, river flooding, drought, extreme heat, and sea rise perils seem to be getting worse in many parts of the world. The impacts vary depending on location, peril, types of structures, wealth, point of view, and the priority of other pressing concerns. There are substantial openings for organizations and investors to play offense, as well as defense. We will use case studies from Miami, FL (flooding) and Sonoma, CA (wildfire) to illustrate techniques and best practices. Participants will leave with a toolkit to help assess the severity of exposures and to use probabilities and risk maps to make investment choices.
This is Your Time…Be at Your Best to Enjoy it the Most
Meredith Oppenheim (MBA 2001), Founder and CEO of Vitality Society– Less InfoIf COVID has taught us anything, it is that we must find new ways to be at our best physically and mentally and to stay in touch with old friends and making new ones. Now is the time to apply your experiences and build on your strengths and interests. During this interactive session you will be inspired by a new framework on how to maintain your vitality and create a pathway to live the life and leave the legacy you desire. The session will end with a 15-minute strengthening routine to help you do and enjoy the most.
Creating a Winning Culture at US Ski and Snowboard
Featuring Anouk Patty (MBA 1997), Chief of Sport, US Ski & Snowboard Team– Less InfoAfter 30 years in the corporate world, Anouk Patty (MBA 1997) made the leap to her dream job as chief of sport for US Ski and Snowboard, which is the governing body that nominates athletes to the US Olympic teams. In this live taping of the HBS alumni podcast Skydeck, Patty will talk about her own path as a former world-class skier and NCAA champion, through Silicon Valley and the tech world, and the ways in which the fundamentals of corporate leadership translate to the world of sport—and the areas in which they don’t. Bring your questions for the chief of sport, who is taking on organizational challenges like building culture across varied teams and disciplines (everything from Alpine racing to slopestyle), as well as creating a pipeline of young athletes and increasing the accessibility of snow sports.
Crafting Your Life: Are You Living Consistent with What Matters Most to You?
Professor Leslie Perlow
Please take 15 minutes to complete the LIFE Matrix before your reunion
– Less InfoDo your values match how you spend your time? If not, what’s getting in your way? Join HBS professor Leslie Perlow on a journey of thought-provoking self-reflection with tools used in a new popular EC course Crafting Your Life. This course explores how one can be more intentional about one’s choices and tradeoffs, even when faced with surprises and challenges along the way. Please submit your LIFE Matrix before your reunion to get the most out of this program.
Managing Hypergrowth Technology Ventures
Senior Lecturer Jeffrey Rayport– Less InfoConventional wisdom says there are two phases of a company’s development—exploration and exploitation. But this overlooks a critical link, extrapolation—the transition phase between the two. Understanding how to unlock and manage through rapid growth is particularly pressing for technology ventures. When new ventures achieve market traction, revenues can grow at exponential rates. Success hinges on specific approaches to leadership and management that differ radically from what comes before or after. Participants will leave this session with a better understanding of how to make and manage such hypergrowth—and how to build more successful and sustainable tech ventures.
Board of Directors and the Social Responsibility of Business
Professor Suraj Srinivasan (DBA 2004)– Less InfoConventional wisdom says there are two phases of a company’s development—exploration and exploitation. But this overlooks a critical link, extrapolation—the transition phase between the two. Understanding how to unlock and manage through rapid growth is particularly pressing for technology ventures. When new ventures achieve market traction, revenues can grow at exponential rates. Success hinges on specific approaches to leadership and management that differ radically from what comes before or after. Participants will leave this session with a better understanding of how to make and manage such hypergrowth—and how to build more successful and sustainable tech ventures.
Ending Alzheimer’s Disease by Preserving Brain Health
Professor Rudolph Tanzi, Harvard Medical School/MGH– Less InfoAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, impacting 1 in 5 families in the United States. It causes profound suffering for patients, and is heartbreaking for families to witness. This disease also places an enormous burden on society. Delaying the onset of AD by just 5 years can save nearly a trillion dollars in the next decade in the US alone. Despite growing knowledge, treatments for AD have been largely ineffective because changes in the brain of AD patients begin to develop decades before symptoms appear. In this session, we will discuss the current Early Prediction – Early Detection – Early Intervention strategy, with its goal of preventing the onset of AD before symptoms arise or progress, and how we are now poised to take a giant step forward in preventing and curing Alzheimer’s disease.
The Surprising Power of Business Experiments
Professor Stefan Thomke– Less InfoWhen it comes to improving customer experiences, trying out business models, or developing new products, even the most experienced managers often discover that intuition, experience, and big data alone don’t work. What does work? Running disciplined business experiments. What makes a good experiment? How do you test in online and brick-and-mortar businesses? How do you build an experimentation culture? Professor Thomke will introduce you to best experimentation practice, explain how that works at leading companies like Amazon and Booking.com, and address some fundamental questions. He’ll also explain how these and other organizations have discovered that experimentation provides considerable competitive advantages.
The Role of Business in Society: Listening to Consumer-Citizens
Professor Emeritus Peter Tufano (MBA 1984)– Less InfoEconomists, lawyers, pundits, business leaders, and politicians all speak eloquently and forcefully about the role of business in society. But we listen less to our fellow consumer-citizens and who they think business should serve—or how. Peter Tufano, Sandra Sucher, and researchers at Edelman have collected and analyzed data from 14 countries about whose interests should be prioritized. In this session, we will poll alumni about how they conceive of the role of business—or what they imagine others might think—and compare this with the broad evidence. We will then discuss the implications for business—and for business education.
Investing in a Changing Interest Rate Environment
Professor Luis Viceira– Less InfoProfessor Viceira will discuss the interest rate environment, putting it in historical context and in relation to macroeconomic and financial forces. He will also discuss the implications for investing of the low interest rate environment and how sophisticated institutional investors such as endowments have been reshaping their portfolios in response to this environment. Participants will leave the session with a perspective on current trends in investing.
CASE STUDY What in the Wordle: Dissecting the Phenomenon of the Hit Game Through the Lens of the RC Entrepreneurship Course (TEM)
Senior Lecturer Christina Wallace (MBA 2010)– Less InfoNo pre-reading required to attend this modified case discussion.
After sourdough bread, countertop chive gardens, and vaccine selfies came a new pandemic-era trend: one daily chance to guess a five-letter word and crow about your success on social media via little green and yellow squares. From a personal game between a developer and his girlfriend to a global phenomenon in just a few months, Wordle seems poised to outlast its pandemic peers when the New York Times makes an unexpected bid to acquire it. Come dissect the journey of one entrepreneur and his viral product as he debates a 7-figure exit before earning his first dollar of revenue.CASE STUDY Should Public Companies Embrace Cryptocurrencies? Examining Tesla and Bitcoin
Associate Professor Charles Wang– Less InfoNo pre-reading required to attend this modified case discussion.
This session will be centered around a discussion of the case “Accounting for Bitcoin at Tesla.” Participants will evaluate Tesla’s strategic and financial rationale for adopting bitcoin, learn about the financial accounting implications or holding cryptocurrencies, and explore what these investments mean for corporate managers in terms of communication and reporting performance to the investment community.Tour of the Live Online Classroom
– Less InfoThe HBS Live Online Classroom is a one-of-a-kind virtual classroom that allows faculty to interact in real time with students and alumni from around the world, much as they would in a traditional HBS classroom. Through this platform, now in its second iteration, we have created a space that will allow engagement with up to 96 participants at a time in a fully immersive produced experience. Join a tour of the virtual classroom to hear about how and why this unique learning platform was built.
* This tour will begin at the Cumnock Hall Entrance, and can accommodate 20 people at a time in the Live Online Classroom. Tours will be staggered every 20 minutes for the time block.Tour of the Harvard Innovation Labs
– Less InfoParticipants will attend a tour of the Harvard Innovation Labs, a vibrant, cross-disciplinary ecosystem for the Harvard community to explore innovation and entrepreneurship while building deeper connections. An excellent example of the One Harvard vision, the Harvard Innovation Labs supports innovators from all 13 Harvard schools through three labs: Student i-lab, Launch Lab X GEO for alumni, and the Pagliuca Harvard Life Lab for biotech and life science startups.
Campus Sustainability Tour
– Less InfoCome walk the HBS campus and learn more about the sustainability efforts at HBS. Participants will leave this tour with an understanding of how HBS is tackling environmental challenges and how they can get involved.
*Tour begins at the bell on Baker Lawn*Curators Exhibit Tour: Celebrating 100 Years of the Case Method
Laura Linard, Senior Director, Baker Special Collections– Less InfoDrawing on materials from the HBS archives, the exhibit, From Inquiry to Action: HBS & the Case Method, explores the introduction of the case method and highlights the School’s early contributions that have led to the enduring influence of this participant-centered teaching practice.
*Tour begins in Baker Library Lobby*Visit the Stamps Reading Room, Baker Library, 3rd Floor
– Less InfoExploring a new career opportunity, working on a pitch deck, or interested in finding out more about a competitor? We can help! Talk to a Baker librarian to learn how to best use our resources and services to support your research. Contact us at infoservices@hbs.edu with your questions or just stop by! The Stamps Reading Room will be open on Saturday from 10:00am – 4:00pm.
Visit the De Gaspe Beaubien Reading Room, Baker Library, 1st Floor
– Less InfoWhile on campus, drop by the de Gaspé Beaubien Reading Room to see some of the unique and irreplaceable materials in Baker Library’s Special Collections from the first edition of Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations, 1776 to Digital Equipment Corporation’s nine-page business plan from 1957. A display of yearbooks, course catalogs, photographs, and other materials from the HBS Archives is available for the reunion classes to enjoy. The De Gaspe Reading Room will be open on Saturday from 10:00am – 4:00pm.
- 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
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Alumni Dialogues: An HBS Unconference Experience
For You and By You (with some guidance from your HBS hosts including Alumni Board President, Andreas Stavropoulos MBA 1997)
Reserve your spot in Alumni Dialogues– Less InfoJoin us for a unique and engaging program experience. No keynotes or speaker-led sessions, Alumni Dialogues are created by your participation. During this “unconference” session, you will brainstorm topics and then select a discussion area that is meaningful to you. And in doing so, will engage with others who share interest and passion for the same subject matter. You and your fellow alumni will be both the participants and discussion group leaders, allowing you the time and space for meaningful, thought-provoking discussions. Every life and career are full of change, sharp turns, ups, downs, and significant choices. And after the past two years, that’s probably never been clearer. Engage your peers, and expand your thinking on the questions, issues, and decisions that matter to you.
Watch Andreas Stavropoulos (MBA 1997) Describe Unconferences
I'M INTERESTED
FAQ on Alumni Dialogues
Activate Your Mind PWR™ For Greater Calm, Clarity, Focus & Insight
Theresa Kennedy (MBA 1992), President, Power Living Enterprises, Inc.– Less InfoThis session will take place in the Chapel from 2:00 – 2:30pm.
How do you activate the power of the mind in a world of distractions? Tap into Mind PWR™ breath and meditation. In this 30-minute experiential session, Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy (MBA 1992) will lead simple practices to modulate the nervous system for greater calm, clarity, focus, insight, and mental sharpness. Explore the science behind the techniques and be inspired by Terri’s transformational story from stressed- out executive to mind-body expert. A World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and 500-hour certified yoga teacher, she trains people across the globe in a “whole-approach” to wellness and success.Class Programming – Open to All Reunion Guests
What Makes for a Happy and Meaningful Life?
Senior Lecturer Jo Tango (MBA 1995)
Watch the livestream on Saturday, October 15 at 10am ET– Less InfoWhat Makes for a Happy and Meaningful Life? And, what do the latest neuroscience findings say about it? Venture capital investor and HBS Senior Lecturer Jo Tango (MBA 1995) will cover those items and lessons learned from a challenging childhood.
Hosted by the Class of 1987. - 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
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Please join us for an afternoon reception to spend time with others from various affinity and Shared Interest Groups. You can join more than one and interested as well as active participants from all groups are welcome.
HBS African-American Alumni Association
Sara Clarke (MBA 1997)
Beverly Anderson (MBA 1997)
HBS Alumni Angels Association
John Reichenbach (MBA 1986)
Matt Hagen (GMP 27)
Alumnae Reception
Heather Myers (MBA 1992), President HBS Women's Association of New York
Jane Power (MBA 1982), and Jill Keithley-Aufricht (MBA 1992), Alumnae Circles Program
HBS Christian Fellowship Alumni Association
Andy Wasynzcuk (MBA 1983), HBS Faculty Senior Lecturer, HBS NOM Unit
HBS PRIDE Alumni Association
Jon Langbert (MBA 1992)
John Crocker (MBA 1982)
HBS Alumni Veterans
Skip Nordhoff, Senior Director, Principal Gifts and International Strategy
HBS External Relations
HBS Alumni Forums - Program for Peer Connection
Bob Halperin (MBA 1982), Linda Youngentob (MBA 1987), Marc Zablatsky (MBA 1992), and Andreas Stavropoulos (MBA 1997).
Current, former and curious future participants are all welcome. Alumni Forums are all about bringing small peer groups together on a regular basis for meaningful conversation. Whether you participate through your local club, Social Enterprise, or through Pride, this is an opportunity to see old friends, meet new ones, learn about joining and share in the power of Forums.
In addition, space will be available for people to connect on behalf of: HBS Asian American Alumni Association, HBS Healthcare Alumni Association, and HBS Latino Alumni Association.