Darden School of Business to Host Inaugural Global Leadership Forum in Shanghai

The University of Virginia Darden School of Business today announced that it will hold its inaugural Global Leadership Forum from 11–13 May in Shanghai. The two-day forum will convene Darden’s Dean Bob Bruner, school leadership and faculty, students of Darden’s Global MBA for Executives (GEMBA) program, members of Darden’s Global Advisory Council and alumni for classes and discussions about the current business climate in China and Asia and leadership challenges facing executives who manage across continents and cultures.

Forum events will include a keynote address by Darden alumnus Scott Price (MBA ’90), president and CEO of Walmart Asia and co-chair of the forum. Darden Professor Paul Simko will teach a new case, “China Electric,” published by Darden Business Publishing, with Darden alumnus Jerry Peng (MBA ’03), who is managing director of Goldman Sachs (Asia) and a forum co-chair. Henry Skelsey (MBA ’84), forum co-chair and managing partner of PRC Venture Partners, a private equity firm focused on the technology, communication and media sectors in China, will host the closing reception.

The Global Advisory Council includes Darden graduates from the school’s alumni network of 14,000 around the world, who have significant experience in the global marketplace and advise the school on its global activities and objectives.

The Darden School is forging new paths in management education and provides the opportunity for students of its three MBA programs to study in China. Executives in Darden’s GEMBA program began a two-week residency in Beijing and Shanghai on 6 May. The GEMBA program develops leaders with a profound understanding of the global economy, who can meet the challenge of leading global organizations. The program is delivered through a hybrid model, combining online learning with on-the-ground training in five regions around the world: Brazil, China, Western Europe, India and the United States.

Students from Darden’s full-time MBA program spent 10 days in China in March for a “Global Business Experience” course, and the MBA for Executives will spend a week in China in September 2012.

Darden Executive Education, a Top Five global provider, regularly delivers custom programs for clients in Asia.

University of Virginia President Teresa A. Sullivan and a cadre of University deans will visit East and Southeast Asia (Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai and Singapore) in May 2012.