Business School – What is it good for?

Just this week our newest cohort of executive MBA students began their programme in Chicago.  Over 260 students from 60 countries – and representing our campuses in Chicago, London and Hong Kong – arrived last Saturday for their first taste of the “Chicago approach” to business education, the beginning of an extraordinary educational opportunity and a lifetime of new connections and perspectives.

 

One of the things that struck me most about this gathering is that no matter where our students come from – China or Japan, Russia or Ukraine, the US or the Middle East – they are all seeking the same thing: a chance to learn new skills, deepen their understanding of business, build new relationships and expand their career potential.  Geopolitical conflicts are nowhere to be seen.  Cultural differences are to be explored and celebrated, not denigrated.  There is a common focus on developing as individuals, making new friends and mastering the course material. 

 

Given the many conflicts currently underway around the world, it’s always refreshing to see how our students come together in the spirit of inquiry and with a willingness to learn, network and collaborate.  I’m sure this happens at many educational institutions, but perhaps it is most profound in business schools. After all, business students have a vested interest in working together – to enhance trade, create new markets, and expand opportunities. Conflict is bad for business. Business leaders around the globe recognise that a stable, peaceful world offers the best opportunity to build and grow a business and enhance your career. 

 

Perhaps there are some lessons many of our political leaders could learn from this experience.