Pitt Business e-newsletter Issue 14, March 2009
Think Globally (Even on the Weekends)
Nearly forty students, who are members of the student organization the Society for International Business (SIB) or who have a general interest in international business spent a recent Sunday afternoon expanding their classroom learning. On March 1, the SIB hosted an international business panel in the College of Business Administration's Sennott Square headquarters. The event, which was open to all University of Pittsburgh students, was sponsored by the International Business Center (IBC).
The aim of the event was to create a dialogue between students and executives from companies across many different sectors of the economy. Representatives, including Dan Beagle, first vice president for The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation; Andreas Wagner, director of human resources and organizational design for Bombardier Inc.; Gunjan Khanna, an associate at McKinsey & Company; and Ian Buggs, financial analyst at MEDRAD, Inc., participated in the panel and discussed their companies' international operations.
During a 20-minute question-and-answer session, panelists fielded student questions on international expansion, the role of ethics in international business, and the current international economic environment. Those in attendance were able to hear about how international business decisions vary based on whether a company is involved with asset management, manufacturing, consulting, or medical supplies.
This was the second Sunday international business panel hosted by the SIB and owing to its success, the organization plans on making it their annual signature event.
One of the IBC's goals is to enrich the global outlook of Pitt Business students and it furthers its goal by supporting the SIB. Although primarily a component of the College of Business Administration, SIB also welcomes students of Pitt's School of Arts and Sciences and the College of General Studies. Requirements for SIB membership include maintaining a grade point average above 3.0, active participation on a SIB committee, and possessing a genuine interest in global studies and business development. To learn more about the SIB, visit www.pitt.edu/~sorc/sib.
