‘A Crucial Role To Play’: Top B-School Deans Share 2022 Resolutions

Karen Sedatole, interim John H. Harland dean at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, says her school will “double down” on experiential offerings that “benefit business and society,” in part by harnessing the renewed energy of a community eager to make a difference after nearly two years of pandemic.

“2021 has been a year of change,” Sedatole says, “in some ways more than we could have anticipated and in other ways less than we had hoped. For many, myself included, the return to campus in the fall was momentous. We welcomed familiar and new faces to our student body, with energy from faculty, and staff that has brought new life back to Goizueta.

“My resolution is to leverage this renewed energy and the momentum from the past year to continue to expand our academic and co-curricular offerings with personalized experiences that prepare students to thrive in and drive toward the future of business.

“I’m confident we’re well on our way. From new academic offerings including our STEM-designated Master of Analytical Finance, Online Executive MBA, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion MBA concentration to new tools and technologies, such as our global classrooms and virtual reality simulations, we are giving students the skills, resources, and perspectives they need to meet their own resolutions and push beyond the boundaries of a traditional business education.

“We are also doubling down on experiential learning initiatives that benefit business and society such as the Peachtree Minority Venture Fund — the first of its kind student-led investment fund focused exclusively on providing capital to minority entrepreneurs — and the student-run John R. Lewis Racial Justice Case Competition, which has expanded in scope through deeper partnerships with top business schools across the country and continues its focus on examining how companies can address racial injustice within their organizations and in society. We recently launched our innovative Future of Finance Consortium, a partnership with Agnes Scott College, Spelman College, and Morehouse College offering career-focused programming designed to introduce students to global financial markets and the many exciting finance career opportunities available. It is through these, and many other initiatives, that Goizueta Business School and the Atlanta community will continue to thrive …  together.

“After the challenges of 2020 and 2021, we are entering the new year with intentionality and a renewed sense of purpose. And as always, our students sit at the center of that purpose.”

‘MAKING 2022 A YEAR OF POSITIVE CHANGE’ AT IESE

At IESE Business School, Dean Franz Heukamp echoes his colleagues in calling for more active collaboration on the world’s pressing problems, particularly climate change. Business, and business educators, must take a leading role, he says.

“As we say goodbye to 2021, it is an excellent time to reflect and take stock of where we have been and where we are heading,” Heukamp says.

“My first reflection is on the importance of being conscious of the mental toll the pandemic has had — and continues to have — on many. While some people have been more directly affected than others, we have all had to adapt to a complicated situation over an extended period of time. It is no wonder many people are feeling burned out and stressed as we come to the end of the year. That´s why one of my resolutions is to give renewed focus on empathy and to encourage everyone to take the time to be as kind and helpful as we can to the people around us in both our professional and personal circles.

“Another is to emphasize the importance of collaboration to address the world’s biggest challenges. Looking back over the past year, it is clear the world has made progress. There is growing consensus and impetus to push forward with resolving the climate crisis, and the effects of the pandemic have, in some ways, brought to the foreground ongoing societal issues such as widening inequality. I’m proud of IESE’s work in helping drive real change on these issues with, among others, leading sustainability initiatives, research, programs, and activities that have directly helped improve people’s lives.

“Yet, given the size of these societal challenges, going further by actively collaborating with our peers and partners to share knowledge and amplify our work is critical to enacting real change. An example of how we can do this is the Business Schools for Climate Leadership initiative, of which IESE is one of the founding schools. It is an initiative we are keen to expand and build on collectively as a group over the next year. Another is our MBA course on The Future of Capitalism, which we initiated alongside Japan’s Shizenkan University in January 2021, and are expanding to involve 12 schools from across four continents for the 2022 edition. It’s a practical course that explores the key issues society faces within the capitalist system today and invites students to reflect and develop a plan on how business can have a more positive role in society.

“Finally, I want us to continue our work helping managers and companies not only innovate, but also recognize how they can have a positive impact on others. Business can be a powerful force for good when harnessed correctly. Working with our participants, alumni, policymakers, and other partners to help them understand this will be critical for making 2022 a year of positive change.”

DON’T MISS: DEANS FROM TOP B-SCHOOLS SHARE 2021 RESOLUTIONS or TOP B-SCHOOL DEANS SHARE RESOLUTIONS FOR 2020