2011 spring : cems magazine

CEMS MagazineOfficial Magazine of the CEMS Global AllianceSPRING 2011

CSR as practiced in the field, by companies, academics, students and alumni

A NEW WORLDOF BUSINESS

Feature

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COMMEnt

new student and alumni presidents06 Marco Proto and Alberto Frisiero present new team and missions

StudEnt & AluMni FOCuS

FAIR TRADER

50 CEMS Alumnus Joaquin Muñoz, Director, Max Havelaar France

On CAMpuS

REgIonAl EvEnTssEE DoublE 14 New CEMS events V4 and Marenostrum join Nordic Forum and Louropa

CEMS students and alumni are at home in the world, thanks to a unique alliance of 26 leading member schools, 69 corporate partners and 2 NGOs that spans the globe. The CEMS MIM is more than a top-ranked M.Sc. programme; it’s a passport to global citizenship.

Aalto University School of Economics Copenhagen Business School Corvinus University of Budapest ESADE Business School Escola de Administração de Empresas de São Paulo-FGV Graduate School of Management,St. Petersburg State University HEC Paris Keio University, Tokyo Koç University Graduate Schoolof Business Louvain School of Management LSE, London School of Economics and Political Science National University of Singapore Business School NHH, Norwegian School ofEconomics and Business Administration Nova School of Business & Economics Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University Stockholm School of Economics Tsinghua SEM UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School Università Bocconi University of Cologne University of Economics, Prague University of St. Gallen University of Sydney Business School Warsaw School of Economics WU, Vienna University of Economics and Business

CONTACTI www.cems.orgI [email protected]

About CEMSFounded in 1988, CEMS is a global alliance of 26 business schools and universities, 69 prestigious multinational companies and two NGOs. They collaborate closely to deliver the CEMS Master’s in International Management (or “CEMS MIM”), one of the top-ranked pre-experience Master’s in Management in the world by the Financial Times. The CEMS MIM provides a unique blend of top-level education and professional experience for multilingual, multicultural postgraduate students. www.cems.org

CEMS Magazine IN tHIS ISSuE Editorial Prof. Dr. Thomas Bieger, Chairman of CEMS and President of the University of St. Gallen

CoMMENt The new Student Board and Alumni Association Presidents present their mission

NEtwork EvENts Student Board, Louropa Forum, Executive Board and Programme and Corporate Relations Managers meetings Regional events in Warsaw, Lisbon and Copenhagen Alumni Local Committee events

oN CaMpus Sydney and Nova re-branding projects NHH Block Seminar and Business Project LSE Microfinance conference Louvain Ph.D. course ESADE, Cologne and Sydney CSR courses

FEaturE CSR: a new world of business Part 1: action in the schools Part 2: the corporate strategic view Part 3: alumni in the field

thiNk taNk New faculty publications Business and the Environment Faculty Group report Aalto poverty reduction project

studENt & aluMNi FoCus Microfinance alumna profile Alumni entrepreneurs Student Board report Students in business case competitions

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CoNtACtSEditor-iN-ChiEF: Kevin Titman Communications Manager, CEMS Head Office

Editorial CoMMittEE:Blandine Avot Secretary General, CEMS Alumni AssociationJosé Campo de la Cruz CEMS Student Board representative, EGADE – Tec de MonterreyTorsten RöwekampVice-President, CEMS Alumni AssociationMiriam Scharmach CEMS Student Board representative, University of Cologne

dEsigN & layout: WordAppeal www.wordappeal.com

priNtiNg: Colorpack www.colorpack.hu

Contact the editorial team at [email protected]

Cover photo: CEMS student Cleo Biron (left) and CEMS alumna Wieteke Dupain (right) with Muhammad Yunus at the Annual Events in Rotterdam

Aalto University School of Economics | Copenhagen Business School | Corvinus University of Budapest | ESADE Business School | Escola de Administração de Empresas de São Paulo-FGV | Graduate School of Management, St. Petersburg State University | HEC Paris | Keio University, Tokyo | Koç University Graduate School of Business | Louvain School of Management | LSE, London School of Economics and Political Science | National University of Singapore Business School | NHH, Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration | Nova School of Business and Economics | Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario | Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University | Stockholm School of Economics | Tsinghua SEM | UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School | Università Bocconi | University of Cologne | University of Economics, Prague | University of St. Gallen | University of Sydney Business School | Warsaw School of Economics | WU, Vienna University of Economics and Business

CONTACTI www.cems.org

I [email protected]

tHE StArS HAvE AlIgNEd A global league of leaders, CEMS brings together top academic institutions, leading multinational companies and outstanding students from around the world to deliver the most internationally and culturally diverse M.Sc. on the market.

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CEMS MAGAzINE | MAy 2011

At that time, the CEMS MIM was a unique Management degree which introduced such innovations as internships, business projects and the compulsory term abroad. Through continuous investment in quality, it became a flagship M.Sc. programme in international management and CEMS developed into a global alliance of 26 business schools, 69 corporate partners and two social partners, at the time of writing.

CEMS is still strongly inspired by its vision of being a network which brings together universities of different cultural and national backgrounds with leading companies and NGOs. But after more than 20 years, it has moved on from its initial pioneering days. More and more organisations have to legitimise their investments in cooperations with clear and even measurable outcomes. Therefore, CEMS also has to produce and communicate clear values for its stakeholders. The CEMS management, the central office, the committee chairs and I, as chairman, are committed to developing CEMS and its value for its stakeholders.

University education and especially Management education is facing a globalisation process. International competition for the best faculty and students is increasing. There is an important role for CEMS as a global alliance and platform for cooperations as known in other globalising service industries. The value for its members has increasingly to be the brand, the excellent core product - the CEMS MIM - but even more, the function of a platform for innovation, mutual learning and new products. CEMS should and will fulfil this role and differentiate itself by the strengths of the links between its members from other networks and cooperations in the education sector.

Best regards,

Prof. Dr. Thomas Bieger Chairman of CEMS & President of the University of St. Gallen

Prof. dr. thomas bIEgErChairman of CEMS & President of the University of St. Gallen

tBCEMS STARTED AS A VISION MORE THAN 20 yEARS AGO. THE GOAL WAS TO IMPROVE MANAGEMENT EDUCATION IN EUROPE.

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CoMMENt

The CeMS AluMniASSoCiATion: 6,000 ALUMNI AND A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES

This new issue of the CEMS Magazine is showing again how rich the profiles of CEMS Alumni are. This time, particular attention has been given to graduates showing commitment in their job, to making a difference in today’s world, and putting into daily practice their strong beliefs for a fairer and more sustainable society.

Alumni everywhere around the globe commit themselves to unite and promote this enriching diversity by joining actively the teams of the CAA Local Committees and of the CAA Executive Committee.

During the Annual Event in Rotterdam in December, a new Executive Committee was elected with the following casting: Alberto Frisiero (President), Torsten Röwekamp (Vice-President), Nicola Spano (Treasurer) and Blandine Avot (Secretary General).

This new team will be working in close cooperation with local committees and Head Office to reach the goals set for the two-year mandate. Three directions will be followed in order to increase the awareness and value of the CEMS programme globally:

professionalise career services to create a more appropriate offer to all alumni,

strengthen the broadening network of graduates for a real sense of belonging to the community and for visibility to third parties,

encourage alumni to “give back” to CEMS with more involvement in the curriculum and closer contacts with students, tomorrow’s graduates.

To achieve these objectives, your support will be more than welcome, so don’t hesitate to get in touch with your Executive Committee and your Local Committee to see how you can get involved.

Yours sincerely,

The CEMS Alumni Association Executive Committee

The CEMS Alumni Association (CAA) was founded in 1993 and is an increasingly strong social network from one year to the next as increasing numbers of students go on to graduate. The CAA mission is to prolong among the graduates the international and multicultural experience lived during studies and to keep the CEMS spirit alive all through the world in professional life.

Back row, L-R: Nicola Spano (Treasurer), Alberto Frisiero (President), Torsten Röwekamp (Vice-President)Front row, L-R: Blandine Avot (Secretary General), Andrée Egloff (CAA Coordinator, CEMS Head Office)

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The CeMS STudenT BoArd WISHES yOU A WARM WELCOME TO THE FIRST CEMS MAGAzINE OF 2011!

The Student Board was founded in 2000 and has since then grown remarkably both in terms of level of activity and importance to the alliance. Structured into four teams, we cover virtually every aspect of the CEMS network concerning students: MIM Affairs for the curriculum, CEMS Club Support overseeing the proper functioning of local CEMS Clubs, CEMS Social Responsibility integrating a social framework throughout the Alliance and Student Relations ensuring that the student community is always well connected and informed.

In 2011, the main focus of our efforts will be more equal opportunities for CEMS students, and visibility, both of the Student Board within the alliance and of CEMS to the outside world.

Local CEMS Clubs will continue to be a focal point of our work. The CEMS Club Conference will be held at the end of the year, gathering the Student Board, CEMS Club Presidents, Head Office representatives and Corporate Partners together to strengthen the activity of the local Clubs by sharing best practices and future plans.

Another focus lies with the entrance into the alliance of Social Partners, CARE International and Fairtrade Labelling Organization International. We as students are more than happy

to assist in the process of integrating the Social Partners and helping them get in touch with us through elements of the MIM.

We also aim to help strengthen the ties between the Student Board and CEMS Alumni Association, representing a closer relationship between current students and alumni. We believe the alumni pool is an abundant resource we still need to learn how to take advantage of, just as students are a resource to alumni. A good relationship of this kind is a win-win element, and we look forward to working together.

With this, we hope you will enjoy the magazine, remembering how it is a multi-stakeholder tool which will help you connect the many dots – of which one is us, the students – that together comprise the CEMS Alliance.

Yours sincerely,

Marco Proto (NHH) President, CEMS Student Board Fredrik Ahlberg (CBS)Vice-President, CEMS Student Board

(L) Fredrik Ahlberg (CBS)Vice-President, CEMS Student Board

(R) Marco Proto (NHH)President, CEMS Student Board


Whilst new technology offers a global structure like CEMS the ways and means to work and communicate effectively at distance, face-to-face meetings and events are difficult to replace. They are essential to keeping the spirit and smooth running of the alliance going. The April-June period features the last of the year’s four Regional Events and three multi-stakeholder working meetings.

Student Board meetIngVienna

In keeping with tradition, the recent Student Board meeting was partly hosted by the local member school, WU Vienna University of Economics & Business, and CEMS Corporate Partners, in this case Procter & Gamble and A.T. Kearney.

Among the points on the meeting agenda: reporting from the four Student Board working groups (MIM Affairs, Student Relations, CEMS Social Responsibility and CEMS Club Support), student-alumni relations, branding and communications, company presentation and Q&A session with Procter & Gamble and a sustainability case study with A.T. Kearney.

APrIl

27th 30th

WrIter: KevIn tItman,CEMS Communications Manager

CeMS GloBAl AlliAnCe MeeTinGS & evenTSAPRIL-JUNE 2011

NEtwork EvENtS

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Louropa ForumParis

The fourth and final regional event of the year was hosted by HEC Paris, with corporate involvement from Astra Zeneca, Crédit Agricole, Google, Henkel, and McKinsey & Company. The theme for this year’s edition is “Challenging Careers and Happiness”.

More information is available at www.louropa.com. A report will follow in the November issue of CEMS Magazine.

executIve Board meetIngSao Paulo

The second most senior governing body of the CEMS alliance convenes outside of Europe for a meeting to be hosted by member school Escola de Administração de Empresas de São Paulo-FGV. Proceedings will open with an alumni-corporate partner event on the opening evening, followed by a full two days of discussions and decision-making.

L-R: the campuses of WU Vienna University of Economics & Business, HEC Paris, St Petersburg State University and Escola de Administração de Empresas de São Paulo-FGV

Among the points on the meeting agenda: CEMS Globalisation & Membership, election of Corporate Partners, branding & communications and career services.

programme and corporate reLatIonS managerS’meetIngSt. Petersburg

The 2011 edition of this annual working meeting will be entirely hosted by CEMS member school Graduate School of Management, St. Petersburg State University.

Head Office representatives will meet with all Programme Managers and Corporate Relations Managers to discuss matters pertaining to curriculum delivery and working with CEMS Corporate Partners.

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13th 15th

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25th 27th

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CArEEr ForuM

In 2009, the Career Forum became a highly successful stand-alone two-day event with 1100 + participants.

The 2010 edition was no exception in terms of popularity and importance, with a record 44 Corporate Partners taking part. Corvinus University of Budapest again provided the venue for the event, which was held on 12th-13th November.

2010 CEMS CAREER FORUM

WrIter: KevIn tItman CEMS Communications Manager

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2010 CeMS CAreer ForuM A RECORD NUMBER OF PARTICIPATING CORPORATE PARTNERS

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Key FactS and FIgureS From the 2010 edItIon

CEMS CORPORATE PARTNERS PARTICIPATED IN THE 2010 CAREER FORUM

CEMS CORPORATE PARTNERS OFFERED PRE-SCHEDULED INTERVIEWS TO STUDENTS

CEMS CORPORATE PARTNERS OFFERED PRE-SCHEDULED INTERVIEWS TO yOUNG ALUMNI (0-4 yEARS AFTER GRADUATION)

CEMS MIM-ACCREDITED HALF-DAy SKILL SEMINARS WERE OFFERED TO 400 STUDENTS

CEMS STUDENTS APPLIED FOR PRE-SCHEDULED INTERVIEWS

CEMS STUDENTS REGISTERED FOR ACCREDITED SKILL SEMINARS

After a crisis year, the hard times in terms of recruitment seemed to have been forgotten as a record number of CEMS Corporate Partners offered pre-scheduled interviews for students and young alumni. It was also the first time that the pre-scheduled interview option had been made available to alumni. This was a conscious move to offer more careers-related services to CEMS graduates already in employment but seeking to make a job or career switch. In addition, this made for a wider and more varied pool of talent from which companies could select the profiles of the greatest interest.

Attendance was very much in line with the previous year’s edition. Just as encouraging was the number of skill seminars being offered by companies and academics. Also, a number of career guidance group sessions were organised with the aim of enhancing students’ self-awareness and preparation for the world of work.

CEMS Corporate Partners had the opportunity to meet all member schools representatives and discuss further possibilities of cooperation.

The social networking side was not neglected either. A large-scale buffet dinner and party was hosted in one of the trendiest venues in Central Europe as a fitting close to a highly successful event.

netWorK eventS

the 44 partIcIpatIng corporate partnerS In FuLL:

A.T. KEARNEy / ABB / ARCELIK / ARLA FOODS / ASTRAzENECA PLC / BNP PARIBAS / BP / CANAL + / CRéDIT AGRICOLE S.A. / CREDIT SUISSE / DAyMON WORLDWIDE / DEUTSCHE BANK / EADS / EDP – ENERGIAS DE PORTUGAL, S.A. / ENI INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES LTD. / FIDELITy INVESTMENT MANAGERS / HENKEL AG & CO. KGAA /HP / HSBC / INDESIT COMPANy S.P.A. / ING GROUP / KONE / L'ORéAL / LVMH / MCKINSEy & COMPANy / MOL GROUP / NESTLé / NOKIA CORPORATION / NOVO NORDISK /PROCTER & GAMBLE / RECKITT BENCKISER / SHELL / SIEMENS MANAGEMENT CONSULTING / SISTEMA / SOCIéTé GéNéRALE / STATOIL / SWISS RE / THOMSON REUTERS / UBS / UNIBAIL-RODAMCO UNICREDIT GROUP / VESTAS WIND SySTEMS A/S / VODAFONE / zURICH FINANCIAL SERVICES

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2010 CEMS CAREER FORUM

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EVENTSWrIter: KevIn tItman CEMS Communications Manager

CeMS AnnuAl evenTS PLACED UNDER THE SIGN OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITy

Rotterdam School of Management and Erasmus University hosted the 22nd CEMS Annual Events. The highlight of a rich programme saw the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus (the Bangladeshi economist and founder of Grameen Bank) appear as keynote speaker on Friday 3rd December for a series of debates with CEMS students, alumni, academics and corporate partners.

The appearance of such an active supporter of social business represented a major rubber-stamping of three new CSR initiatives within CEMS: the recent signing of the Principles for Responsible Management Education, the induction of CARE International and Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International as Social Partners and the implementation of a student-driven graduation oath committing graduates to uphold global citizenship and responsible management in working life. The latter of the three projects received a ringing endorsement, with 98% of the near-600 students graduating on stage in Rotterdam signing the declaration.

Muhammad yunus (middle) and George yip, Dean of Rotterdam School of Management (right) engage in debate during the Friday panel discussion

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new CeMS ChAirMAn eleCTed FOR TWO-yEAR MANDATE

netWorK eventS

Prof. Dr. Thomas Bieger was unanimously elected by the Deans and Rectors of CEMS member schools and senior representatives of CEMS Corporate Partners on Saturday 4th December. He arrives in the position following on from his recent appointment as President of the University of St. Gallen. He replaces Prof. Bernard Ramanantsoa (Dean, HEC Paris), who completed his second two-year mandate as Chairman at the Rotterdam event. Prof. Bieger had the following to say: “Having worked within the CEMS alliance for a number of years, it is a source of great pride to now represent the entire organisation as Chairman. I would like to pay tribute to the outgoing Chairman, who has overseen the globalisation of the CEMS alliance, international recognition of the CEMS MIM as the top pre-experience Master’s in Management in the world and the continued growth and expansion of the alliance on all fronts.”

Keio univerSiTy, JAPAN RATIFIED AS A FULL MEMBER SCHOOL

Also confirmed during the events was the ratification of Keio University, Japan as a full member school. Keio University will become the 26th school to deliver the CEMS Master’s in International Management in 2011-12. This increases the non-European contingent within the alliance and opens up extra opportunities to students and graduates to experience first-hand another academic and corporate culture.

Prof. Dr. Thomas Bieger

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11 MulTinATionAl CoMpAnieS And 2 nGos COME ON BOARD

The portfolio of CEMS Corporate Partners was significantly boosted by the ratification of 11 new companies. These included four Japanese companies, recruited by Keio: the soya giants Kikkoman Corporation, the optical and pharmaceutical manufacturers Kowa Company Ltd., the convenience store franchise Lawson, Inc. and the financial services and investment bank Nomura Securities Co. Ltd. Also ratified as corporate partners were Arla Foods, Barilla, EF Education First, Google, HSBC, SABMiller plc and Schneider Electric. This brings the total number of CEMS Corporate Partners to a record 69.

Two other significant new arrivals into CEMS came in the shape of CARE International and Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International as Social Partners. Both organisations will enjoy the same degree of participation in the alliance as do corporate partners.

CEMS students enjoy the graduation party that brought the 2010 Annual Events to a close

CEMS and RSM student Tanmayi Gummaraju hands over a cheque to UNICEF for the Schools of Africa project, for which CEMS students raised 50,020.78 euros

cemS annuaL event 2010 at rSm

In spite of millions of snow flakes and temperatures way below 0, the 1500 guests from 26 countries, and a total staff of over 100 together ensured a successful CEMS Annual Events from 2nd to 4th December 2010. Organised by Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and CEMS Head Office, the CEMS Annual Events 2010 were a combination of 45 business and festive meetings, enhanced by a Symposium on Social Business and New Capitalism where the CEMS community came to listen to Nobel Peace Prize Winner Muhammad yunus. The official CEMS Graduation Ceremony on Saturday was followed by a big Celebration Party where the CEMS community also celebrated the homecoming of Erasmus. Dancing and singing on the music of the Hermes Houseband, the CEMS vibes could be felt throughout the entire Rotterdam Cruise Terminal! RSM was delighted to host these events. The organisation started somewhere mid-2009 already. First with a very small team ensuring adequate venues and the like, the team grew larger and larger pretty soon. During the events the organising team also received great help from a group of enthusiastic RSM CEMS students who worked relentlessly to cater to the needs and requests of speakers and guests. As is always the case with these types of events, things change and evolve until the last minute. What never changed during this whole intricate process (call it a bumpy road!) was the determination of the organising team to make these events successful and in the spirit of CEMS.

We are happy to share our memories with you. Links to all professional pictures and videos are posted on www.rsm.nl/cemsae2010. So please watch that space and relive your Rotterdam experience. We wish NOVA all the best in their organisational endeavours and look forward to meeting you in Lisbon!

Marianne Schouten, Media & Public Relations Manager (RSM)

aWardS and prIzeS

WHERE IS ERASMUS? TRAVEL PRIzE: cemS club Lisbon

CEMS CLUB OF THE yEAR: CEMS Club Warsaw

BLOCK SEMINAR OF THE yEAR: Corvinus University of Budapest “Corporate Sustainability: Challenges and Opportunities”

STRATEGy COURSE OF THE yEAR: Professor Eric Cornuel, HEC Paris“Business Strategies and Institutions in Europe”

CROSS-CULTURAL MANAGEMENT COURSE OF THE yEAR: Professor Elie Matta, HEC Paris “Managing Global Complexity”

ExCLUSIVE COURSE OF THE yEAR: Professor José Neves Adelino, Nova School of Business & Economics “Advanced Corporate Government”

BUSINESS PROJECT OF THE yEAR: University of Cologne and Henkel “Process Optimisation in the Cooperation with Sheltered Workshops”

SCHOOL OF THE yEAR: Nova School of Business & Economics

SCHOOL OF THE yEAR:NovA

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It was in Visegrad – a small town in the north of Hungary – in the XIVth century that the idea of Central European cooperation was born. Over 600 years after the first Visegrad summit, the Visegrad Group (abbreviated V4) unites the region, being now an alliance of four countries – the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. At the very beginning of the 2011 spring semester, the CEMS Community gathered in Warsaw to discuss the business issues of the region for the first edition of the V4 Conference, the latest addition to the annual roster of CEMS Regional Events. Participants were guided through the whole way of understanding the idea of competitiveness, focusing strongly on the CEE countries. The scientific journey started with a macroeconomic

CONFERENCE

WrIter: raFaL domańSKI CEMS Club Warsaw

v4 ConFerenCe BUSINESS ISSUES IN THE HEART OF EUROPE

CEMS Club Warsaw members and event organisers Karol Górnowicz andRafal Domański

lecture provided by Mr. Mark Allen (the IMF Senior Resident Representative for CEE). Then, the group workshop sessions and discussion panel helped us better understand the measures of competitiveness and business in the “Heart of Europe”.

“As A scAndinAviAn, i joined the v4 to broAden my limited knowledge on the chAllenges thAt multinAtionAl corporAtions Are fAcing in centrAl europe. the seminArs prepAred by sgh professors And kone definitely lived up to my expectAtions. v4 wAs very well executed And hAs greAt potentiAl for the future,”Erik Rehbinder (CBS)

Obviously, the V4 Conference was not only hard academic work. Networking activities such as dinners with the regional cuisine, visiting Chopin’s Museum and the crowning of the meeting – a huge carnival ball in the Palace of Culture and Science in the centre of Warsaw - let us enjoy our time in a less formal atmosphere as well.

The V4 Conference was a very special event for all of us. With the support of Corvinus University in Budapest, VSE in Prague and our guest academic partner – University of Economics in Bratislava - we not only got to know more about the CEE region, but also managed to share experiences and create bonds. The next edition of the conference - Budapest 2012!

"we've AlreAdy stArted working on the project. lots of new ideAs And A motivAted teAm – thAt All mAkes me believe it will be A greAt meeting." David Szeles, CC Budapest President

Mr. Mark Allen, IMF Senior ResidentRepresentative for CEE

regIonaL eventS

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Hosted by Nova School of Business & Economics on 10th-12th

March on the theme of “Development Through Business: A Mirage or a Reality?”, the first edition of the Marenostrum CEMS Regional Event successfully brought together the CEMS student and corporate community. José Alguem (President, CEMS Club Lisbon) gives his personal account, from the perspective of one of the main event organisers.

Organising Marenostrum (or “MNM”) was both an incredible challenge and an utterly rewarding and learning experience. Being Portuguese, hospitality is a burden we carry, but one we carry gladly. Welcoming our visitors with open arms and wanting them to have a good experience is part of our DNA, which of course increased the Lisbon CEMS Club Team's commitment to make Marenostrum a memorable event.

From the early challenges of designing the model we wanted for the conference, to the negotiations with our Corporate Partners and the final logistics, the whole process proved to be an excellent teamwork experience, where we definitely capitalised on one of the Portuguese best cultural traits – “Desenrrascar” . Watching it finally happening and most importantly, taking part in the event and listening first hand to everyone's feedback, proved to be the best reward we could expect.

CONFERENCE

MArenoSTruM: AN INSIDER’S LOOK AT THE LATEST CEMS REGIONAL EVENT

ABouT MArenoSTruMMARENOSTRUM IS THE LATEST ADDITION TO THE PROGRAMME OF CEMS REGIONAL EVENTS. IT IS HOSTED ON A ROTATING BASIS By ESADE BUSINESS SCHOOL, NOVA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS & ECONOMICS AND UNIVERSITà BOCCONI.

From an InSIder’S perSpectIve, the three hIghLIghtS oF the event Were:

Companies’ Think Tanks and Networking – from the feedback gathered, not only were most of the topics absolutely relevant for today’s business environment, but they allowed students to get a more insightful look at what companies are really doing in the sustainability field.Peer networking – both formally regarding future student

and business challenges, but also informally in becoming more acquainted with the impact of cultural differences on the way people think and especially “party”.

Mediterranean hospitality and weather - the common unstable weather conditions were present, with rain during the indoor events and fortunately sun for the outdoor activities (or at least most of them). The “best hostel in the world” received excellent feedback and not entirely due to the free “port wine” at the entrance.

MNM’s Impact on organising team: four hours of sleep in the days preceding the event; over 500 MB of memory space used overall; job offers from some partners (NICE!); considerable “ego enhancement” after evaluating the feedback from participants.

WrIter: JoSé aLguem PresidentCEMS Club Lisbon

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the home oF the WhoLe WorLd

On 16th-19th March, CBS hosted the CEMS Nordic Forum Conference, which is an annual regional event organised by the CEMS students currently studying at a Nordic CEMS member school. The task of organising and hosting the conference rotates among the four Nordic CEMS Academic Partners – NHH in Norway, Aalto University School of Economics in Finland, Stockholm School of Economics in Sweden and Copenhagen Business School, and this year’s forum stood in the name of CBS.

The theme of the conference was “Management Challenges of the 21st Century”. The five companies that participated were Astra Zeneca, Google, Maersk, Shell and Vestas.

Besides the corporate participation, two other seminars where held on presentation and negotiation techniques, led by CEMS MIM Academic Director Sven Junghagen and professional negotiator Keld Jensen from MarketWatch respectively.

In all, the forum hosted more than 90 CEMS students from 23 business schools in the CEMS network and 33 nationalities. So for four days, CBS was literally the home of the whole world.

a pLace to netWorK

Throughout the four days, the participants were able to learn about CEMS, its corporate partners and each other through different kinds of activities. With several workshops offered by the invited companies and other social activities such as an outing to the Carlsberg Museum, a typical CBS party at Nexus and a farewell dinner at the Copenhagen restaurant Madklubben followed by a party night at the exclusive nightclub Karel Van Mander, the Nordic Forum had a diverse range of interesting offers to current CEMS students.

FORUM WrIterS: henrIeta BorovSKa and heLena SJöLIn CEMS Club Copenhagen

CeMS nordiC ForuM A HUGE SUCCESS

The satisfaction of the four-day event was obvious both on an academic level as well as socially and the feedback has been overwhelming.

“i would reAlly like to congrAtulAte the whole nordic forum teAm for hAving orgAnised it so well. the seminArs were fAscinAting And you could see the compAnies’ involvement And respect for us pArticipAnts. the event cleArly focused on seminArs but sociAl Activities were more thAn sAtisfActory. brAvo!”

Youssef Iraqui (Moroccan), CEMS student board member for HEC Paris

The students that participated were also very pleased with the conference.

“the nordic forum offered the perfect blend between leArning from professionAls And sociAlising. the orgAnisers deserve A round of ApplAuse As they were committed to mAking this event the success it wAs,”

Aditya Kothari (Indian, Belgian), student at Rotterdam School of Management

regIonaL eventS

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"BEing froM Canada, thE nordiC foruM WaS a rEaLLy grEat oPPortunity to MEEt With and LEarn aBout CoMPaniES that i WouLd othErWiSE not BE ExPoSEd to. thE SkiLLS SEMinarS organiSEd By thESE CoMPaniES foCuSEd on dEvELoPing PraCtiCaL SkiLLS that i WiLL BE uSing EvEry day in futurE joBS. finaLLy, thE nordiC foruM aLLoWEd ME to nEtWork With othEr CEMS StudEntS froM aCroSS thE WorLd. ovEraLL, thE ExPEriEnCE WaS vEry rEWarding froM a LEarning and SoCiaL PErSPECtivE. thESE kindS of EvEntS MakE thE CEMS ExPEriEnCE truLy uniquE”,

Kendra Puls, a Richard Ivey CEMS student studying the CEMS MIM at HEC Paris and NHH

“a SPECiaL thank you to EvEryonE”

All in all, the Nordic Forum 2011 was a huge success and didn’t leave anything to be desired. The corporate partners showed what true excellence is about and the participants brought great enthusiasm. Helena Sjölin, one of the Nordic Forum coordinators, also expressed her gratefulness for the event and its participants.

“in the nAme of the orgAnisAtionAl teAm, i would like to sAy A speciAl thAnk you to everyone who took pArt in this event And hope we hAve met, if not surpAssed ,your expectAtions. i believe thAt the nordic forum 2011 provided our future generAtion of business leAders with opportunities to develop their professionAl knowledge As well As the chAnce to enhAnce their network Around the world”.

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regIonaL eventS

EVENTS

WrIter: marco van de BeeKCEMS Student Board representative, uCd Michael Smurfit graduate Business School

The GloBAl AlliAnCe GoeS reGionAl - A CEMS REGIONAL EVENT ROVING REPORT

CEMS student Marco van de Beek delivers us his personal account of the first three CEMS Regional Events of the year, events that took him to Warsaw, Lisbon and Copenhagen.

Warsaw

The V4 Forum proved to be the ultimate kick-off of the regional event-road show and the organisers set the bar extremely high for the events to follow. By attending an inspiring lecture from the IMF’s most senior representative for the region and a workshop by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the V4 Forum provided me with new and unique perspectives on growth and investment in this region from a very different angle than most parties in the corporate world would. In addition to the demanding schedule during the day, the participants were offered the opportunity to participate in some of the best social happenings that Warsaw has to offer.

Additional key learnings: choose different airline operator because the current one

didn’t provide free lunch as stated on ticket, buy correct metro ticket in Copenhagen to save

€100 in fines!

ectS: 1.5average daILy SLeep count: 3.5 hrS neW FrIendS: Stopped countIng at 40 KILometreS traveLLed: 1300

FEbruArY24th

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The GloBAl AlliAnCe GoeS reGionAl - A CEMS REGIONAL EVENT ROVING REPORT

Lisbon

Being Dutch, I have always been quite resistant to go to Portugal, given our national football team’s track record! However, the Marenostrum Event outweighed this moral objection.

In the magnificent colonial setting of the city of Lisbon and the NOVA premises, this event exhibited some of Portugal’s most prestigious businesses, speakers, students and lecturers. Like the V4 Forum, Marenostrum prepared an impressive curriculum. I particularly valued the TED-style conference day that included high-calibre speakers. The workshops proved to be highly entertaining and interesting, and the rotation dinner with all corporate partners was an excellent wrap up of the day—at least for those who went to bed. I take the liberty of not including myself in that category.

Amongst the forum participants were three members of the Alumni Executive Committee, showcasing an excellent example of increased student-alumni relations as well as a great example of the power of the CEMS network.

Additional key learnings: partying all night through to a 7am plane is a bad idea, with this in mind, a stopover in Munich is even worse.

ectS: 0.5average daILy SLeep count: 4.5 hrS neW FrIendS: I preFer quaLIty over quantIty But In thIS caSe, Both Were equaLLy ImpreSSIve KILometreS traveLLed: 5000

MArCH09th

Copenhagen

The Nordic Forum turned out to be quite a home-match for me, given the fact that I pay my rent to a Danish landlord, I say Skål every now and then and I visit FC-Kopenhagen matches in the false hope that someday they’ll meet a league opponent that gives them a hard time. Either way, being in Copenhagen, I have witnessed the tremendous effort that the organising team has put into this event.

The Nordic Forum was one of the most academically prestigious events I have witnessed in my life. I was privileged to participate in a seminar from an international negotiation expert – speaking and lecturing in many top MBA schools- enjoyed impressive corporate partner workshops and visited the HQ of the largest shipping company in the world.

Looking back on the Nordic Forum, I’ve met so many familiar faces, participated in high-calibre lectures, partied like there was no tomorrow (believe me, there was) and ended my regional event road trip in a fabulous way.

Additional key learnings: I have to see my doctor for a physical check-up, 24 hours to write this article is a challenge.

ectS: 1.25 average daILy SLeep count: 4.5 hrS neW FrIendS: Who SaId agaIn that It taKeS a WhILe to maKe FrIendS In the nordIc countrIeS?KILometreS traveLLed: 5 Km By BIKe

MArCH16th

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“Hey guys, do you remember that time we were lost on the slopes, and after skiing for one hour, we came back to the very starting point?!” “Of course we do…I still laugh when I think of it, despite the fact we missed the train back to Paris for that reason…” “Hey, why don’t we do it again?! I mean, skiing together, not missing the train…”

EVENT WrIterS: nIcoLa Spano (Caa treasurer, CEMS 2002 Bocconi-rSM) and gIanpaoLo gagLIardI (CEMS 2001 Bocconi-hEC)

SERRE CHEVALIER+SKI+FUN=CeMSKi weeKend!

And that is how it all started. After the first great experience in 2010, around 20 CEMS Alumni with friends met at the end of January to enjoy a fantastic skiing weekend together in Serre Chevalier, on the French side of the Alps. German, Brazilian, French, Argentinean, Mexican, Austrian, to mention just a few of the nationalities, represented at the event.

As usual, everything was perfectly arranged and the entire group got together for the "ice-breaking" Friday evening. Wow, so many different backgrounds, cultures, languages! However, after about one hour, it was like we had known one another for ages. Experienced and less experienced skiers got together on the slopes the following two days, sharing laughs, songs, falls, competition and delicious food. And once back to the hotel, the usual challenging, "almost-impossible-to-understand" games were ready for more fun (btw, thanks Alistair for setting new rules at Taboo every five minutes…).

And each year, it is amazing to realise how just two days in such a chilling atmosphere can recharge the batteries: on Monday morning our colleagues could easily see it in our happy tanned faces despite the sore leg muscles. And this year, we did not get lost on the way back home…

regIonaL eventS

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EVENT WrIterS: maLgorzata WaWrzynIaK-SIroKy (LC austria) and JuLIane Stephan (CEMS Club austria)

CeMS wAlTzinG dAyS 2011

Over 140 participants from 13 countries all over Europe came to Vienna to spend a magical weekend rich in cultural and social events. For many among them, it was not the first time at the CEMS Waltzing Days – we were very happy to welcome many regular guests again.

The programme started on Friday evening with a traditional Austrian dinner with such specialties as Wiener Schnitzel, and stilt,... and later continued with clubbing at one of the hottest clubbing locations in the city – the Passage! Saturday was entirely devoted to the ball: first there was a crash course to refresh the waltzing skills. After just 1.5 hours, all guests were waltzing like professionals! After a guided sightseeing tour in pleasant, spring-like weather, it was time to get ready for the ball! All participants met again in the evening in a stylish bar in the city centre for drinks and finger food before heading off to the emperor’s palace – the Hofburg! Having seen the spectacular opening, everybody moved on to the various dance floors with music ranging from classical to pop music. The CEMS table served as the place to meet, drink and rest. The most passionate dancers stayed even till 5 am in the morning to dance the final waltz and enjoy the traditional after-hour breakfast! The brunch on Sunday was a well-received opportunity to meet again and share the experiences of that amazing night - and to promise to come again next year.

In the name of the LC Austria and the CEMS Club Vienna, we would like to use this opportunity and to invite all of you to the jubilee 10th edition of the CEMS Waltzing Days in January next year. The preparations for a unique event have already started and we would be happy to spend a fantastic time with you!

The CEMS Waltzing Days 2011, the second biggest Pan-European Event during the CEMS year, was successfully organised the ninth time in a row by the CEMS Alumni Austria and the CEMS Club Vienna.

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novA SChool oF BuSineSS And eConoMiCS REBRANDING OPERATION A SUCCESS

oNCAMPuS

Our new logo, with two asymmetrical squares, translates the capacity of the School to develop high potential people – powerful minds – prepared to think and act “outside the box”. The brand embodies two elements: NOVA, which arises in a new, engaging red, and its message in true blue - an enduring feature that underpins the lives of the students and alumni, as well as the faculty, staff, and stakeholders.

The new image seeks to reflect the excellence of our research, our teaching, and students, and reinforces our positioning – preparing people to actually make a difference, anywhere in the

world – a goal in lockstep with the overarching ambition of CEMS. NovaSBE classes are taught entirely in English, our professors come from 24 nations, and the students from over 50. The time is right to attest to our international vocation by advancing a graphic identity exclusively in English.

Changing a logo is always risky – a trade-off between hard-won brand recognition and innovation – but the ambition is to project the school as a magnet for youthful talent worldwide - in one of Europe’s top destinations: Lisbon! We accept this risk with confidence.

Naturally, the new image also suggests our differentiation strategy, which is founded on two pillars:

Positioning the school as a “transatlantic business-knowledge bridge” linking Europe and other Portuguese-speaking communities. Several steps have already been taken in this regard: creating the Angola Business School; establishing double degrees with top Brazilian schools; and networking with Portuguese-speaking communities in the US and Canada.

Creating Knowledge Centres to attract resources and constitute mainstay research and teaching activities.

The Dean of the School, Professor José F. Machado reminds us: "This rebranding reflects the path of leadership followed by NovaSBE, stated in our vision – to be among the best in Europe.”

more information www.novasbe.pt

NOVA has a new brand and the CEMS community will no longer be hearing about the Faculdade de Economia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa. From now on, look for the Nova School of Business and Economics - NovaSBE.

Prof. josé MACHAdo, Dean, Nova School of Business & Economics

Nova School of Business and Economics

WrIter: Jorge de SouSa assistant associate dean – nova School of Business & Economics

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univerSiTy oF Sydney: DOWN TO BUSINESS

WrIter: aLISon avery Pr & Communications Manager, university of Sydney Business School

The University of Sydney has enjoyed a proud association with CEMS since 2007 and begins 2011 by unveiling to its international partners a new look Business School with a fresh approach to all programmes.

Following a university-wide initiative, The Faculty of Economics and Business has become the University of Sydney Business School. This strategic initiative was designed to ensure the University remains a leader, and more focused than ever, in Business education.

This re-branding initiative allows the University of Sydney Business School to sharpen its focus, thereby aligning our operation with world-class business and management education institutions globally.

FocuS FIrmLy Set on hIgh-quaLIty BuSIneSSand management educatIon

Across our postgraduate and undergraduate programmes we continue to be focused on delivering the highest quality business and management education. We have worked closely with our industry advisory board to revitalise our programmes by strengthening students’ commercial grounding and increasing work-integrated learning opportunities to ensure students can apply what they learn and provide real-world global experience. The University of Sydney Business School students will be immersed in one of the most dynamic education experiences in Australia; this is evidenced by our three international accreditations and is strengthened by being the first business school in Australia to align our operation with world-class business and management education institutions globally.

more information http://sydney.edu.au/business/

A University of Sydney student featuredin their recent “One giant leap” marketing campaign

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on campuS

CeMS BloCK SeMinAr AT NHH FOCUSES ON CSR AND CLIMATE CHANGE

For the past four years, the CEMS Block Seminar at NHH has been held at the end of August at Voss – an idyllic village 100 km from Bergen on the Bergen-Oslo railway. Many people believe that the famous and expensive Voss Water comes from this place, but actually, it is bottled in South-West Norway. Voss is a well-known winter resort, with slopes for almost any taste and proficiency, including hills for snowboarders. Every year, Voss hosts the “Extreme Sports Week”, with activities ranging from rafting, kiting and parachuting to paragliding.

cp and academIc InvoLvement to the Fore

The theme of the seminar was highlighted both by academics as well as by some of our CEMS Corporate Partners, such as Statoil and Statkraft, and all lecturers had included an ample amount of group tasks to be discussed by the participants.

A very popular part of the stay at Voss was a mini course in team building, which is essential, not only for the semester abroad, but also for the students’ future careers. The course was held at the

Voss Rafting Centre, and included a lot of different activities, such as learning how to catapult an egg and assure that it is received safely by another group. This required a lot of cooperation with others, which is extremely useful in any type of organisation. It is safe to say that judging from all the broken eggs, we could have made a lot of pancakes!

The theme for the CEMS Block seminar later this year at NHH is “Corporations using Social Media: Impact on Branding, Identity and Profit”, and takes place on 22nd-26th august.

The theme for the 2010 Block Seminar at NHH was “Corporate Social Responsibility, Innovations and Climate Changes”. After a thorough introduction to climate changes by some of NHH’s most competent professors, the whole group of approximately 40 students moved on to Voss Youth Hostel.

WrIter: tor JohanneSSen CEMS academic director, associate Professor – nhh

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BuSineSS projeCTS AT NHH IN 2011

With the addition of Deloitte in 2011, we are now cooperating with many of the largest and most global consulting firms. The business projects this time range from the use of social media, via the development of corporate strategies, to an exciting research project which aims at trying to find the reason(s) why so few women on management level are employed in PwC’s business areas (insurance, consulting, and tax and legal services), and also why so many of those working there are leaving.

cemS StudentS heLp pWc get to the heart oF a BuSIneSS proBLem

These facts have puzzled PwC for a long time, and now, with the help of a group of CEMS students, they are hoping to get at least some indications, which in turn, may lead to a conclusion. “This project is not about increasing the number of women in PwC in general”, Idun Storm, herself a CEMS graduate, says. She is in charge of the project, and says that the multicultural composition of the group is of great help for them in order to search for clues to the main issue. In a few years, PwC has become one of NHH’s main “suppliers” of business projects and skills seminars, and they are also recruiting globally several CEMS graduates annually. This cooperation is hugely appreciated by NHH.

The fruitful cooperation between NHH and several CEMS Corporate Partners continues this year, which marks the 75th anniversary of the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration.

WrIter: tor JohanneSSen CEMS academic director, associate Professor – nhh

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on campuS

CeMS ph.d. CourSe AT THE LOUVAIN SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT

Timely topics were discussed such as capital structure, IPOs, long-run performance measurements, the use of instrumental variables and behavioural corporate finance. The course was taught by Prof. Jay R. Ritter, who is the Joseph Cordell Eminent Scholar in the Department of Finance at the University of Florida since 1996. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics and Finance from the University of Chicago. The event attracted 30 Ph.D. students from Belgium, France, Germany and Switzerland. The School was delighted by its great success.

Next to this, Prof. Jay Ritter gave a conference to Master’s students and alumni on the topic of “Why There Will Always Be Financial Crises”, which was followed by a lively debate on the topic. He started by discussing possible origins of the recent financial crisis. One crucial aspect that Prof. Ritter elaborated is why the housing market has collapsed in the US and other countries (such as Spain) and how it could degenerate into a financial crisis. In the US, homeowners refinanced their mortgages, and took money out to use for consumption. This spending boosted the economy, but these borrowers later defaulted since spending was fuelled by borrowing.

Recently, the CEMS network has been expanding towards offering high-level Ph.D. courses to complement its offer of Master’s courses. The Louvain School of Management is dedicated to being an active partner in this new orientation. On 22nd-25th November 2010, an intensive CEMS Ph.D. course in empirical corporate finance was held at Louvain.

Prof. jay rIttEr

WrIter: SophIe neu CEMS Corporate relations Manager – Louvain School of Management

Prof. Jay Ritter argued that banking crises are inevitable, since loan defaults are not random– they occur with a high frequency only in recessions, so the put options get exercised at the same time. Therefore, there will always be financial crises, and each one will be different. According to Ritter, the “demographic time bomb” (due to both slow population growth rates and longer-living people) present in Europe and North America will be a major future crisis. As a consequence, people need to adjust to a consumption-to-income ratio during the working years. The later the adjustment, the more severe will be the crisis.

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CeMS CluB london INSTRUMENTAL IN BRINGING INSIGHT INTO MICROFINANCE

This conference brought the attention of numerous high-profile speakers, from around the world, all well-versed in the field of microfinance: from Malcolm Harper, a leading UK academic in enterprise development, focusing on microfinance, to Marcus Fedder, a co-founder of Agora Microfinance Partners LLP, Eduardo Carlos Ferriera from Brazil, the CEO of Microinvest, to Sean Thorninn, Deputy Head of Development at Amret Microfinance Institution in Cambodia, along with LSE students past and present, through a round-table discussion on how current students could get involved with microfinance.

three paneL dIScuSSIonS to get tothe root oF the ISSue

The structure of this conference consisted of three panel discussions, concluding with the aforementioned roundtable discussion. The first panel focused on the Commercialisation of Microfinance. The second panel discussion dealt with Microfinance Investment Vehicles (MIVs). The third panel aimed to answer whether Microfinance is meeting its social objectives. For a long time, social benefits and gains were assumed to be an automatic result of microfinance. In today's changing environment where the sector is facing more criticism, there is a need to peel back microfinance to its fundamental core.

On 4th March, a group of over 150 students and practitioners all sharing a common interest in microfinance gathered at the Old Theatre on Houghton Street. Organised by the LSESU Sustainable Investments Society and CEMS Club London, with the assistance of non-financial partners LSESU Microfinance Society and The Student Initiative, this marked the first ever student-run Insights into Microfinance Conference at the London School of Economics.

From the discussion, it became apparent that it is very difficult to measure social impact on a standardised scale. There will always be differences in the way MFIs want to make an impact and the indicators they use to measure this. Issues of reverse causality and control of variable became a limiting factor in the way MFIs measure impact.

Overall, the event was deemed a great success for all parties involved! CEMS was glad to sponsor such a pioneering type of conference and associate itself with such social initiatives.

WrIter: cLeo BIron CEMS Student Board representative, LSE the London School of Economics & Political Science

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on campuS

Four CeMS SChoolS INVESTIGATE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE

CEMS students at the 2010 UNFCCC Negotiation Simulation

The anthropologic origin of climate change cannot be refuted anymore. The scientific evidence that has been collected throughout the last decade is unanimous: greenhouse gas emissions have to be significantly reduced within the next decade in order to limit the damages induced by climate change.

WrIter: antxon hauet President, CEMS Club Barcelona

It is moreover a serious threat for the business world, because it impulses massive migration flows, political instabilities, economic slowdown and general risks increases.

Conscious of those risks, and even though it was still controversial at the time, the United Nations members ratified the “United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change" at the UN Conference on Environment and Development of Rio de Janeiro in 1992.

The UNFCCC has since then been the reference framework for negotiation on climate change and led since then to the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997. Its members meet once a year in the Conferences of the Parties (COP) to evaluate the progress made and try to establish a legally binding regulation framework in order to limit the effect of anthropologic activity on the climate.

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* university of St. gallen, university of cologne, rotterdam School of management and eSade, who will host the final negotiation.

GeTTinG involved IN SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP

coLogne comBIneS BuSIneSS proJectS and SuStaInaBILIty topIcS In a neW courSe Format

Starting in term 1 of the 2011-12 academic year, CEMS students can begin their semester in Cologne with a newly developed CSR course taking place in September. Students will not only learn about ethical values, objectives and the motivation of Social Entrepreneurs but also look into the founding of their own social businesses as a career alternative. Following the CSR course, the CEMS Block Seminar “Sustainability in Management”, which Cologne has successfully offered for many years already, adds new aspects to the topic and is taught by a multidisciplinary team of professors.

the chance to appLy KnoWLedge to reaL-LIFe caSeS

The CSR complete package is rounded off by social projects, which are credited as CEMS electives. These projects are offered by the University of Cologne in cooperation with SOCIAL, an agency for social responsibility. Topics will range from the launch of a service-oriented sales channel for sustainable products to project management for the construction of eco-friendly houses aimed at strengthening eco-tourism in the Dominican Republic. CEMS students thus have the unique possibility to directly apply their gained knowledge working with multicultural teams on real life cases.

By offering social projects every semester, the University of Cologne has established CSR courses as an integral part of Cologne’s CEMS course offer.

WrIter: chrIStoph SonnenScheIn acting head international relations Centre, university of Cologne

Those negotiations are crucial, and their outcome will most likely define the kind of world our grandchildren will live in. However, by only focusing on limiting the impact of anthropologic activity on the environment through regulation, too little importance is given to the business environment as a complementary means to addressing this global issue. The CEMS alliance educates tomorrow’s business leaders, and could therefore not seek to raise student awareness of this critical issue.

cemS cLImate change & poLIcy SImuLatIon oFFered For thIrd year runnIng

Thus, for third time, four CEMS academic members* offer simultaneously the “CEMS Climate Change & Policy” simulation.This course offers a deeper understanding of the background and consequences of climate change for business by emphasising the potential development of climate change, its impact on international regulatory frameworks, and emerging challenges, strategies and market opportunities for businesses.

hIghLIght event to Be Staged By eSade

The highlight of the course will occur on 20th-21st May in ESADE, where students from the four universities will meet up to carry out a simulation from UNFCCC negotiations. The participants will be representing countries or important stakeholders of the civil society and negotiate based on their respective position paper and what they have learned throughout the course.

This will even be an opportunity for CEMS students from all around to debate on current public and corporate policies to mitigate climate change. But further than that, it will hopefully also be the breeding ground for many innovative business models and solutions, to challenge and reform the “business as usual” paradigm. Eventually, these ideas will be heard somewhere and help to progress towards a new world of business, in which “responsible management” will become the norm.

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ThoMSon reuTerS: RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS

Simply having an existing CSR policy was enough to set a company apart and little resourcing sat behind efforts to enact the plan. Today, CSR is more than just a catch phrase and, more often than not, it is embedded in the way an organisation approaches its core business.

As such, it is vital that the business leaders of tomorrow embrace this concept and think creatively about ways to enact this philosophy in the organisations they work for.

thomSon reuterS JoIn ForceS WIth the unIverSIty oF Sydney

One organisation which takes CSR very seriously is the leading professional information firm, Thomson Reuters Australia, who together with students from the Master of Management CEMS programme at the University of Sydney has undertaken a series of business projects to help students think creatively about how a company can be actively involved in this space.

Thomson Reuters Australia hosted two groups of Master of Management students in 2010 to carry out business projects in consultation with some of their senior team members. The first group was asked to identify the business case for Corporate Social Responsibility and the second group was required to identify opportunities to promote the Thomson Reuters brand with University students.

Human Resources Business Partner at Thomsen Reuters Australia, Riaz Ajam, was closely involved with both projects from day one. He designed the projects after identifying the needs of the business and ensured the students had access to resources and people within the company to answer questions.

He said the results were impressive and many of the CSR processes presented by the students will be adopted by the company.

“These particular business projects were chosen by the company for the students to work on because they reflect our key business priorities,” said Riaz. “We knew there was a business case for CSR but wanted to identify a formal process and implement measurement targets. Involvement in this programme gave us the extra resources and talent to make it happen and most importantly a fresh perspective.”

Once upon a time, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) were words used by many organisations to impress shareholders and make employees feel good about coming to work each day.

WrIter: aLISon averyPr & Communications Manager, university of Sydney Business School

on campuS

Dr Nigel Finch, Academic Programme Director of The University of Sydney CEMS programme said:

“we Are enormously grAteful for the support we hAve received from thomson reuters AustrAliA As one of our cems corporAte pArtners. whAt is especiAlly pleAsing is heAring thAt the students Are mAking A reAl difference to the orgAnisAtions they Are working for And thAt reAlly vAlidAtes whAt we Are trying to Achieve with the progrAmme.”

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CSr: A NEw world oF buSINESS ACtIoN IN tHE SCHoolS

FEATURE

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Be inForMed, GeT involved, MAKe A diFFerenCe – OIKOS STUDENT ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOR SUSTAINABILITy AT CEMS SCHOOLS

oikos, the international student organisation for sustainable economics and management, is a leading student-driven network. Founded at the University of St. Gallen in 1987, oikos now counts more than 35 student chapters, among them a growing number at CEMS campuses.

WrIter: dr. JoSt hamSchmIdt, Managing director, oikos foundation – university of St gallen

Feature {action in the schools}

relATed linKS

oikos Model WTOWWW.MODELWTO.ORG

oikos Winter SchoolWWW.OIKOS-WINTERSCHOOL.ORG

oikos Global Case Writing CompetitionWWW.OIKOS-INTERNATIONAL.ORG/ACADEMIC/CWC/

oikos UNDP young Scholars Development AcademyWWW.OIKOS-INTERNATIONAL.ORG/ACADEMIC/DEVELOPMENT/

oikos Ph.D. Fellowship ProgrammeWWW.OIKOS-INTERNATIONAL.ORG/ACADEMIC/FELLOWSHIP.HTML

oikos Student Reporters who blogged from the lastWorld Resources Forum at Davos, Switzerland. Watch out for your chance to participate this year!

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f

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oikos’ mission is to strengthen action competence for sustainable development among tomorrow’s decision makers. With a learning-by-doing approach, oikos students implement sustainability-driven innovation and promote the integration of sustainability issues into research and teaching at their schools. Be informed - get involved - make a difference; our guiding motto. How does this translate into practice for CEMS students and Management schools?

Be InFormed

oikos events offer networking and learning opportunities for emerging issues which are rarely covered in Economics and management curricula. Student projects range from economic conferences and seminars to simulation games such as the international oikos Model WTO (www.modelwto.org). This year’s oikos Spring Meeting was organised by oikos students from CEMS Member School VSE Prague, and focused on Sustainable Architecture: Space for Living. Among other content, it offered visits to leading green architecture sites, workshops on how to make your campus computers climate-neutral, and sustainability careers workshops from oikos alumni.

get InvoLved

CEMS-MIM alumna Clara Navarro joined oikos in 2004 after attending a CEMS Block Seminar about Sustainability and Marketing in St. Gallen. She participated in the first oikos Winter School (www.oikos-winterschool.org) and then joined oikos Cologne during her CEMS programme. As she moved to London to work for McKinsey on climate change, her oikos contacts were very useful, and she was happy to join the oikos Chapter at the London School of Economics & Political Science when she decided to study another Master's. In London she developed several student projects on sustainability and supported the oikos alumni work. After returning to her hometown in Barcelona she became an advisor of oikos Barcelona at ESADE Business School – a great opportunity to promote sustainability on a local level while being globally connected. Currently, Clara is actively involved with oikos alumni, participating in international meetings twice a year. The oikos network has proven to be of great help in her professional life and a great source of inspiration and valuable friendships too.

Harriet jACkSoN LSE Alumna & oikos International President 2011

maKe a dIFFerence

The numerous student activities are complemented by international coaching programmes for change-makers and oikos academic initiatives in research and teaching. With its annual international Young Scholars Academies, e.g. in the field of Entrepreneurship (in cooperation with The Hub), Finance (with the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment) and Development (in cooperation with the UN Growing Inclusive Markets Initiative), oikos has become an institution for developing future faculty in the field of sustainability and management. oikos also promotes excellence in case writing and teaching through its annual oikos Global Case Writing Competition. A new textbook featuring winning cases, including a case on CEMS Corporate Partner P&G, will be published in spring 2011.

Overall, oikos is quickly developing as a leader in student sustainability organisations. If you are interested in learning more, contact your oikos chapter at the CEMS schools in Barcelona, Budapest, Cologne, London, Prague, Warsaw or St. Gallen. No chapter at your CEMS School yet? Create a new chapter.

Contact us and make a difference!

For further information check http://www.oikos-international.orgor contact harriet Jackson at [email protected]

Students from Bangladesh to Slovakia gatheredfor the oikos Spring Meeting 2011 on SustainableArchitecture at VSE in Prague

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Selnur orHoN Coordinator, Graduate School of Business; CEMS Programme Manager

A pArTnerShip STory: INTEGRATING INCLUSIVE MARKET DEVELOPMENT ISSUES IN LEARNING

Selnur Orhon (Coordinator, Graduate School of Business, CEMS Programme Manager) presents a new initiative to raise awareness on issues related to sustainable development.

WrIter: ahu parLar Communications director – koç university

UNDP Turkey and Koç University Graduate School of Business signed a Memorandum of Understanding to increase awareness on issues related to sustainable development and identify opportunities and challenges for the development of inclusive markets. By partnering with UNDP Turkey in the scope of regional Growing Inclusive Markets initiative, Koç is taking a step further in responding to the global call for business schools and other academic associations to advance corporate social responsibility worldwide and to respond to the need for developing more inclusive markets.

As a foundation, UNDP immediately organised four seminars for Koç students for their “new venture development” course. In the New Venture Development course the students will develop new enterprises with a responsible and inclusive perspective. The first seminar was about poverty and poverty measurement. The aim of the first seminar was to improve students’ understanding about poverty and familiarise them with human development concept. The second one was on corporate social responsibility; UNDP Private Sector Programme Manager Hansın Doğan presented the

subject and the Turkish experience. The third session was on the Base of the Pyramid. The focus was on CK Prahalad’s work and how the BOP concept has influenced the strategies of companies. The final seminar presented the UNDP’s private sector strategy “inclusive market development”, analysed case studies, and discussed how to use the Growing Inclusive Markets new website and inclusive business models database for analyses.

Additionally, Koç University Graduate School of Business and UNDP Turkey hosted an Executive Workshop on inclusive business in Emerging Europe and Central Asia where the presentation of a new regional UNDP report (Business Solutions to Poverty: How Inclusive Business Models Create Opportunities for all in Emerging Europe and Central Asia) also took place. The purpose of the workshop was to contribute to the identification of potential inclusive business opportunities and project models, and to explore what recommendations can be made to various private and public actors to improve the enabling environment for inclusive markets in Turkey. The programme included presentations from best practices from Turkey, Moldova, Belarus and Albania.

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"inclusive mArkets And bottom-of-the-pyrAmid issues bring A novel perspective to our present view About how businesses operAte in A globAl And highly volAtile world. this perspective increAses students' sensitivity to A much-needed stAkeholder perspective for sustAinAble business development. it Also helps students reAlise thAt ethicAl business prActices And profitAbility cAn co-exist in the long run."

Prof. Zeynep gürhan CANlI Koç University Graduate School of Business Director

"during my Admission interviews, koç university's grAduAte school of business inquired About my understAnding of ethics And AnAlyzed my Attitude towArds sociAl responsibility. they Asked me to provide them with reAl-life exAmples of how i put my ethicAl vAlues into prActice. from A cAndidAte's point of view, the importAnce they put on such issues, demonstrAtes thAt the university wAs looking for cAndidAtes thAt would Add vAlue not only in the clAssroom but Also to society At lArge.”

Husnu AvSAr gurdAl Koç University Student

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Q. raFaL, hoW dId you come up WIth the Idea For SenStatIon and What IS your motIvatIon BehInd thIS InItIatIve?

a. I aim to make my life a meaningful journey with sense. The idea of SENStation goes back to my thesis topic, written under supervision of Prof. Dr. Frank Hartmann, at Rotterdam School of Management. I researched to understand what drives people at an individual level rather than at the aggregate level of social mass interaction. I focused my attention on the topic of self-efficacy (confidence).

The problem is that traditional media are focusing mostly on negative information, which more easily catches our attention, but lowers our confidence in the process. To regain focus on positive news, I looked for positive social initiatives and in doing so, I heard about Rick Vinken, founder of the Kembe Foundation setting up social businesses in developing countries. The people from Kembe see opportunity in problems, so I felt I needed to talk to them. This was the beginning of SENStation.

Q. hoW dId you BrIng SenStatIon to LIFe and What IS the connectIon to cemS?

a. The most crucial factor in determining our success so far is our exceptional core team. This team of former and current CEMS students consists of: Lorenn Ruster, focused on providing a unique user experience and strong product flow, Mateusz Stankiewicz, our legal expert, Menno de Block, building strong relationships with our partners, Antoine Lepretre, responsible for developing our community, and Jort Duijnker, together with myself responsible for strategy and operations, linking the various areas of responsibility and creating high-value content. The amount of energy, drive and motivation that every one of us brings to the table has continued to amaze me and I believe that it is our unique mix of skills and talent that will be decisive in SENStation’s future success.

The CEMS Student Board Social Responsibility Team with Cleo Biron, Melis Zipkinkurt, Riikka Pievilainen, Robert Gnauck, Peter Chuang and Marco van de Beek has been our link to partnering with CEMS and they deserve much appreciation for their work since we first met at the Yunus Conference in Rotterdam.

A group of motivated CEMS students and alumni started SENStation (Social Entrepreneurship Network Station) to help students find meaning, achieve their goals and truly make a difference.

SENStation is an online networking community for a selective group of universities and leading students from a variety of disciplines, that leads the way in social entrepreneurship networking by spreading the powerful philosophy of “Bringing SENS to Life".

SENStation will leverage the capabilities and opportunities for each single stakeholder in our alliance to make a world of difference and a difference in the world. Thus, CEMS will be collaborating with SENStation as an official partner. Together, thesetwo leaders of the social and professional world are integrating the SENS philosophy and CEMS’s reach and ambition to create a better world us all.

CEMS Magazine spoke to the CEMS alumnus that initiated this project and is part of the core team behind it, Rafal Siepak.

CeMS STudenTS LAUNCH SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP NETWORK STATION

IntervIeW WaS heLd By

cemS Student robert gnauck, and edIted By cemS StudentS Cleo Biron and jort duijnker

Interview

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Q. the cemS communIty actIveLy IntegrateS a neW approach to BuSIneSS educatIon By SupportIng vaLueS Such aS humILIty, SuStaInaBILIty and SocIaL aWareneSS In ItS mISSIon Statement and the gLoBaL vaLue Statement. hoW do you thInK SenStatIon and cemS couLd achIeve a mutuaL BeneFIt In the FIeLd oF SocIaL BuSIneSS proJectS? a. All but one of our team members are CEMS students. This gives us a close link to the CEMS community. SENStation is at its core a social initiative and the drivers that CEMS seeks, such as integrity, humility, and ethical conduct are the foundation of our project and our personal motivation. SENStation’s aim is to increase the social mindedness of people, both in business and beyond, and to serve as an inter-disciplinary linking pin for all our members to create successful social networks and projects.

The entire CEMS community can join us to find the help and talent they need to achieve the goals of the Global Value Statement by developing social business projects at SENStation.

Q. hoW do you BeLIeve cemS StudentS, aLumnI, corporate partnerS and memBer SchooLS couLd get InvoLved In your proJectS In practIce? a. We invite anyone with the desire to make a difference to join SENStation. We are here for all students, staff, alumni and corporate and social partners. We offer a platform that serves as a think tank for social business ideas and at the same time gives the opportunity to collaborate and take action in real projects. Therefore,

we offer a wide range of free tools to anyone with social business aspirations, including the possibility to write articles, create open groups, gain valuable feedback, create teams and use our project management tools, all for free, and most importantly the chance to get the help needed from students coming from our and other disciplines including: management (CEMS), IT, law, media, medicine and many others. SENStation offers everything you need to turn ideas into projects and projects into a success.

Q. What IS your Long-term vISIon BehInd your SocIaL BuSIneSS pLatForm? Where do you thInK It can Lead to? a. As a platform, SENStation will connect disciplines and inspire people to make a difference through social entrepreneurship. We will be bringing SENS to life by solving social problems in two main ways on the platform. First, we will create a network of positive people willing to stop for a moment and find social business opportunities in the problems they face and develop social entrepreneurial solutions to solve them. Second, we will inspire people by providing positive news about the social achievements of our entrepreneurs and partners. Through our partnership with CEMS, we have an instant global reach and we are now one step closer to spreading the philosophy of bringing SENS to life and confidence to people.

aLL corporate partnerS and other IntereSted partIeS pLeaSe contact SenStatIon For any Further queStIonS and cooperatIon poSSIBILItIeS at [email protected] or vISIt SenStatIon at WWW.SenStatIon.org.

Interview

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CSr: A NEw world oF buSINESS CorPorAtE StrAtEgIC vIEw

FEATURE

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Feature {corporate strategic view}

CreATinG ShAred vAlue THROUGH RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS PRACTICE

Daniela Murelli (CSR Director, Nestlé Waters) spoke to CEMS Magazine about the ways in which shared value can be created, for businesses themselves and for society.

WrIter: KevIn tItman CEMS Communications Manager

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daniela MurEllI CSR Director, Nestlé Waters

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daniela MurEllI CSR Director, Nestlé Waters

Q. your BacKground prIor to JoInIng neStLé WaterS WaS prIncIpaLLy marKetIng-BaSed. Where dId It taKe you? a. After studying Marketing at Bocconi, I started in brand management, firstly for Galbani, the Italian Cheese Company of the Danone group, then moving on to Benckiser and subsequently back to Galbani-Danone Group. It was with Danone that I began to acquire more international experience when working for the biscuits division in the Paris headquarters of the group and then for the Belgian Subsidiary. After a four-year working period in France and then Belgium, I then returned to my native Italy in 2005 as a marketing manager for Nestlé Waters.

Q. hoW dId you reach your current poSItIon aS cSr dIrector WIthIn neStLé WaterS? a. My initial responsibilities covered Italy for the main national brands (Levissima, Nestlé Vera, Belté) and I was also the contact person for the international marketing team based in Paris. I then stepped up to head the Marketing and Innovation division for Europe. The CSR department in Italy was created in September 2009, and I was asked to come back to Italy and lead it.

Q. dId the creatIon oF the cSr department at neStLé WaterS have a proFound eFFect on the company? a. Yes and no. A sustainable approach was already established within the business practices of the company. Sustainability has always been in the DNA of San Pellegrino's people. We have always been very careful and responsible in the way we use our mineral water sources and how we protect the territory where they are located. That said, creating an official CSR division enabled us to bring a strategic mindset to the question of CSR within the company, build up a common vision and network, and make a genuine contribution to society and the environment.

Q. operatIonaLLy SpeaKIng, hoW have you appLIed thIS Strategy? a. We focus on four main areas – water care, packaging, transportation and energy. The combination of the first two is especially important – how to make responsible use of water reserves, reflect the natural

characteristics of purity via our packaging but also be responsible in our choice of packaging from an environmental perspective. Reducing the weight of the plastic used is essential to this but without causing any detriment to the functionality of the product, ensuring a certain portion of recycled plastic, using as many renewable sources of energy as possible in the whole process… The challenge is to maintain the intrinsic qualities of the product in the most socially responsibly manner possible. In addition, we are evolving from the CSR to the CSV (create shared value) approach, since we are constantly looking to create value for us and society at the same time. To do this, we have pointed out three main areas of engagement: water advocacy, hydration, and community partnership.

Q. hoW doeS thIS SocIaLLy reSponSIBLe dIrectIon manIFeSt ItSeLF WIthIn the company ItSeLF? a. In our day-to-day dealings with one another, we aim to be as responsible and respectful as we can. At Nestlé, we have an official ethical code that is available in 40 different languages, amongst other things. Above all, we seek to work responsibly and respectfully with all our points of contact – workers, suppliers and clients alike.


Interview

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RESPONSIBLE PROCUREMENT AT ASTrAzeneCA

When considering corporate social responsibility, the focus is often firstly on a company’s internal operations and the immediate interactions with the external environment. However, in the face of increasing outsourcing and globalisation, recent examples have demonstrated that social responsibility has to reach further than this; it extends to the full supply chain of a business, including suppliers and sub-suppliers.

WrIter: annIKa WIddoWSon, global External Sourcing finance Manager – astra Zeneca plc

Being a responsible business includes making sure that all suppliers have ethical standards that are consistent with those of the overall company. As a result, more and more businesses are implementing a responsible procurement strategy to ensure that the same ethical standards are observed across the supply chain.

AstraZeneca, a global research-based bio-pharmaceutical company with annual sales of over $33bn, has a four-step approach to Responsible Procurement.

Step one – aSSeSSmentInitially, during the assessment phase, all potential and existing suppliers are reviewed against the Responsible Procurement Standard, which covers a range of issues including employment practices, health, safety and the environment, research practices and preventing bribery and corruption. As part of this, the supplier location and type of good or service provided is taken into account and the supplier is categorised as low, medium or high risk.

Step tWo - communIcate Following this, findings, standards and responsible procurement tools are communicated back to potential and existing suppliers.

Step three - contractResponsible procurement clauses are firmly embedded in all commercial supply agreements and the tender process.

Step Four - managementWhere we need to, AZ Procurement teams work with suppliers to help them improve their ethical performance and achieve the goals set out in their improvement plans. Each year, buyers and supplier managers re-assess the risk level of the suppliers they manage.

Where necessary, we will work with and encourage suppliers to improve their standards, rather than automatically exclude them from the supply chain. This positive influencing will benefit the supplier, their employees and the local environment. However, AstraZeneca will not use suppliers who are unable or unwilling to adopt standards of ethical behaviour that are consistent with our own.

http://www.astrazeneca.com/responsibility

Feature {corporate strategic view}

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CSr: A NEw world oF buSINESS AluMNI IN tHE FIEld

FEATURE

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Feature {alumni in the field}

reSponSiBle BuSineSS developMenT: A CEMS ALUMNA TELLS HER STORy

IntervIeW By

torSten röWeKamp vice-President, CEMS alumni association

Agnieszka ŁYNIEWSKA CEMS 2008 (SGH-NHH)

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Currently, I work as an economist at the World Bank in the Finance and Private Sector Development Department. I am based in Dar es Salaam and in my work I cover Tanzania.

In my current position, I am mostly advising the Government of Tanzania on issues regarding private sector development in the country. I am preparing a recommendation for supporting the tourism sector and strengthening the business environment. I analyse micro-constraints to economic growth in the country and together with a team of colleagues and I am looking into possible options of World Bank support to Southern Agriculture Growth Corridor of Tanzania initiative.

My work, as well as my life here, is very diversified and there is no place for boredom. Dar es Salaam (in English “House of Peace”) is a very multicultural city with Swahili, Arabic and Indian influences. The things I enjoy most about being here is the international community of very interesting people and the location of the city right by the Indian Ocean.

the BegInnIngS oF a paSSIon

The CSR concept became important to me already during my university education. While studying at Warsaw School of Economics, I was also completing another Master, in psychology. One of my fields of interest was people’s perception of “socially involved" products. Therefore, I conducted a research project investigating willingness to pay extra premium for fair trade labelled coffee in polish society. This first encounter with corporate social responsibility provided some startling results: the level of societal development affects the importance people attach to the CSR concept.

My name is Agnieszka Łyniewska and I come from Poland, where I started my CEMS programme at Warsaw School of Economics. I spent my semester at Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration and graduated from CEMS in 2008.

an opportunIty created By cemS

Participation in the CEMS programme created for me a great opportunity to explore the CSR topic further. I had chosen NHH for my host school deliberately. Studying in Norway, with its reputation of transparent corporate practice and CSR guidelines for the oil fund widely considered as an international best practice, helped me to decide to focus on development and the social impact of business in my professional career.

Corporate Social Responsibility for me is a multifaceted notion that forms a part of my everyday job. The CSR agenda is maturing, the concept has not yet taken hold in many developing countries. In my work I am constantly faced with challenges to ensure that social and environmental standards are met throughout the value chains and the same standards are incorporated by public institutions.

cemS SocIaL reSponSIBILIty

My CEMS experience definitely helped me to develop a better understanding of CSR complexities in the global business world. As a CEMS graduate, you cannot only understand how social and environmental involvement is becoming an integral part of strategy of many corporations, but also discover which part of CSR you would like to pursue in your future career. As CSR is such a broad and encompassing concept, you can put it into practice in every workplace. However, if you think about specifically focusing on CSR issues, I would recommend getting involved in CSR-related activities already during your studies, which will enable you to get hands-on experience and build a professional network in the field.

Interview


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a vIrtuouS cIrcLe oF proFItaBILIty

According to Maria, the growing focus on CSR comes as a natural result of a more global world, of increased exposure to global challenges, and companies having an understanding that social responsibility is important to their stakeholders. This leads to a virtuous circle of profitability benefiting the community where CSR is part of the core strategy of corporations.

However, Maria observes a change in the approach: companies now don’t limit themselves to donating in order to finance socially responsible projects led by NGOs, they now integrate the social dimension directly into their value chain. Maria illustrates: “For instance, multinational companies take social responsibility by making sure that there is no child labour in the factories of their suppliers. However, the dilemma is that this often leads to worse conditions for the children as they must work to make a living, and therefore have no other option but to work in the informal industry. The working conditions for the children in the informal industry are often totally unacceptable, with a low salary and the children neither get the opportunity to go to school. We are now working with corporate partners in the textile industry to improve the situation for the children so that working children get an acceptable salary, work under proper conditions, and get access to school. This is a very interesting way of collaborating with corporate partners as we as a children’s rights organization can use our local knowledge and expertise within children’s rights to create lasting change for the children in the countries where our corporate partners operate. ”

a prerequISIte to Be SucceSSFuL In BuSIneSS

So Maria does not fear that CSR will be a fashion that will fade: “I believe that we are moving towards a world in which taking social responsibility is a prerequisite in order to be successful in business. In the long run it is not profitable not to be responsible.”

CEMS gives a solid basis to people who would like to commit to a CSR career. International exposure is key in that sector: Save the Children works in 120 countries, and to have an international background such as CEMS is definitely an advantage. So her advice to CEMS students and alumni willing to take a socially responsible professional path is to be focused on their goal and hardworking. “The world needs socially responsible leaders, the answer is: CEMS graduates.”

“I actually decided to become an economist while I worked voluntarily at a Day Care Centre for Street Children in Colombia in 1999/2000”, begins Maria.

She now puts her marketing skills at the service of CSR on a daily base at Save the Children Norway. NGOs indeed need business school profiles.

FroM The oTher Side oF The Mirror: VIEWPOINT FROM AN NGO

IntervIeW By

BLandIne avot Secretary general, CEMS alumni association Interview

Maria Victoria HALBERG, CEMS 2007 (NHH-ESADE)

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Maria Victoria HALBERG, CEMS 2007 (NHH-ESADE)

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CSr: THE PERSONAL BELIEF OF THE GOOD OF CREATING VALUE FOR LOCAL PEOPLE

IntervIeW By

BLandIne avot Secretary general, CEMS alumni association

Interview

Daniela GIARDINIERE CEMS 2007 (NHH-ESADE)

Daniela Giardinieri has seen the world and loves exposure to an international environment, but she has decided to settle down in a small village of 3000 people on the beautiful Adriatic coast to follow her deep beliefs and bring her skills to the service of the growth of her native and beloved region, Le Marche, and its people.

mIcro BuSIneSSeS can aLSo have a reaL Impact on envIronmentaL and SocIaL concernS. cemS magazIne turnS the FocuS onto the marche area, In ItaLy, and a LocaL aLumna.

While still a student, Daniela was already the owner and manager of a sustainable fashion business, L.R 41 snc, styling women’s wear entirely produced by small companies in Le Marche. In 2008, she quit the garment industry, where the competition based on low costs of production and high margin would not let her put into practice her strong convictions. She resumed her studies, deepening her knowledge of tourism marketing and town and country planning. Since then, she has put her energy and skills at the service of the Marche region as a consultant: her goal is to put small companies that do not have the critical size to reach mass tourism in touch with people touring in Le Marche and interested in discovering local craftwork, art and art-de-vivre.

creatIng vaLue For SmaLL communItIeS vIa reSponSIBLe tourISm

One of the tools she is contributing to in order “to value small towns and local people” is the website www.paradisepossible.com. The concept is simple but of great efficiency for the associated micro-businesses as for the travellers: just select your passions and get a tailor-made itinerary through Le Marche, leading you out of the big roads to small local producers and artists. This website will soon open to new ventures in Ireland and in North America. Her next project will focus on the conservation of the region heritage, committing people to “adopt” an historical site.

This is how in Le Marche the development of responsible tourism generates revenues to local people and preserves life and economics in remote tiny villages.


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cSr – a convIctIon, not SomethIng you Learn

When asked how her interest for CSR started, Daniela persuasively replies that she cannot really tell because “you don’t learn it, you feel it, you are deeply convinced it’s the right way to do business because committing to CSR is costly, it takes much effort. But you overcome everything when you know your work is positive for your community”.

And she is not afraid of the side effects of a possible “CSR fashion”: she considers it positive that big companies can invest big amounts of money on CSR-based projects, even if those that are only following a fashion without deeper social beliefs will most probably cut theses expenses at the first downturn in business. To her, the strong basis of social sustainability is composed of “small companies that have a completely different approach. They create an ethical supply chain, built of local partners, that is growing, regardless of fashion. CSR is embedded in their DNA”.


a meSSage to cemS StudentSand aLumnI

TO HER, CEMS GRADUATES’ TEAM WORK ABILITy CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD OF CSR. HER PERSONAL ADVICE TO CEMS STUDENTS AND ALUMNI WILLING TO COMMIT THEMSELVES PROFESSIONALLy TO SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITy IS TO LOOK CLOSER AT THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT SMALL BUSINESSES CAN OFFER IN THIS RESPECT, AND MORE IMPORTANTLy, NOT TO BE AFRAID "To Follow Their dreAMS“

FactS

IN LE MARCHE, 86% OF THE COMPANIES COUNT LESS THAN 10 EMPLOyEES.

IN LE MARCHE, LIFE ExPECTANCy IS THE HIGHEST IN ITALy.

Daniela GIARDINIERI CEMS 2006 (Bocconi-ESADE)

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lABellinG orGAniSATionS or how To help The CuSToMer TO FIND HIS WAy IN THE FAIRTRADE WORLD

IntervIeW By

BLandIne avot Secretary general, CEMS alumni association

Interview

“CSR can cover very different types of realities. To me, CSR is no philanthropy. It is the integration of social, economic and environmental considerations in the way you do business,” says Pernille.

Her interest for CSR started during an exchange programme in Peru where she was directly confronted with a harsh microeconomic local situation where she clearly noticed “the inequalities in international trade today and throughout history”. Once back in Denmark, she enrolled in a Masters program on business and development for the academic part, and then did her CEMS internship in Kenya. Here, she worked for a Danish sustainable investment fund. Her specific project focused on climate change mitigating investments. She is now working as a Certification Analyst for FLO-CERT, a company founded in 2003 delivery fairtrade certification. This independent certifier sends auditors to visit all the value chain actors before labelling a product Fairtrade. Her job consists in getting back to companies after the audit and building with them action plans to correct non-conformity points in order to obtain or maintain their certification.

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meetIng cuStomer needS For traceaBILIty

To Pernille, labelling brings a real value to the customers who are now demanding traceability of the goods they buy. “This demand will keep on increasing and the range and availability of Fairtrade certified products is constantly expanding.”

cemS FItS the BILL

Pernille reckons that opportunities for doing sustainable business in developing countries are still huge: “Entrepreneurs don’t have to reinvent the wheel but to customize them to the need in the local market.” And CEMS people are fit to take over such a challenge, especially with the opening of the community outside of Europe, that creates more diversity. Her advice to those willing to commit to CSR is very pragmatic: “CEMS is a great combination of academic and practical professional experiences. So build up your profile in a consistent direction while choosing your courses, your business project, your internships. Seize the opportunity to create contacts with companies. Work on your languages and your international exposure, especially in the Global South, as CSR is working on a global scale.”

Pernille SON PAULSEN, CEMS 2008 (CBS-RSM)

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A FAir TrAder Joaquin Muñoz, CEMS 1996 (ESADE-HEC)

and Managing Director of Max Havelaar-France, spoke with CEMS Magazine about the path that took him to Max Havelaar, changes in consumer habits and how CEMS and Social Partners can work together in the near future.

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joaquin MuñoZ Managing Director of Max Havelaar-France

IntervIeW By

KevIn tItman CEMS Communications Manager

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joaquin MuñoZ Managing Director of Max Havelaar-France

Q. What Were the FIrSt StepS you tooK upon graduatIon From the cemS programme? a. Well, I suppose my initial career trajectory was fairly traditional in that I entered the banking sector, working for CEMS Corporate Partner BNP Paribas. However, it was when I started working as a consultant, especially during a mission for Nestlé in Mexico that things began to take a different course.

Q. WaS that the KIcK-Start to your career In the FaIr trade InduStry? a. In a way, yes, as there I was working for a major multinational company, in the interests of installing responsible practices for the benefit of all. My role as a consultant was to analyse the purchasing strategy of major companies (of which Nestlé was just one) and their approach to handling culinary and cocoa-based products in particular. This was a truly eye-opening mission and one that motivated me to make the jump to joining Fairtrade in 2002.

Q. In What WayS do the LocaL producerS BeneFIt When Such mISSIonS are carrIed out? a. Across 120 countries today, you have something like five million agricultural families. Just as we want companies to introduce a social mission, we also want to ensure that the people working on the land to produce the raw materials that the companies eventually use are fairly paid for their work. In addition, we strive to help professionalise the whole supply chain and raise efficiency as much as possible. Basically, sustainable development has to be supported by a sound financing model, so that local production can be reconciled with the global consumer market and paid its dues.

Q. SInce 2007 you have heLd the poSItIon oF managIng dIrector For max haveLaar France. What changeS have you Seen In termS oF conSumer BehavIour In that tIme? a. It has been impressive but there is still room for improvement. The target was and remains fair globalisation, a regulated market and just recompense for workers, so that products are produced, financed and consumed responsibly. Happily, I have seen changes both on the company and consumer sides. To take the example of France, back in 2002, only about 15 companies (very few of them major ones) were genuinely committed to fair trade products. In 2010, this figure had risen to 200, including a great deal of multinationals. In terms of the consumption of fair trade products, we saw a 14% rise from 2008 to 2009 in French households, with one third of them using Max Havelaar products. The awareness is clearly there now but has to be converted into more widespread consumption.

Q. FaIrtrade JoIned cemS aS one oF the FIrSt tWo SocIaL partnerS In decemBer oF LaSt year. hoW do you See thIS partnerShIp evoLvIng? a. Beyond the involvement in the curriculum and with students, I’d like to see Fairtrade bringing its knowledge and experience of responsible consumption to companies and schools, via business cases and training sessions, for example, and then maybe benefiting from managerial training in return. Strategically, the partnership is an obvious advantage to all parties but I’d really like to see operational benefits made out of it as well. It is only by developing this spirit of solidarity that we can truly help build a sustainable economy with fair treatment and recompense for all – the partnership with CEMS is based on this same principle of fair and mutually beneficial collaboration.


Interview

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whAT iS CSr AND WHAT IS IT NOT?

WrIter: dr. eLeanor o’hIggInS uCd Michael Smurfit graduate Business School

THINK TANK

In the EU, CSR is defined as involving “companies integrating social and environmental concerns into their business operations and their interaction with stakeholders on a voluntary basis”.This definition rightly places CSR as inherent to the way a company does business. The company recognises its responsibilities to its constituencies/stakeholders – customers, employees, the environment and society in general. For genuine CSR, core components of accountability, sustainability, human development, value creation and honesty are underpinned by integrity that combines all these elements in everyday corporate conduct – not a superficial public relations add-on.

reSponSIBILIty – an optIonor an oBLIgatIon?

The notion of voluntarism in the EU definition of CSR is questionable, suggesting that behaving responsibly is an optional “extra”, not obligatory. Equally, the “business case” for CSR implies that a company will reap profits if it behaves decently. This indicates that companies are not required to act responsibly unless there is a financial payoff. Shouldn’t all companies be expected to be intrinsically responsible? Of course, the most desirable state of affairs is that businesses that behave honourably also do well economically.

CSR is non-compliant with var ious international standards and protocols that have proliferated as part of the “CSR industry”. Such compliance consists of following processes blindly that have been set in a one-size-fits manner by various self-appointed NGOs. Likewise, a high ranking on CSR lists which rate companies from afar on prepared economic, social and governance inventories is not a valid sign of responsibility.

Finally, CSR is not philanthropy. Large donations to worthy causes are not equivalent to being socially responsible, especially if it ends up being compensated for through lower wages for employees, or higher prices to customers, or lower taxes paid. It is generally accepted that CSR is how you make your money, not how you give it away.

Dr. Eleanor O’HIGGINS UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School

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Dr. Eleanor O’HIGGINS UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School

The CeMS FACulTy Group “BUSINESS AND THE ENVIRONMENT” ANNUAL MEETING

This year’s annual meeting of the Business and the Environment Faculty Group was hosted by HEC Paris from 17th-18th March. It offered participants the possibility to further develop the debate on “Sustainability in Management Education” and also to design five Block Seminars to be hosted in August-October 2011, in Stockholm, St. Gallen, St. Petersburg/Helsinki, Barcelona and Cologne.

SuStaInaBILIty In management educatIon: conFrontIng experIenceS

The meeting started with guest speaker Prof. Bénédicte Faivre-Tavignot, Academic Director of the HEC M.Sc. in Sustainable Development (MISD). Prof. Faivre-Tavignot presented the innovative

Master’s programme that HEC is offering on sustainability and management, analysing the structure and the topics addressed. The presentation was followed by lively debate on how to teach sustainability in business schools, in terms of the issues to cover, pedagogical approaches and field studies and cases.

A roundtable ensued, comprising an update on teaching “sustainability and green issues” in CEMS schools. An increase of courses and seminars was registered when compared with the group’s previous meeting. Every attending CEMS school outlined an increased attention toward the topic, including dedicated Master’s programmes (Corvinus, Bocconi, HEC), majors or minors, courses, seminars, and joint experiences such as the CEMS Climate Change strategy role play.

perSpectIveS: cemS FacuLty group actIvItIeS In reSearch and other InItIatIveS

Dr. Hamschmidt presented the “oikos case teaching initiative” 2011 and the “oikos academy” (see the article on pages 32-33). Finally, the topic of avenues for future research in sustainability and environmental issues in business were addressed and a date and venue were set for the following year’s meeting. Prof. Budnikowski (VSE) proposed to host the 2012 Faculty Group meeting in Poland on 30th March.

PARTICIPANTS:

ADAM BUDNIKOWSKI (Warsaw School of Economics),

JOST HAMSCHMIDT (University of St. Gallen),

SANDOR KEREKES (Corvinus University of Budapest),

ROMAIN LAUFER (HEC Paris),

BéNéDICTE FAIVRE-TAVIGNOT

GUESTSPEAKER (HEC Paris),

STEFANO POGUTz (Università Bocconi),

RAFAEL SARDá (ESADE),

SUSANNE SWEET (Stockholm School of Economics),

DANIEL TyTECA (Louvain School of Management),

CHRISTOPH DRECHSLER, (UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School),

yURy BLAGOV (Graduate School of Management, St.Petersburg)

WERNER DELFMANN, (University of Cologne)

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WrIter: proFeSSor SteFano pogutz università Bocconi, Chair of CEMS Business and the Environment faculty group

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The CollABorATive enTerpriSe: CREATING VALUE FOR A SUSTAINABLE WORLD

the coLLaBoratIve enterprISeCreating values for a Sustainable World

edited byantonIo tencatILaSzLo zSoLnaI

2010

As an output of the joint research project of the CSR Unit of Bocconi University Milan and the Business Ethics Center of Corvinus University of Budapest a new book has been published under the title The Collaborative Enterprise: Creating Values for a Sustainable World edited by Antonio Tencati and Laszlo Zsolnai, 2010. Oxford, Peter Lang Academic Publishers.

The authors - including professors from Bocconi University Milan, NHH Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration Bergen, Rotterdam School of Management and Corvinus University of Budapest - argue that the current pattern of global development is unsustainable especially because of the detrimental social and environmental effects of the prevailing mainstream business model. A change of paradigm is needed. Business should respect the ecological and social limits in which it operates and embed its activities in the natural and social systems. The book promotes a collaborative way of doing business, based on a positive view of the self and others. It collects theoretical contributions, case studies and business initiatives, which show that a collaborative enterprise is not only possible but also a feasible and desirable alternative to the current managerial models. Enterprises seeking to build long-lasting, mutually beneficial relationships with all their constituencies, while producing values for their stakeholder networks, represent hopes for a better future.

the webpage of the book is http://laszlo-zsolnai.net/content/collaborative-enterprise-creating-values-sustainable-world

FROM 20th-22nd MAy, A CEMS PH.D. WORKSHOP ENTITLED "SUSTAINABILITy AND RESPONSIBILITy IN BUSINESS" WAS HELD AT THE CORVINUS UNIVERSITy OF BUDAPEST. THE AIM OF THE WORKSHOP WAS TO PRESENT THE MAIN RESULTS OF THE BOOK AND TO DISCUSS ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR BUSINESS STRATEGy, CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITy AND BUSINESS ETHICS. INFORMATION ABOUT THE PH.D. WORKSHOP CAN BE OBTAINED FROM LASzLO zSOLNAI, PROFESSOR AND DIRECTOR, BUSINESS ETHICS CENTER, CORVINUS UNIVERSITy OF BUDAPEST. EMAIL: [email protected]

thInK tanK

Laszlo ZSOLNAI

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The Triple M oF orGAnizATionS: MAN, MANAGEMENT AND MyTH

STrATeGiC MAnAGeMenT:COMPETITIVENESS AND GLOBALIzATION

Edeltraud HANAPPI-EGGER

What has management to do with myths? And how does gender enter the stage? This book identifies frequently used key arguments in gender discussions on management and organisations and will unmask them as myths. Be it that management is rational, be it that organizations are gender-neutral, be it that women will change technology, will be shown to be a set of superficial declarations not withstanding critical scrutiny. All the “reasons” for gender-specific organisational phenomena will be proved to exist simply to maintain power structures and thereby systematically (but subtly) reproduce dominant organisational cultures and stabilise taken-for-granted knowledge in particular with respect to gender issues. The demystification of selected organisational phenomena is based upon several of the author’s recent research projects and empirical studies of the author Edeltraud Hanappi-Egger from WU Vienna.

please email [email protected] for more informationthe webpage of the book is http://www.springer.com/social+sciences/book/978-3-7091-0555-9?detailspage=authorsandeditors

Volberda, Morgan and Reinmoeller have joined with Hitt, Ireland and Hoskisson to develop a truly landmark strategic management textbook that is ideally suited for courses in Europe, the Middle East and Africa as well as other global markets. With a new process perspective to supplement the text’s trademark integrated approach, Strategic Management provides a comprehensive and thorough coverage of the subject.

Whilst maintaining the strengths and hallmark features of the original work, this new strategy text has been specially prepared to match the modern EMEA curriculum with boosted coverage of implementation issues, analysis of how firms use strategic management tools, techniques and concepts, a balanced emphasis on economics and resource-based perspectives and expanded coverage of comparative governance and organizational renewal.

please email [email protected] and quote ‘SmSvoL’ to request a free review copy*

the trIpLe m oF organIzatIonS Man, Management and Myth

edited byedeLtraud hanappI-edger

2011

StrategIc managementCompetitiveness and globalization

april 2011

ISBn numBer:9781408019184

Laszlo ZSOLNAI

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reSponSiBle innovATionS TO REDUCE POVERTy

WrIter: Lotta KnuutInen Communications Manager, aalto university School of Economics

Two thirds of the world’s population live in emerging markets. They earn less than five euros a day. The Base of the Pyramid (BoP) project of the Aalto University School of Economics aims at finding innovative business models for emerging markets.

Innovations that reduce poverty are beneficial on a societal level, and a profitable business. In responsible innovations, the business idea is a product or service created to solve a social or environmental problem.

“Innovations that reduce poverty tackle two of the most highly topical problems of the 21st

century: poverty and the sustainable use of natural resources. Innovations create added value for people living in emerging markets,” says Professor Prabhu Kandachar from the Delft University of Technology. Kandachar spoke at the opening seminar of the BoP project at the Aalto University School of Economics in January.

“We are testing new business models through concrete pilot projects in cooperation with Finnish parties and partner countries,” says Professor Minna Halme, who is in charge of the BoP project.

One of the pilot projects is The Plexus that promotes innovative entrepreneurship. The Plexus project includes developing the teaching of innovative entrepreneurship and teaching experiential learning methods to the teachers of Kabul University and Tribhuva University.

“The aim is to teach innovative entrepreneurship to graduating students so that they have the opportunity to make a living and become employed after graduation,” Professor and one of the founders of Innovation Democracy Liisa Välikangas explains.

“Many students are left unemployed after graduation which leads to frustration and possible radicalisation. Entrepreneurial skills combined with innovative business thinking help the well-educated ‘future hopes’ of a country to support the country’s positive development,” Välikangas says.

www.hse.fi/bop

thInK tanK

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CeMS TeAM plAyS SoCiéTé GénérAle’S CiTizen ACT GAMe, SEASON 2010/11

WrIterS: Laurent BarBezIeux, LuKaS LoerS and edouard muLot CEMS students

“Play, Train and Act for Good” is the slogan of Citizen ACT, the first training game foruniversity students to develop the new sustainable banking practices of tomorrow.

The 2010/2011 season was played by three CEMS students, from WU Vienna and HEC Paris. Forty-five teams from 18 different countries secured a place in the second round, and projects ranged from social to environmental projects such as spreading information about globally rising sea levels, but also commercial practices like the CEMS’ student’s project.

Our German/French Team, with the lengthy name “Customer Centred SRI Funds - Reshaping

StudENt & AluMNIFoCuS

SRI Approach” focused on developing new commercial practices for the bank’s SRI funds. In short, SRI stands for Socially Responsible Investment Funds, which are Financial Instruments that allow investors to invest into ethical corporations.

reSponSIBLe Fund InveStment puShed vIa SocIaL medIa

The reason behind focusing on SRI Funds was the belief that the financial professional can also do “good”, and create long-term value, by directing funds into socially responsible businesses, thus avoiding bad corporate citizens. Besides, investors developed an ever growing appetite for SRI funds, and Assets Under Management reached c. $25bn globally in 2010. On the other hand, SRI funds are still rather unknown in today’s market, so the team decided to change this.

For four weeks, our team planned to redesign the bank’s approach towards its customers, by proposing new communication channels via social media, and by involving the public through their Citizen Act blog. Feedback from other students but also professionals helped a great deal to define the final work. Eventually, our team was eliminated before the reaching the final.

Nevertheless, the Citizen ACT game allowed us to learn much about sustainable banking and other innovative projects for a better future. We strongly encourage future CEMS generations to participate in the first CSR Training game of Société Générale, to develop new banking practises of tomorrow.

Edouard Mulot, Lukas Loers and Laurent Barbezieux

Student & aLumnI FocuS

CeMS STudenT BoArd updATe: ROTTERDAM MEETING, DECEMBER 2010

WrIter: marco proto President, CEMS Student Board

The CEMS Annual Events 2010 were hosted by Rotterdam School of Management during the first week of December. As usual, prior to and in conjunction with the Annual Events, the CEMS Student Board held their last meeting of 2010 at RSM, from 30th November and 3rd December.

The meeting lasted for three full days for the 27 Student Board members, and for some of them even longer as the third edition of the CEMS Club Conference was held in conjunction with the Student Board meeting. After a nice reunion dinner on Monday 29th November, all representatives met the following day at RSM, ready to begin the meeting. Since the last meeting in Istanbul in September, four new members were welcomed to our group.

Top: Thomas Smith (left) and Marco Proto (middle), the outgoing and incoming Student Board PresidentsMiddle: George yip, Dean of Rotterdam School of Management, gives an opening address at the CEMS Club Conference Bottom: The CEMS Club Conference in full flow

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a neW executIve team In pLace For 2011

The first day brought about a number of updates from the four work groups (CEMS Club Support, Student Relations, CEMS Social Responsibility and MIM Affairs), and ended with a recap of 2010 year by Thomas Smith, former Student Board President, and Tom Zacharski, former VP/Treasurer. Their charges were then passed on to the new Executive Team, Marco Proto (President) from NHH and Fredrik Ahlberg (VP/Treasurer) from CBS, who will together lead the Student Board throughout 2011.

The meeting continued with many interesting discussions on highly relevant topics, including branding, the re-vamped CEMS website, the role of Career Services within CEMS, and how best to incorporate the newly-elected Social Partners into the alliance.

partIcIpatIon From procter & gamBLeand WoLSeLey pLc

The event did not lack any interaction with CEMS Corporate Partners. Procter & Gamble kindly hosted us at their facilities for an interesting presentation on cause marketing and a mingling session with representatives from the Company. We had a workshop on trust and game theory with Shell after we had lunch with the representatives. Finally, we met Wolseley for an intense bowling session. We thank all involved Corporate Partners for their kind support.

thIrd edItIon oF the cemS cLuB conFerence

The Student Board meeting was followed by the third edition of the CEMS Club Conference. Twenty-three participating club Presidents and Vice Presidents took part, representing in total 18 CEMS clubs. The goal of the conference was dual: increasing the Student Board’s knowledge of the CEMS Club status, and encouraging best practice sharing and knowledge dissemination.

Representatives of over 12 clubs shared extensive details about their status, best practices, findings and experience. This was very useful to gain insight into the staggering differences among member countries, but also to discover new ways to tackle problems such as fund raising, corporate awareness and student involvement. The hand-over of a CEMS club was identified as a crucial point upon which to work.

Charlotte Saldanha – representative of the Programme Managers for Nova School of Business & Economics – shed some light on the duties and burdens that PMs face, underlining the conditions which enable them to be most helpful to CEMS Clubs. Stefano Gnes and Denisa Zichackova from the CEMS Head Office spoke about the outcome of the Career Forum which took place in Budapest in November 2010, as well as how to manage relations with Corporate Partners.

After discussing some of the most interesting best practices by CEMS Clubs and an update on the regional events, and the promise to create an alumni engagement package and eventually organise a regional event in South East Asia, the short but intense conference ended on an upbeat note – Dutch Sintaklaas cookies. We look forward to hosting the next CEMS Club Conference.

With this said, we all thank you for your attention. We encourage you to get in touch with us for any question you may have.

Yours sincerely,The CEMS Student Board

The Student Board show their brand loyalty!

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CeMS STudenTS SuCCeSSFully pArTiCipATe in The GloBAl FinAl OF KPMG’S INTERNATIONAL CASE COMPETITION IN ISTANBUL

WrIter: nIKLaS noSeK CEMS student, vSE

After winning the national round of KPMG's International Case Competition (KICC) in the Czech Republic, a team of CEMS students qualified for the global final in Istanbul and achieved a successful 3rd place after Team USA (1st place) and Team Sweden (2nd place).

The Czech team was represented by four University of Economics Prague (VSE) students: Martin Kurnas, Niklas Nosek, Emilie Valentova and Martin Vodak.

The KPMG International Case Competition is an annual competition in which teams consisting of four students are given three hours to work through a case that is based on a realistic business scenario and prepare a presentation. Directly after the preparation time, the students present their findings and solution to a jury of KPMG leaders and have to answer questions and defend their solutions.

cemS StudentS on WInnIng podIum

This year, a record number of 19 teams, including Canada, USA, Brazil, Russia, South Africa, India and a number of European countries, participated in the competition that took place in Istanbul on 6th-8th April 2011. In total, 360 universities and more than 2400 students took part in the case competition.

The global final in Istanbul consisted of two qualification rounds after which four teams were selected for a final round. “What helped us to make it to the finals was to listen carefully to the jury’s feedback after our first presentation and to make sure we used their points in our second presentation,” comments Niklas Nosek.

"The KICC was a great opportunity for us to network with many outstanding people who came to represent their country," says Martin Vodak. Moreover, as Emilie Valentova and Martin Kurnas point out, the competition required perfect team work and fast decision-making as time pressure during the case solving was extremely high.

Q. What motIvated you to chooSe the cemS optIon?

ar. From the very beginning, CEMS seemed to me a unique programme. It gave not only the opportunity to study in different universities in a multicultural environment, but the community itself was for me a tremendous advantage. Travelling, participating in various seminars, meeting corporate partners and professionals is an amazing experience. CEMS is much more than just studying abroad or interesting academic courses. It is a network that lives and it is a privilege to be a part of it. It is a lifestyle.

aa. CEMS offered great opportunities not only in terms of the quality of the schools that form the alliance, but also for networking with top students. I chose CEMS because I believed the former was very good for my CV and to be competitive, the latter was great for my career and to improve by learning from others.

For the second issue running, CEMS Magazine interviewed two alumni, Agata Rundo, CEMS 2008 (SGH-VSE) and current CEO of Marketing Wizard, and Alvaro de Ansorena, CEMS 2010 (ESADE-LSM) and now CEO of Fixalo, on their experience of launching a new business.

CeMS people doinG BuSineSS – PART 2

IntervIeW By BLandIne avot Secretary general, CEMS alumni association

Interview

Agata RUNDO

Q. What are the StrongeSt memorIeS you have retaIned oF your cemS year?

ar. My CEMS year was fantastic. At that time, I thought it couldn’t be busier than it was. I was managing the CEMS Club in Warsaw and then I was elected the CEMS Student Board President. We ran great projects, organised three awesome meetings – in Budapest, Valencia and Paris - and initiated changes for the student community. The cultural exposure was one of the greatest experiences that gave me the skills to collaborate with various people and complete projects in an international environment.

aa. During the term spent abroad, I worked with students from all over the world, lived with a couple of Italians in a multicultural area of Brussels, and got to understand the Belgian way of life. I have wonderful memories of this and I think this is more than just Management

education! You get to understand how people work and interact with others. CEMS offered me the chance of meeting great people that I retain as really good friends.

Q. hoW dId you maKe you career move? WaS It the IntentIon WIth WhIch you Started yourcemS year?

ar. I started my CEMS year with the intention of working in a multinational corporation. And I did indeed at the beginning, firstly abroad and then in Poland – in the consulting sector. When, in 2009, the team I made up with five colleagues from my university won the Google Online Marketing Challenge in the EMEA region, the direction changed. Very quickly we decided that it was worth using the chance and we set up our SEM, online marketing agency. Such opportunities come only once. It is worth taking the risk and learning from it.

f


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Alvaro DE ANSORENA

aa. I always had a passion for creating things and creating a company has always been my goal. I was just waiting for an opportunity and with the economic crisis I saw it. CEMS gave me confidence and security in doing it and believing that it was possible.

Q. In What Way dId the cemS experIence heLp prepare you For your BuSIneSS venture today?

ar. In CEMS you can learn how to complete successful projects. But you also learn to manage yourself – and this is something we sometimes tend to forget. That the key project you are managing every day is YOU. One of the key skills nowadays is to make the right choices in the endless spectrum of opportunities that arise all the time.

aa. Today there are extremely talented people around and especially at a global level. However one asset that sets the difference between the best and the very best are intangible such as cultural exposure. In my opinion CEMS offers you the possibility to understand things from the very top with an open mindset due to the type of work and people you encounter during the year.

Q. can you deScrIBe the actIvIty oF the company For WhIch cemS WaS a SprIngBoard?

ar. Marketing Wizards is a search engine marketing agency operation in Poland, with projects from foreign clients. We are doing Internet marketing campaigns based mainly on Google AdWords to support the sales activities

of our Internet clients. In other words, we help our clients use the Internet to sell and promote their products with individual tailor-made models.

aa. Fixalo.com is an Internet start-up based in Madrid, dedicated to putting in contact users who need a service, with service providers in a marketplace environment. A user makes a posting describing the service he or she is looking for. The posting is made public so that providers can bid on it. The poster examines all the bids and the opinions about the providers from other users and chooses the one that fits his or her needs best.

Q. What advIce WouLd you gIve to cemS StudentS conSIderIng the entrepreneurIaL path?

ar. If you have the entrepreneurial spirit somewhere inside you and you feel it is something you want to try, go for it. Try! If you have an area you feel strong in or you are very interested in – try. Only if you risk, you can see the return. And you can only regret the things you tried. Just remember to have the right people around you; people who are good partners, who inspire you

and with whom you look in the same direction and adhere to similar values in business.

aa. For anyone considering opening a start-up, I think the most important thing is to be positive 99% of the time. I believe that this is like a marathon race so you have to know yourself well, and keep a good rhythm in order to win the race. Secondly, I believe it is crucial to select the right partners. It’s important that the team is mixed and has complementary profiles.

Q. WouLd you conSIder hIrIng cemS graduateS to WorK For your company?

ar. I have already hired one CEMS Club member and I am very satisfied with our cooperation. CEMS people have the drive I like. They do not like routine, meaning to do only what is expected and then just “be”. They like to take initiative, face challenges, do things that are new, but always with a professional approach to assure good self-branding and PR.

aa. As soon as my company can afford it, I’ll hire a CEMS student! Of course they will be top priority!

Interview

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CeMS AluMnA Field reporT – OUT IN AFRICA

CEMS Magazine spoke with Claudia Huber, an alumna looking to make a difference.

IntervIeW By torSten röWeKamp vice-President, CEMS alumni association

Q. teLL uS aBout your cemS BacKground andthe BegInnIngS oF your WorKIng LIFe.

a. I studied Business Administration and Economics at the University of St. Gallen where I also enrolled in the CEMS programme. I did my term abroad at ESADE in Barcelona and graduated from the programme in early 2005. For the past six years, I have been working on financial sector development or access to finance, part of it more commonly known as microfinance. Currently, I work with GIZ, the German development agency, based in Frankfurt, on an initiative called Making Finance Work for Africa (www.mfw4a.org), a partnership to foster the development of inclusive financial sectors on the African continent.

Q. dId thIS move come From a partIcuLar perSonaLor proFeSSIonaL motIvatIon?

a. I have always been interested in travelling and exploring new countries, continents and cultures and have taken every possibility to do this since I have been at school and obviously during university. The huge difference in development and living conditions between countries and certainly also within countries has struck me, the latter especially when I did an exchange semester in Buenos Aires in 2003, followed by a volunteership in a home for street kids.

Back home and looking for a subject for my Master’s thesis, I started to read about social entrepreneurship, and sustainable and mostly profitable economic activity with a social benefit. Consequently, I became more and more interested in the conditions for successful inclusive economic development of a country, i. e. development that includes not only the better-off, but also lower and poorer economic classes.

After graduating, I was lucky enough to be awarded a scholarship that helped me gain initial experience in the international development and cooperation sector. Having worked for about 2.5 years with CGAP, the World Bank's resource centre on inclusive finance, I decided to move into the field and work directly within a microfinance institution. I worked within the management teams of licensed microfinance banks in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo) and Managua (Nicaragua) for the past two years.

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Q. hoW do you vIeW the cemS Strategy to Incorporate an IncreaSIng cSr dImenSIon?

a. With regards to CEMS, I really appreciate the recently increasing interest in social issues. When I enrolled in the programme, these issues were not greatly discussed yet! I really would like to encourage CEMS to continue attracting Corporate Partners from the social sector and continue developing academic content on the issue to raise students' awareness. However, CSR has become a bit of a fashion, since with increasing awareness, it markets well! But as we all know: paper is patient! It is easy to write a nice statement about CSR and the company's values when things go well and sales increase, but whether a company truly adheres to what it writes, shows, once things do not go very well or in crisis times.

Q. What advIce WouLd you gIve to peopLe conSIderIng a SImILar path to you oWn?

a. Working in the international development sector is very exciting sometimes frustrating, but certainly mostly very rewarding. However a career in the field takes its toll on your personal life: moving from one country to another makes family life difficult as well as keeping in touch with friends. Contracts or assignments in the sector are mostly based on available funding from donors and governments and thus often short-term. Remuneration generally is below what you would earn in the private sector. But knowing that you make your tiny contribution towards making this world a more equal place compensates for a lot!

Claudia HUBER, CEMS 2004 (St Gallen-ESADE)

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JoIn one oF the LargeSt BanKS In europe!

who Are we?

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SpecIaLISed FInancIaL BuSIneSSeS Asset management Amundi, BFT, CPR Asset Management, CACEIS… This division covers asset management activities in the broad sense. It has leading positions in France, and its growth ambitions are supported by a solid presence abroad.

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3rd In europe an 8th

WorLdWIde In aSSet management

7th european ranKed By tIer 1 netWorthratIo*

top BanK InSurer In europe and 2nd For LIFe InSurance

FinAnCiAl dATA (crédIt agrIcoLe group) on 31st decemBer 2010

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2011 spring : cems magazine

Documents

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