BGA | BUSINESS IMPACT
FROM THE CEO
I n the four years since the Business Graduates Association (BGA) was launched, we’ve witnessed some of the most turbulent times since World War II. We’ve experienced a worldwide pandemic, a European war, raging inflation and an energy crisis that puts entire countries at risk. Despite all this, BGA has more than surpassed its expectations, having grown from zero business school members in 2019 to nearly 240 at the start of 2023, making it the fastest-growing membership and accreditation body for business schools worldwide. As we enjoy our anniversary and look to our ambitions of further growth and success for both BGA and AMBA, we must remain mindful of the harsh reality of what could be, economically and geopolitically, a difficult year for many of us worldwide. In this climate, we are reminded that management education, or indeed education in general, is one of the few ways in which we can rebuild much-needed stability and co-operation between individuals, companies and countries. It is for this reason that we believe BGA will become even more relevant as business schools and universities become beacons of internationalisation, cultural enrichment, mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence. To do this, BGA has invested considerably in regional capacity-building workshops to encourage networking and learning, such as the one reported on in our cover feature on page 14, and will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. BGA is also growing its list of international mentors and assessors and will expand the number of business schools that can leverage BGA’s platform to share their knowledge and practices. We believe that these efforts will enhance the experience for all our accredited and non-accredited business school members across the globe. As I reflect on the opportunities ahead, I have some recommendations to protect and grow businesses during this period of continuing uncertainty: • Diversify your organisation globally to keep your geographical expansion options open • Ensure that no single market or country accounts for more than 10 per cent of your revenue • Reassure your staff in these uncertain times • Resist the temptation to increase prices any more than you absolutely must • Strike the right balance between staff working from home and working from your offices In my opinion, there is no such thing as a static organisation. You’re either going forwards or you’re going backwards. Great organisations continue to strive for growth and quality improvement, however difficult the global challenges seem to be. Though the road may seem muddy and difficult right now, we are determined that the steps we take today as an organisation and as an industry, no matter how small, will help pave the way to better times.
38
38
The road ahead AMBA & BGA CEO Andrew Main Wilson offers his thoughts on BGA’s future direction, as the organisation marks its fourth anniversary
Made with FlippingBook - Share PDF online