AMBA & BGA EXCELLENCE AWARDS WINNERS
BIOGRAPHY
Ansgar Richter is dean of Rotterdam School of Management at Erasmus University (RSM), where he is also a professor of corporate strategy, organisation and governance. Prior to joining RSM, Richter was the dean of Surrey Business School; at various points in his academic career, he has been a visiting scholar at UC Berkeley, Stanford and Insead. His research interests lie at the interface of strategy, organisation and governance,
“I think it would be wrong to ignore the potential impact of mobilising relationships within Brazil’s Dutch business community to recognise the importance of the SDGs. It is also an opportunity to encourage more entrepreneurs and young business leaders to embody RSM’s mission and become a force for positive change in the world.” It appears that 24 people have benefited from the partnership’s Orange Academy programme to date. Do you expect to reach many more people in the future as the partnership continues? “Absolutely, both in Brazil and beyond. We’ve already helped another cohort of 24 participants in Brazil since the programme started. We have also been approached by other chambers of commerce to discuss the potential of expanding the programme to more countries.” In this light, are there any plans to widen the remit of the partnership and join forces with more organisations in other countries? “Yes – in fact, we’ve already fostered similar types of relationships around the globe in recent years, for example in Singapore, India and the Middle East. The kind of programme that we developed together with Dutcham in Brazil can certainly serve as a role model for future partnerships.” Are there any direct links between the partnership and the school’s MBA community, in terms of those involved in its formation or participants in the Orange Academy itself? “Our MBA faculty and alumni were a big part of the project. Not only did they help to make
connections on the ground, but they also delivered the expert advice that made this programme possible.
“This partnership has proven to be a great way to engage enthusiastic alumni. We also shouldn’t ignore the potential opportunity to introduce new people to the value of an MBA education that such a programme presents.” Should business schools be doing more in terms of establishing links with international business communities and are there any particular areas that schools could target? “It is noteworthy that the epitome of the 17 SDGs is goal number 17, which aims to “strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development” or “partnerships to achieve the goals” for short. “One often-heard concern is that business schools only foster partnerships with private players in other ‘rich-world’ countries. At RSM, we aim to take a broader approach. I believe business schools should partner with private and public players alike, including NGOs and governmental and non-governmental organisations, among others.” What kind of impact do you think winning this award will have on RSM’s work and collaborations with external organisations in the near future? “This recognition can only be positive for our future collaborations and has inspired me and my team to continue reaching out for connections with our global network to share knowledge and create more impact in a world that really needs more international understanding. This kind of community building is increasingly important today.”
dynamic capabilities, organisational design,
incentives and ownership and justice in organisations, as well as the strategy and structure of professional service firms. Richter studied philosophy and economics in Germany before continuing his studies at the London School of Economics, where he earned an MSc in industrial relations and personnel management and a PhD in management
Ambition APRIL 2023 | 25
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