INTERVIEW WITH THE DEAN
The topic of sustainability has been embedded in many MBA programmes – how integral is it, do you think, to the concept of leadership? “Sustainability is a concept that cuts across many themes; it is a way of reading and applying the various different disciplines. For this reason, at SDA Bocconi we have decided to use the concept of sustainability as the overall positioning theme of the school and as an integral component of the good leadership that our MBAs and our master’s degrees are committed to building. “The relevance of this challenge starts from the concept that every individual and organisation must produce growth and value. But at the same time many forces oppose our eco-system by questioning our ability to produce
unfortunately, the presence of war and violence makes us reflect even more on our mission. First of all, we must remember that education means freedom; without knowledge there is no freedom and it will not be possible to help build a better world in which to live. The challenge to knowledge must be embraced even more strongly by universities and business schools, as well as by the entire scientific community. “Secondly, our research activity must continue unabated; the themes of geopolitics, the management of information and good governance must increasingly become central elements within the scope of those institutions that have the task of forming good and capable leaders. Without them, it is a difficult challenge to stem and ultimately extinguish any form of conflict.” We hear so much nowadays about diversity and inclusion, as well as the concept of ‘belonging’; how can schools best train the next generation of managers and entrepreneurs to implement DE&I practices in a responsible manner? “Management means responsibility, ie the ability to lead individuals and organisations, as well as managing resources. There is no management without responsibility and no technical expertise alone can meet this concept. This principle underpins any challenge that DE&I faces both today and tomorrow. “The concept of exclusivity that often distinguishes business schools must be directed towards an effort of inclusiveness that incorporates respect, merit, openness to dialogue and the diversity of each individual’s path. But at the same time, it is a challenge that requires responsibility, common sense, good practices and a willingness to learn from your mistakes and correct them for the benefit of society as a whole.” The impact of AI and other generative algorithms such as ChatGPT on business school education has been well documented; what’s your position on it at Bocconi – do you feel it’s something faculty will inevitably need to adapt to in the future? “The real fear when it comes to AI is that human intelligence is not up to the task. The challenge must be shifted to human intelligence and the ability of individuals to place themselves above such increasingly powerful tools, to direct them to growth and the common good. The question we should not be afraid to face and to answer is this: What kind of society do we want to have? What are the values we believe in? “If we can give an answer, we will be able to find the correct trajectory for the development of AI. It is therefore inevitable that AI will be used in learning processes and as a teaching tool. It can free up time, effort and direct teaching and research activities to provide new added value. This is the beauty and charm of yet another challenge; business schools are born to face such challenges and will be able to provide a satisfactory response.”
well-being. Here those values become the antidote that allows us to continue on the path of value creation, through growth that is sustainable. There is no alternative to sustainability – without it, our way of existence is destined to decline.”
“Fundraising will become more vital and take on a new format to stimulate institutions of higher learning and enhance their capacity for impact”
A number of factors that will shape the global economy over the years to come have been identified, including the inevitability of structural transformation and the role of changing demographics – what would you add to this list? “I would add the relevance of good governance and leadership. Without these elements, the complexity of all the other challenges is bound to overwhelm our organisations. The issue here is that governance and leadership not only affect private organisations and businesses, but constitute a challenge for the State and public institutions. The scope of change is down to the understanding of the universality of these themes as a common link for society’s development.” Lastly, how do you see the global business school sector evolving over the next three to five years? With all the economic and geopolitical upheaval that the world is currently facing, is there still room for optimism? “Optimism is both our duty and a fundamental gesture of responsibility. Business schools will have to be even more committed to the common good and the dividing line between them and government schools will disappear because the themes of management, good governance and leadership will be transversal. To do this will take more scale and size, plus additional resources. “I would not be surprised to see in the coming years some consolidation of the sector, with possible mergers and acquisitions. In the same way, the subject of fundraising will become more vital and must take on a new format in order to stimulate our institutions of higher learning and enhance their capacity for impact. Since we are living in increasingly complex times, the scale of research and training will have to increase to enable us to imagine – and then trace – a possible path to the future.”
Ambition | MARCH/APRIL 2024 | 15
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