BGA | BUSINESS IMPACT
‘We need to value diverse people and their ideas in order to create a more equitable society where the societal resources are not just held by the few’
be taking the lead in terms of connecting higher education institutions with companies and other organisations that can be a part of these teams tackling social problems. What would be your advice to other deans and directors who are considering entering the AMBA & BGA Excellence Awards, or other means of raising awareness of initiatives of note at their Schools? I will be eternally grateful to our Dean, Jorg Bley, who encouraged me to submit the FWFW initiative to the competition. I think that many of us, particularly anyone who is a recovering perfectionist (such as myself), tend to be unduly critical of the value of our contributions – and therefore to underestimate them. As the leader or planner, we see the flaws and how an initiative could be improved. We really need to celebrate the successes, no matter how small, and share them with others to inspire them to action. In terms of raising awareness of initiatives at Business Schools, as a marketer, I know the power of social media and good internal communication which can be leveraged to gain external publicity. You really need to have a supportive marketing team that is attuned to what’s happening in the School and how to promote that in a ‘clutter-busting’ manner. And finally, do you feel optimistic about the future of business, Business Schools, and the global economy? I do feel optimistic because I see the passion and perseverance our students have towards crafting a better future. As I stated earlier, we need to refocus the ‘can-do’
attitude displayed during the pandemic – in which everyone came together quickly to fight the disease – towards meeting the SDGs. We need to value diverse people and their ideas in order to create a more equitable society where the societal resources are not just held by the few.
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Ellen E Touchstone is the Associate Dean for Responsible and Sustainable Business Education at the International Business School Suzhou, Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University. She holds an MBA from ASU Thunderbird School of Global Management, and a PhD in applied linguistics from the University of Southern California. Recently, she became known as the ‘foreign face of the epidemic’ after volunteering at Covid-19 testing sites, continuing her family’s legacy of community service that began with her grandparents, who also worked in Suzhou from 1917- 1922. On IWD 2022, she was named a ‘China Super Woman’ by Shanghai-based Green Initiatives.
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