VIEW FROM THE TOP
THE POWER OF PERSONAL CONNECTION
From the networking opportunities at the annual deans & directors conference to a brand new membership platform aimed at forging fruitful links for staff, students and graduates, there’s a great deal of value in being a part of the AMBA & BGA community, says CEO Andrew Main Wilson
N
ow that the world has fully recovered from the necessary self-isolation caused by the Covid pandemic, we have witnessed a clear preference
The conference will bring together approximately 400 business school executives and innovative product providers from 60 countries, who will discuss and share ideas and solutions for our industry at a time of unprecedented change and global socio‑economic uncertainty. Considering the financial pressures facing some of our schools around the world, we are very proud of the fact that the conference price remains exactly the same as it was at our Deans & Directors Conference some 12 years ago. Our second announcement revolves around the launch this autumn of a brand new, innovative AMBA & BGA membership platform, comprising two separate networking groups. One will allow faculty and staff from our 290 AMBA business schools and 288 BGA business schools to network directly with each other. The other group, meanwhile, will facilitate connections between our 70,000 AMBA & BGA student and graduate members. The platform will be partitioned into two parts. For business school users, benefits will include the ability
to continue conversations following a workshop or conference; connect directly with other business school faculty or staff in a trusted network; share research initiatives; receive support from business school mentors; and follow up on programme consultancy reviews, plus much more besides. For students and graduates, the benefits are similar but differ in that the network is more focused on industry and work experience. Depending on the programme they have either completed or are undertaking, users can join groups that correspond with their experience and programme level. This allows them to find potential business partners and seek out industry advice. The platform also includes a mentorship page, where approved mentors can be booked by student and graduate users to receive direct career feedback and support. Recognising once again how our customers appreciate our constant efforts to ensure we deliver great value, I’m very pleased to confirm that both networks can be joined by AMBA & BGA schools, as well as by students and graduates, completely free of charge.
among our business school customers for face‑to‑face networking at conferences.
Meanwhile, our student and graduate members – many of whom lack the spare time and financial resources to travel extensively – are keen to build meaningful personal networks online. This month, therefore, I am pleased to announce two initiatives to cater for both audiences. First of all, we are delighted to confirm the dates and venue for our 2025 annual Deans & Directors Conference. This will be held in Berlin at the superb InterContinental hotel, from the afternoon of Sunday 18 May to lunchtime on Wednesday 21 May. Since we are keen to acknowledge the importance of networking, the conference will begin with a complimentary tour of Berlin on the Sunday and include stylish dinners at a couple of amazing venues: the Orangerie on Monday and the Axica on Tuesday.
38 | Ambition | SEPTEMBER 2024
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