After a long period of economic development and expansion, the world is at a turning point in its history. But some of the world’s most prominent academics, business leaders and political representatives met recently in the south of France to define the outlines of a new future – one in which the world will want to invest.
Among the attendees at the 14th annual “Les Rencontres économiques d’Aix-en-Provence”, one of Europe’s top economic forums, was Dr. Xiang Bing, Founding Dean and a Professor of Chinese Business and Globalization at Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB). He was joined by figures including former Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti, Nobel Prize-winning virologist Luc Montagnier, former Director-General of the WTO Pascal Lamy, and Georges Plassat, CEO of Carrefour.
Dean Xiang formed part of a panel that discussed “Building the Company of the 21st Century”, with the issue of innovation high on the agenda. The panel – which included Philippe Wahl, Chairman and CEO of the French postal service, Arancha Gonzalez, Executive Director of the International Trade Centre, and Regus founder and CEO Mark Dixon – discussed whether the formerly vertical organization of multinational companies has become more horizontal, open and connected, and what this means on a management level, as well as the distribution of power between shareholders, CEOs and employees.
In particular, Dean Xiang addressed some of the essential elements for developing the next-generation business and political leaders, including a more global mindset, a more holistic view of business, and a more long-term perspective on economic, political and social decisions to mitigate the “collective myopia of humanity”. He also explained why, in this new scenario, the seeds of humanity are becoming a more important part of leadership development and why CKGSB first incorporated the humanities into its business education curriculum back in 2004 as a result.
For more on Dean Xiang, click here.
