William & Mary School of Business Real Estate Conference to Focus on Challenges, Opportunities of Local, Regional, and Global Markets - YAHOO!

To: NATIONAL AND REAL ESTATE EDITORS

2nd Annual Conference at the Mason School of Business Joins Global Real Estate Powerhouses and Pre-eminent Experts

WILLIAMSBURG, Va., April 6, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Mason School of Business at the College of William & Mary will host "Surviving Today, Succeeding Tomorrow" April 11-12 at Alan B. Miller Hall in Williamsburg, VA, with several of the nation's most prominent commercial real estate leaders.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20051111/DCF019LOGO-b)

"Surviving Today, Succeeding Tomorrow" will focus on the challenges and opportunities in the shifting local, national, and global economies affected by the real estate markets.

CEOs from global real estate powerhouses Cushman and Wakefield, Prologis and Related Urban will be joined by local, regional and national experts in residential and commercial real estate. The conference will provide a framework and context for the real estate professional to make sense of the volatility of the industry.

The role of the ports, often overlooked, will also be examined as a factor for growth in the real estate markets on local, domestic, and international dimensions. Additionally, pre-eminent experts will give their views on the trends shaping the availability of capital to leverage for real estate opportunities.

"Huge challenges remain in real estate. Some of the top experts in the world of real estate will be at the College of William & Mary's Mason School of Business to help conference participants and our students distinguish the mine fields from the fields of opportunity," said Mason School of Business Dean Lawrence B. Pulley.

Dane Brooksher, the retired Chairman of the Board and CEO of Prologis will serve as the morning moderator of the conference. Prologis is a leading global provider of distribution facilities. Kenneth Himmel, CEO of Related Urban Development, will moderate the afternoon session.

The conference will close with a panel of experts addressing and taking questions on the next steps forward. That panel will be led by John Cushman, CEO of Cushman and Wakefield.

The expansive speaker list includes prominent authorities such as:

-- Jackie Amato, the President of Towne Bank Mortgage, LLC -- David J. Beatty, President of Towne Bank Commercial Mortgage, LLC -- Jerry Bridges, Executive Director of the Port of Virginia -- John Cushman, Co-Chairman of the Board, Cushman and Wakefield -- Howard Elkus, founder of Elkus Manfredi Architects -- Charles "Chip" Fedelen, Executive Vice President of Commercial Real Estate at Wells Fargo -- Kenneth Himmel '68, CEO of Related Urban Development -- Youguo Liang, Economist at Prudential Real Estate Investors (PREI) -- Roger S. Pratt, Managing Director and Chief Risk and Investment Officer for the US and Latin America, PREI -- Walt Rakowich, Co-CEO of Prologis -- Carl E. Reichardt, Jr., Director of Research at John Burns Real Estate Consulting

The lead sponsors of the 2012 Real Estate Conference are Prologis, Related Urban and TowneBank.

For more information and to register: http://mason.wm.edu/re.

The conference site will be Alan B. Miller Hall. Miller Hall, dedicated in 2009, was designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects LLP. It earned Gold LEED Certification in 2010. It is deemed the 'western gateway' of the College of William & Mary campus in Williamsburg, VA and is paired to the east with the historic Wren Building, the oldest college building in the United States.

As the second-oldest college in the United States and educational home to many American leaders, the College is revered as the "alma mater of a nation." Its Mason School of Business embraces the entrepreneurial spirit that built the country atop a foundation of business, trade, and economics. Distinctive in its revolutionary thinking and approach to problem solving using a highly experiential model, it welcomes energetic thinkers with a will to lead in creating a strong sustainable economy and thriving society.

Contact:

Andrea Sardone, Business School 757-221-2043/apsard@wm.edu

SOURCE The Mason School of Business at The College of William and Mary

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View the original article here

Business School Tips for Success - US News and World Report

Considering business school? Use these pointers and suggestions to help you decide if an M.B.A. is right for you.

Smart Choices

In a rapidly changing economy, many business schools have changed their curriculum to welcome the global nature of the business world. Aim to get global experience through schools' overseas partnerships. At top ranked institutions, such as Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, students can head abroad for research or consulting projects. Harvard Business School offers immersion trips abroad over winter breaks. Students at Stanford Graduate School of Business can work overseas for at least a month to supplement summer internships.

There's no need to set your hopes on ultra-selective business schools to find global opportunities. At the Shidler College of Business at University of Hawaii—Manoa, students can pursue the China International M.B.A., which includes a nine-month study abroad trip at the Sun Yat-Sen University School of Business in Guangzhou, China. Through the Latin America-based Executive M.B.A. program at the Thunderbird School of Global Management, students can take classes at campus locations throughout Mexico, as well as in Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Miami, and Glendale, Ariz.

[Check out the Best Business Schools rankings.]

Insider Tip

Take advantage of the clubs and organizations available within your business school. Clubs can be a gateway to meeting influential business leaders at speaker events or crafting cutting-edge ideas. Using clubs as a networking tool can lead to future internship and job opportunities that may have not been available otherwise.

Schools such as the Robert Emmett McDonough School of Business at Geogetown University offer annual events like Global Diversity Day to celebrate the various backgrounds of students enrolled in the school. Use these events to network with fellow classmates and alumni.

Getting In

Go for the interview: Applicants have many stresses to bear, and unfortunately, this is one they really can't unload. While many business schools require applicant interviews, some, including the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, make them optional. But Dawna Clarke, Tuck's director of admissions, says that in almost all cases, turning down the opportunity for an interview is a big mistake. "There are so many skills and attributes that might not come across on paper. Making an effort to go to a school to interview shows that you're really interested in the school and lets you tell your story in a different way," she says.

Even if you have a tendency to bomb in interviews, it is probably worth the risk. "In my experience, people are more likely to leave a positive impression than a negative impression," Clarke says.

[Read more tips for preparing for your M.B.A. interview.]

Ask Alumni

It also pays to be extra diligent in researching a potential school. Clarke suggests that applicants track down alumni and ask them everything they can about the school. "It allows you to convey a better sense of why you want to come to the school," she says. One way to find graduates: utilize the alumni network at your undergraduate school.

[Discover the best jobs for M.B.A.'s.]

Reality Check

Although the economy has yet to fully recover, the hiring market for M.B.A. graduates remained relatively steady in 2011:

• According to the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), 86 percent of 2011 M.B.A. graduates reported finding work, compared to 88 percent in 2010.

• The median starting salary for 2011 M.B.A. graduates is $75,000, according to GMAC.

View the original article here

Business School Tips for Success - US News and World Report

Considering business school? Use these pointers and suggestions to help you decide if an M.B.A. is right for you.

Smart Choices

In a rapidly changing economy, many business schools have changed their curriculum to welcome the global nature of the business world. Aim to get global experience through schools' overseas partnerships. At top ranked institutions, such as Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, students can head abroad for research or consulting projects. Harvard Business School offers immersion trips abroad over winter breaks. Students at Stanford Graduate School of Business can work overseas for at least a month to supplement summer internships.

There's no need to set your hopes on ultra-selective business schools to find global opportunities. At the Shidler College of Business at University of Hawaii—Manoa, students can pursue the China International M.B.A., which includes a nine-month study abroad trip at the Sun Yat-Sen University School of Business in Guangzhou, China. Through the Latin America-based Executive M.B.A. program at the Thunderbird School of Global Management, students can take classes at campus locations throughout Mexico, as well as in Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Miami, and Glendale, Ariz.

[Check out the Best Business Schools rankings.]

Insider Tip

Take advantage of the clubs and organizations available within your business school. Clubs can be a gateway to meeting influential business leaders at speaker events or crafting cutting-edge ideas. Using clubs as a networking tool can lead to future internship and job opportunities that may have not been available otherwise.

Schools such as the Robert Emmett McDonough School of Business at Geogetown University offer annual events like Global Diversity Day to celebrate the various backgrounds of students enrolled in the school. Use these events to network with fellow classmates and alumni.

Getting In

Go for the interview: Applicants have many stresses to bear, and unfortunately, this is one they really can't unload. While many business schools require applicant interviews, some, including the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, make them optional. But Dawna Clarke, Tuck's director of admissions, says that in almost all cases, turning down the opportunity for an interview is a big mistake. "There are so many skills and attributes that might not come across on paper. Making an effort to go to a school to interview shows that you're really interested in the school and lets you tell your story in a different way," she says.

Even if you have a tendency to bomb in interviews, it is probably worth the risk. "In my experience, people are more likely to leave a positive impression than a negative impression," Clarke says.

[Read more tips for preparing for your M.B.A. interview.]

Ask Alumni

It also pays to be extra diligent in researching a potential school. Clarke suggests that applicants track down alumni and ask them everything they can about the school. "It allows you to convey a better sense of why you want to come to the school," she says. One way to find graduates: utilize the alumni network at your undergraduate school.

[Discover the best jobs for M.B.A.'s.]

Reality Check

Although the economy has yet to fully recover, the hiring market for M.B.A. graduates remained relatively steady in 2011:

• According to the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), 86 percent of 2011 M.B.A. graduates reported finding work, compared to 88 percent in 2010.

• The median starting salary for 2011 M.B.A. graduates is $75,000, according to GMAC.

View the original article here

Business School Tips for Success - US News and World Report

Considering business school? Use these pointers and suggestions to help you decide if an M.B.A. is right for you.

Smart Choices

In a rapidly changing economy, many business schools have changed their curriculum to welcome the global nature of the business world. Aim to get global experience through schools' overseas partnerships. At top ranked institutions, such as Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, students can head abroad for research or consulting projects. Harvard Business School offers immersion trips abroad over winter breaks. Students at Stanford Graduate School of Business can work overseas for at least a month to supplement summer internships.

There's no need to set your hopes on ultra-selective business schools to find global opportunities. At the Shidler College of Business at University of Hawaii—Manoa, students can pursue the China International M.B.A., which includes a nine-month study abroad trip at the Sun Yat-Sen University School of Business in Guangzhou, China. Through the Latin America-based Executive M.B.A. program at the Thunderbird School of Global Management, students can take classes at campus locations throughout Mexico, as well as in Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Miami, and Glendale, Ariz.

[Check out the Best Business Schools rankings.]

Insider Tip

Take advantage of the clubs and organizations available within your business school. Clubs can be a gateway to meeting influential business leaders at speaker events or crafting cutting-edge ideas. Using clubs as a networking tool can lead to future internship and job opportunities that may have not been available otherwise.

Schools such as the Robert Emmett McDonough School of Business at Geogetown University offer annual events like Global Diversity Day to celebrate the various backgrounds of students enrolled in the school. Use these events to network with fellow classmates and alumni.

Getting In

Go for the interview: Applicants have many stresses to bear, and unfortunately, this is one they really can't unload. While many business schools require applicant interviews, some, including the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, make them optional. But Dawna Clarke, Tuck's director of admissions, says that in almost all cases, turning down the opportunity for an interview is a big mistake. "There are so many skills and attributes that might not come across on paper. Making an effort to go to a school to interview shows that you're really interested in the school and lets you tell your story in a different way," she says.

Even if you have a tendency to bomb in interviews, it is probably worth the risk. "In my experience, people are more likely to leave a positive impression than a negative impression," Clarke says.

[Read more tips for preparing for your M.B.A. interview.]

Ask Alumni

It also pays to be extra diligent in researching a potential school. Clarke suggests that applicants track down alumni and ask them everything they can about the school. "It allows you to convey a better sense of why you want to come to the school," she says. One way to find graduates: utilize the alumni network at your undergraduate school.

[Discover the best jobs for M.B.A.'s.]

Reality Check

Although the economy has yet to fully recover, the hiring market for M.B.A. graduates remained relatively steady in 2011:

• According to the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), 86 percent of 2011 M.B.A. graduates reported finding work, compared to 88 percent in 2010.

• The median starting salary for 2011 M.B.A. graduates is $75,000, according to GMAC.

View the original article here

Business School Tips for Success - US News and World Report

Considering business school? Use these pointers and suggestions to help you decide if an M.B.A. is right for you.

Smart Choices

In a rapidly changing economy, many business schools have changed their curriculum to welcome the global nature of the business world. Aim to get global experience through schools' overseas partnerships. At top ranked institutions, such as Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, students can head abroad for research or consulting projects. Harvard Business School offers immersion trips abroad over winter breaks. Students at Stanford Graduate School of Business can work overseas for at least a month to supplement summer internships.

There's no need to set your hopes on ultra-selective business schools to find global opportunities. At the Shidler College of Business at University of Hawaii—Manoa, students can pursue the China International M.B.A., which includes a nine-month study abroad trip at the Sun Yat-Sen University School of Business in Guangzhou, China. Through the Latin America-based Executive M.B.A. program at Thunderbird School of Global Management's Garvin School of International Management, students can take classes at campus locations throughout Mexico, as well as in Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Miami, and Glendale, Ariz.

[Check out the Best Business Schools rankings.]

Insider Tip

Take advantage of the clubs and organizations available within your business school. Clubs can be a gateway to meeting influential business leaders at speaker events or crafting cutting-edge ideas. Using clubs as a networking tool can lead to future internship and job opportunities that may have not been available otherwise.

Schools such as the Robert Emmett McDonough School of Business at Geogetown University offer annual events like Global Diversity Day to celebrate the various backgrounds of students enrolled in the school. Use these events to network with fellow classmates and alumni.

Getting In

Go for the interview: Applicants have many stresses to bear, and unfortunately, this is one they really can't unload. While many business schools require applicant interviews, some, including the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, make them optional. But Dawna Clarke, Tuck's director of admissions, says that in almost all cases, turning down the opportunity for an interview is a big mistake. "There are so many skills and attributes that might not come across on paper. Making an effort to go to a school to interview shows that you're really interested in the school and lets you tell your story in a different way," she says.

Even if you have a tendency to bomb in interviews, it is probably worth the risk. "In my experience, people are more likely to leave a positive impression than a negative impression," Clarke says.

[Read more tips for preparing for your M.B.A. interview.]

Ask Alumni

It also pays to be extra diligent in researching a potential school. Clarke suggests that applicants track down alumni and ask them everything they can about the school. "It allows you to convey a better sense of why you want to come to the school," she says. One way to find graduates: utilize the alumni network at your undergraduate school.

[Discover the best jobs for M.B.A.'s.]

Reality Check

Although the economy has yet to fully recover, the hiring market for M.B.A. graduates remained relatively steady in 2011:

• According to the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), 86 percent of 2011 M.B.A. graduates reported finding work, compared to 88 percent in 2010.

View the original article here

Business School Tips for Success - US News and World Report

Considering business school? Use these pointers and suggestions to help you decide if an M.B.A. is right for you.

Smart Choices

In a rapidly changing economy, many business schools have changed their curriculum to welcome the global nature of the business world. Aim to get global experience through schools' overseas partnerships. At top ranked institutions, such as Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, students can head abroad for research or consulting projects. Harvard Business School offers immersion trips abroad over winter breaks. Students at Stanford Graduate School of Business can work overseas for at least a month to supplement summer internships.

There's no need to set your hopes on ultra-selective business schools to find global opportunities. At the Shidler College of Business at University of Hawaii—Manoa, students can pursue the China International M.B.A., which includes a nine-month study abroad trip at the Sun Yat-Sen University School of Business in Guangzhou, China. Through the Latin America-based Executive M.B.A. program at Thunderbird School of Global Management's Garvin School of International Management, students can take classes at campus locations throughout Mexico, as well as in Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Miami, and Glendale, Ariz.

[Check out the Best Business Schools rankings.]

Insider Tip

Take advantage of the clubs and organizations available within your business school. Clubs can be a gateway to meeting influential business leaders at speaker events or crafting cutting-edge ideas. Using clubs as a networking tool can lead to future internship and job opportunities that may have not been available otherwise.

Schools such as the Robert Emmett McDonough School of Business at Geogetown University offer annual events like Global Diversity Day to celebrate the various backgrounds of students enrolled in the school. Use these events to network with fellow classmates and alumni.

Getting In

Go for the interview: Applicants have many stresses to bear, and unfortunately, this is one they really can't unload. While many business schools require applicant interviews, some, including the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, make them optional. But Dawna Clarke, Tuck's director of admissions, says that in almost all cases, turning down the opportunity for an interview is a big mistake. "There are so many skills and attributes that might not come across on paper. Making an effort to go to a school to interview shows that you're really interested in the school and lets you tell your story in a different way," she says.

Even if you have a tendency to bomb in interviews, it is probably worth the risk. "In my experience, people are more likely to leave a positive impression than a negative impression," Clarke says.

[Read more tips for preparing for your M.B.A. interview.]

Ask Alumni

It also pays to be extra diligent in researching a potential school. Clarke suggests that applicants track down alumni and ask them everything they can about the school. "It allows you to convey a better sense of why you want to come to the school," she says. One way to find graduates: utilize the alumni network at your undergraduate school.

[Discover the best jobs for M.B.A.'s.]

Reality Check

Although the economy has yet to fully recover, the hiring market for M.B.A. graduates remained relatively steady in 2011:

• According to the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), 86 percent of 2011 M.B.A. graduates reported finding work, compared to 88 percent in 2010.

View the original article here

2012 International Impact Investing Challenge: Kellogg School of Management and Haas School of Business … - Yahoo Finance

EVANSTON, Ill., March 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Financial vehicles that deliver social and environmental impact continue to be a growing area of interest for investors. To spur interest in this emerging field, the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley are sponsoring the 2012 International Impact Investing Challenge. The challenge provides graduate students the opportunity to create high-performance, high-reward, high-impact investment strategies.

"Now in its second year, the International Impact Investing Challenge encourages students from graduate schools around the world to identify strategies that create solutions for global social issues – as well as deliver financial returns," said Jamie Jones, associate director of the Social Enterprise at Kellogg (SEEK) program at the Kellogg School. "Last year, student teams wowed us with their financial creativity, developing ideas to address issues like the food supply in India, clean power for First Nations, and mobile technology in emerging markets, and so we're excited to see the innovation that students will bring forth in the 2012 competition." 

Teams were invited to submit a prospectus by March 8. Ten finalist teams will present their proposals at a final event at the Federal Reserve Bank in San Francisco on April 13. The judging panel will be comprised of experienced officers and investors who currently manage family foundations, pension funds and university endowments, among others, and $15,000 in prizes will be awarded to the winning teams.

"We have a real opportunity here to elevate and showcase the intersection of finance and social impact that is a primary area of study for many Haas students," said Jo Mackness, executive director of the Center for Responsible Business (CRB) at Berkeley-Haas.

The International Impact Investing Challenge is sponsored by New World Ventures; Equilibrium Capital Group; The McCall Foundation; Forest Capital Partners LLC; Impact Assets; the Carol & Larry Levy Social Entrepreneurship Lab; the Calvert Foundation; the Milken Institute; and Water Asset Management LLC.

"We are proud to be part of a program that challenges business school students to apply their creativity and finance education to build investment strategies that deliver market returns and impact," said Dave Chen, managing principal at Equilibrium Capital Group. "These student projects show us that returns and positive impact are simply good investing."

More Info: To obtain a press pass to the event or to schedule an interview, contact Betsy Berger at b-berger@kellogg.northwestern.edu or Pamela Tom at ptom@haas.berkeley.edu. To learn more about the International Impact Investing Challenge, visit www.impactinvestingchallenge.org. For more information about the Kellogg School of Management, visit www.kellogg.northwestern.edu. For more information about the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, visit http://www.haas.berkeley.edu/

MEDIA CONTACT:
Betsy Berger
Kellogg School of Management
Office: 847-467-3108
b-berger@kellogg.northwestern.edu

View the original article here

Business School Tips for Success - US News and World Report

Considering business school? Use these pointers and suggestions to help you decide if an M.B.A. is right for you.

Smart Choices

In a rapidly changing economy, many business schools have changed their curriculum to welcome the global nature of the business world. Aim to get global experience through schools' overseas partnerships. At top ranked institutions, such as Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, students can head abroad for research or consulting projects. Harvard Business School offers immersion trips abroad over winter breaks. Students at Stanford Graduate School of Business can work overseas for at least a month to supplement summer internships.

There's no need to set your hopes on ultra-selective business schools to find global opportunities. At the Shidler College of Business at University of Hawaii—Manoa, students can pursue the China International M.B.A., which includes a nine-month study abroad trip at the Sun Yat-Sen University School of Business in Guangzhou, China. Through the Latin America-based Executive M.B.A. program at Thunderbird School of Global Management's Garvin School of International Management, students can take classes at campus locations throughout Mexico, as well as in Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Miami, and Glendale, Ariz.

[Check out the Best Business Schools rankings.]

Insider Tip

Take advantage of the clubs and organizations available within your business school. Clubs can be a gateway to meeting influential business leaders at speaker events or crafting cutting-edge ideas. Using clubs as a networking tool can lead to future internship and job opportunities that may have not been available otherwise.

Schools such as the Robert Emmett McDonough School of Business at Geogetown University offer annual events like Global Diversity Day to celebrate the various backgrounds of students enrolled in the school. Use these events to network with fellow classmates and alumni.

Getting In

Go for the interview: Applicants have many stresses to bear, and unfortunately, this is one they really can't unload. While many business schools require applicant interviews, some, including the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, make them optional. But Dawna Clarke, Tuck's director of admissions, says that in almost all cases, turning down the opportunity for an interview is a big mistake. "There are so many skills and attributes that might not come across on paper. Making an effort to go to a school to interview shows that you're really interested in the school and lets you tell your story in a different way," she says.

Even if you have a tendency to bomb in interviews, it is probably worth the risk. "In my experience, people are more likely to leave a positive impression than a negative impression," Clarke says.

[Read more tips for preparing for your M.B.A. interview.]

Ask Alumni

It also pays to be extra diligent in researching a potential school. Clarke suggests that applicants track down alumni and ask them everything they can about the school. "It allows you to convey a better sense of why you want to come to the school," she says. One way to find graduates: utilize the alumni network at your undergraduate school.

[Discover the best jobs for M.B.A.'s.]

Reality Check

Although the economy has yet to fully recover, the hiring market for M.B.A. graduates remained relatively steady in 2011:

• According to the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), 86 percent of 2011 M.B.A. graduates reported finding work, compared to 88 percent in 2010.

View the original article here

Anand Balu, current student at Strathclyde SKIL Business School (MiM Programme) shares his Industry - PRLog (free press release)

PRLog (Press Release) - Feb 11, 2012 -
On a hot, sunny day in the first week of 2012, I got an opportunity to visit the Ford manufacturing plant located on a 350-acre plot near Chennai.

I could easily relate to widely-known social theories, often referred to asFordism and Taylorism and based on production and related socio-economic phenomena during my visit. It was more a first-hand learning experience than a theoretical one.

I was guided through my tour by a senior person from supply chain management. The factory visit started at the stamping section where sheet metal is pressed to form various body parts and progressed through the body shop, the paint shop, through the trims, chassis and final line, widely known as TCF. It is an assembly line manufacturing process, where parts are fed in a sequential manner and finally a brand new Ford emerges out of the line after stringent quality testing. The line is so flexible, different variants of a car – different product models – were assembled in a random manner. I was able to speak with my guide regarding their logistics and inventory management, and discuss their plans for their upcoming new launch, the EcoSport.

I also visited their engine plant and learned throughout Ford around the globe this is the only plant which makes both diesel and petrol engines on the same line.

Overall it was really an amazing industrial experience in ably assisted by a senior official in the middle of his busy schedule.

View the original article here

Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management To Host China’s Vice President Xi Jinping Business Delegation - Business Wire

Program at West LA Campus Focuses on Trade Relations between the U.S. and China

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management and ChinaMart® Los Angeles will host a seminar on US-China trade relations and shared economic interests on February 16, 2012, for members of a business delegation from the People’s Republic of China and U.S. business officials as part of Vice President Xi Jinping’s visit to Los Angeles. Positioned as China’s next president, Vice President Xi Jinping is traveling to the U.S. at the invitation of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, accompanied by the business delegation, in an effort to help enhance diplomatic ties and develop business and professional relationships in the Southern California area.

“This visit is an important part of setting the tone for relations between China and the U.S. over the next decade – one that promotes ongoing trade and future growth opportunities.”

The seminar event on February 16th will begin with a business mixer and match-making session in the morning to promote U.S. exports and imports at ChinaMart® Los Angeles, a one-stop portal providing support for Chinese manufacturers to successfully market in the U.S. The second portion of the seminar event will be held at Pepperdine University’s West Los Angeles campus with a keynote address by Terry Young, Ph.D., a professor of economics and chair of the Economics and Law Department at the Graziadio School of Business and Management.

“Dr. Young has more than 25 years of business experience in Asia and the United States and has extensive knowledge of the global marketplace, with a primary emphasis on Asia,” said Dean Linda A. Livingstone. “The jinmì liánxì between China and the United States is one of the world's most important international relationships and we are honored to host Vice President Xi Jinping’s delegation at the Graziadio School in the hope that our discussion and interaction will increase business opportunities and cooperation between our two countries.”

According to a report Growing Together: China and Los Angeles County prepared by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC), “the futures of China and Los Angeles County are very bright. Both locations possess the resources and tools necessary to reap the benefits of increased globalization. China and Los Angeles County will continue to play vital roles in the California economy and for that matter in the U.S. and global economies.”

Adds Pepperdine’s Dr. Terry Young, “US-China tensions are likely to increase given both countries will defend their own interests. However, it’s essential for U.S. and China to work together for global stability and world peace.”

“We look forward to welcoming Vice President Xi Jinping’s business delegation and working with them to increase financial and business cooperation between China and the United States,” says Stephen Perl, CEO of ChinaMart Los Angeles® and PMF Bancorp. “This visit is an important part of setting the tone for relations between China and the U.S. over the next decade – one that promotes ongoing trade and future growth opportunities.”

According to the LAEDC report “U.S.-China trade has increased dramatically over the past thirty years jumping from $4.8 billion to $366 billion. Los Angeles County has established very close economic ties with China. The Los Angeles Customs District (LACD) handles about 40% of total U.S, trade with China. Indeed, the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach together handle almost 36% of total trade between China and the U.S.”

“The events at ChinaMart® Los Angeles and Pepperdine’s Graziadio School of Business and Management are important to supporting international trade and increasing business opportunities between China and the U.S.,” said Vance Baugham, President of the World Trade Center Association Los Angeles – Long Beach. “Increasing awareness and marketing Southern California to Chinese companies will help spur investment in the region, creating jobs and economic activity.”

Sponsors of the event include: Pepperdine’s University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management, ChinaMart® Los Angeles, 1st PMF Bancorp™, the World Trade Center Association Los Angeles – Long Beach, Los Angeles World Airports, ASD Las Vegas Trade Show, JP Communications, Inc. and Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP.

About Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management

Founded on the core values of integrity, stewardship, courage, and compassion, Pepperdine University’s Graziadio (GRAT-ZEE-ah-DEE-oh) School of Business and Management has been developing values-centered leaders and advancing responsible business practice since 1969. Student-focused, experience-driven, and globally-oriented, the Graziadio School offers fully accredited MBA, Masters of Science, and bachelor’s completion business programs. More information can be found at http://bschool.pepperdine.edu/newsroom/.

About ChinaMart® USA

ChinaMart® USA with its flagship 300,000 sq ft location at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the only international business platform in the United States of its kind to specialize in attracting Chinese investment to the US with a unique One-Stop Service Program. ChinaMart’s One-Stop Services integrates Chinese company’s US branch and immigration setup, warehousing, logistics, personnel, and marketing strategies into one package. ChinaMart is a trade platform assisting with imports as well as US exports to China. More information can be found at http://www.ChinaMartUSA.com.

View the original article here

Cloud computing fueling global economic growth: London School of Economics study - Forbes

The development of cloud computing will promote economic growth, increase productivity and shift the type of jobs and skills required by businesses, according to a new study by the London School of Economics and Political Science.

The LSE study selected two industries, aerospace and smartphone services, and examined the impact of cloud computing on these  industries across the UK, USA, Germany and Italy between the years 2010 and 2014. The LSE study was underwritten by Microsoft.

Investing in cloud computing is contributing to growth and job creation in both the fast-growing, high-tech smartphone services industry as well as the longstanding and slow-growth aerospace sector, the study claims. In addition, cloud is directly creating employment through the construction, staffing and supply of data centers, which will host the cloud. Using cloud computing enables businesses of all sizes to be more productive by freeing managerial staff and skilled employees to concentrate on more profitable areas of work.

There will be a new range of employment opportunities opening up as a result of the shift to cloud as well. As the study points out, “as firms shift from proprietary application servers towards virtualization and cloud computing, related skills will be in demand among employers. New direct hires and upskilling for public cloud enablement result in higher-than-average salaries.”

Of the countries analyzed in the study, the US is leading the way in terms of cloud job creation. US cloud-related jobs in the smartphone sector are set to grow to 54,500 in 2014. This is compared to a projected 4,040 equivalent jobs in the UK. The authors of the study say that this can be attributed, in part, to lower electricity costs and less restrictive labor regulation compared to Europe.

Small to medium-size businesses will benefit as well. In the smartphone sector alone, “cloud computing will form the basis for a rapid expansion and high-start-up rate among SMEs 2010-2014 in all four markets in services,” the study says.

The study also shows that there is in fact little risk of unemployment from investing in the cloud, as companies are more likely to move and re-train current staff. This would be alongside the hiring of new staff, likely to be in a higher salary bracket, who have the necessary skills for using virtual data-handling systems.

But researchers found that the level of impact the cloud has on a business or department’s growth and productivity depends on a number of factors, primarily the type of sector in which the business is involved and the regulatory environment in which it operates.

Unsurprisingly, the cloud has a much greater effect on the web-centred smartphone services industry than traditional high tech manufacturing, with expansion and a high-start-up rate among small and medium size businesses in 2010-2014 forecast.  For example, in the UK from 2010 through 2014, the rate of growth in cloud-related jobs in the smartphone services sector is set to be 349%, compared to 52% growth in aerospace. German, Italian and US equivalent growth rates will be 280% vs 33%, 268% vs 36% and 168% vs 57% respectively.

The study’s authors, Jonathan Liebenau, Patrik Karrberg, Alexander Grous and Daniel Castro, also talk about the direct and indirect employment and business opportunities that will stem from cloud, which may not be apparent at first. “Our analysis shows jobs shifting from distributed data processing facilities to consolidated data centers, resulting in a drop in data processing jobs overall as efficiency gains occur especially through public cloud services,” they write. “We see a reduction in IT administrators within large firms in smartphone businesses (and most likely in many other similar sectors) compared to their level of employment otherwise expected by taking into account overall IT spending.”

They add that direct and indirect employment gains will be seen in the construction of new data centers needed to accommodate the public cloud businesses, and an “unanticipated effect is in job creation of site maintenance, janitorial staff and security guards in newly built data centers. Overall, more than 30% of short-term new employment in cloud services originates from the construction of data centers and outfitting them accounts for around another third.” Almost 25% of new jobs accrue from direct employment in public cloud services firms, they add.

Then there’s the “cloud dividend” that enterprises will see as the cloud infrastructure develops. These gains will be “in the form of shifting
the work of existing IT staff towards general administrative responsibilities and strategic management rather than exploiting short-term payroll reduction opportunities. Herein lies one of the main new skills challenges to the existing labor force.”

(Full PDF of the study, Modelling the Cloud: Employment Effects in Two Exemplary Sectors in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy, available from the LSE Website.)

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Business school offers new opportunities - Newburyport Daily News

CAMBRIDGE, Mass - (BUSINESS WIRE) MIT Sloan School of Management announced two changes to its Master of Finance (M.Fin) program: an additional round of admissions with an application deadline of March 15, and the availability of partial tuition fellowships for a select group of highly qualified candidates. The moves are in response to growing student and industry demand for the specialized degree.

Launched in 2008, the intensive one-year program prepares students for entry-level positions in corporate finance, capital markets, asset management, research, government, and financial engineering. In its first two years, the size of the program more than doubled from 26 to 59 students. The Class of 2013 will have about 120 students. The first two round application dates were November 1 and January 4.

"In this tight employment market, recruiters are looking for job candidates with technical training and state-of-the-art analytical skills," says Heidi Pickett, the Program Director. "MIT Sloan's M.Fin program provides a competitive advantage for young people-particularly high-potential college seniors—to deepen their financial expertise and sharpen their professional skills before they enter the job market."

In last year's class, 92% of students had job offers within three months of graduation. Most took positions in sales and trading, risk management, hedge funds, financial consulting, and the public sector.

The school has also established the Dean's M.Fin Fellowships for a select group of admitted students who demonstrate exceptional academic records, outstanding personal achievements, and high professional promise.

The M.Fin. program primarily targets students with 0-2 years of work experience. Students in the M.Fin Program take 10-12 specialized courses, which differs from the typical MIT Sloan MBA course of study where students have the option to take up to eight finance courses. Through a curriculum that combines theory and action learning, M.Fin candidates study the current and future best practices in using finance models, including a deep understanding of their limits.

"Building on the strength of our MBA program and record of successful finance graduates, our goal is be a magnet for the next generation of global financial leaders who can help lead the way in confronting the great global challenges we face," says Pickett. "We want to cultivate innovative, principled leaders who have an appreciation of the ethical implications of finance, including the profession's responsibility to society.

"Expanding our class size, launching an additional round of admissions, and offering fellowships to reduce the cost of an MIT Sloan education, we ensure that we will continue to attract the best and brightest students who go on to advance financial management practice and improve the world."

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Business school tributes student lost in accident - Surrey Leader

On December 16, Kwantlen’s School of Business hosted a holiday reception to close the semester as well as pay tribute to a special young man, Dylan Reichelt.

Dylan, a Kwantlen business student, was tragically lost in a car accident last month. Bill Reichelt, Head Trainer for the BC Lions and Dylan’s father, along with the School of Business, and the Kwantlen Foundation, have set up the Dylan Reichelt Memorial Award. The event provided a unique opportunity to grow the fund while attendees had their picture taken with the Grey Cup.

BC Lions head coach Mike Benevides introduced the Grey Cup to attendees and defensive backs coach, Mark Washington commented “The Grey Cup really belongs to everyone. It’s great when people have a chance to see it and touch it. You can really see how they light up.”

Both Lions mingled with and chatted with the attendees and they were both very gracious in posing for numerous photographs.

“We were delighted to welcome faculty and staff from across the University. What made it even more special was the presence of the Grey Cup and the opportunity to honor a student’s memory,” commented Arthur Coren, Dean of the School of Business. “The folks that attended had a great time and they really showed their support.”

Overall the event raised more than $7000 for the Dylan Reichelt Memorial Award. Early in 2012, Kwantlen will meet with the Reichelt family to discuss the criteria for selecting award winners.

Kwantlen Polytechnic University has been serving the Metro Vancouver region for more than 30 years, and has opened doors to success for more than 250,000 people. Four campuses—Richmond, Surrey, Cloverdale and Langley—offer a comprehensive range of sought-after programs, including business, liberal arts and science, design, health, trades and technology, apprenticeships, horticulture, and academic and career advancement. Over 17,500 students annually have a choice from over 200 programs, including bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, diplomas, certificates and citations.

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