This panel aims to discuss the different approaches each industry had taken to face the current economic crisis. We will focus on two types of approaches:
Companies react very differently to the current economic climate. Is this a time to cut expenses and survive, or rather leverage the situation to find growth opportunities? When the crisis is over, a new competitive map may emerge. Is there a way to leap in front of other competitors? We will recognize three industries that had adopted different strategies and analyze the key points of their adjusted strategy plans and immediate short-term impact. The following questions should be taken into account: What are the countercyclical steps that could be undertaken today to create a competitive advantage? How will the needs of customers evolve during and after the crisis? Will the current market trends stay intact or evolve? Identifying opportunities will require challenging conventional wisdom.
Panel Moderator:
Nicolaj Siggelkow - Professor of Management, Wharton School
Panelists:
Panel Directors: Paola Velarde, Ruth Lin
Certain industries are notorious for being especially hard-hit during recessions. How do managers in these industries determine when an economic downturn looms ahead? What do they do in the good times to prepare for the bad times, and what can they do to both minimize losses in a recession and to more quickly lead their firms back to profitability? This panel features managers from fashion, luxury products, and media & entertainment firms who will discuss marketing, finance, operations, and human resources strategies for dealing with the realities of leading firms that are particularly affected during difficult economic times.
Panel Moderator:
Olivier Chatain - Assistant Professor of Management, Wharton School
Panelists:
Panel Director: Jesse Seidman
The management scholar, Ram Charan, observed that “this is an era where the demand for leadership greatly exceeds the supply – that today’s companies need effective leaders at any level and in any location.” But is there really a leadership shortage? And if so, how are companies addressing it? What are the things that companies do to develop great leaders? Can it even be taught? And what leadership skills should newly minted MBAs seek out to help propel them up into the senior management ranks?
Panel Moderator:
Eric Dash - Reporter, The New York Times
Panelists:
Panel Director: Jorge Cruz
Popular theory suggests that small entrepreneurial firms are the source of the most radical business innovation while large corporations struggle to develop and implement breakthrough innovations. In the last few years there has been pressure from these successful startups that has resulted in corporate managers pushing more for innovation in their own company culture. Our panel will include managers from industries which are evolving and have had to deal with this issue. They will share their experiences implementing innovation and the lessons learned through failure and success.
Panel Moderator:
Megan Mitchell - Senior Associate Director, Wharton Entrepreneurial Programs
Panelists:
Panel Directors: Alejandro Chouza, Teresa Wang, Veronica Collins
No doubt, the current global economic and financial crisis will strongly influence globalization. Will it impede its progress, even temporarily, reversing the direction? Or, will a new and a sturdier framework for globalization emerge out of this crisis? Will shifts in consumption patterns in the West mean that transnational corporations would need to focus even more on emerging economies to meet their growth targets? Does the crisis create opportunities for MNCs in emerging economies to capture a more dominant role? How are global businesses planning to overcome restrictions on hiring foreigners, protectionist trade policies, reduced level of foreign capital investments as well as answer critics who claim that globalization partly contributed towards the crisis? Hear an esteemed group of thought leaders discuss these and other issues that will influence the emerging face of globalization, and what it means for the next generation of business leaders.
Panel Moderator:
Felipe Monteiro - Professor of Management, Wharton School
Panelists:
Panel Director: Sounak Banerji
Public and private, holding hands to get out of the crisis? While the financial crisis has impacted practically all facets of the economy, and still dominates economic debates and commentaries, public-private partnerships started making the headlines. Governments are globally competing in coming up with crisis measures and pumping public funds into the economy. In the US, Treasury Chief Tim Geithner announced a plan to relieve banks of junk financial product; and the strategy involves establishing public-private partnerships. Many European countries are strongly favoring infrastructure public-private partnerships, because "Investments into infrastructure are a part of the recommended measures (against recession), and the private sector is able to perform them more effectively (EU Council, Dec '08)." What are the emerging trends in PPPs; communications, energy, waste? Are PPPs the new way to spur infrastructure investments? Are PPPs here to stay or are they going to be forgotten once the recession is over?
Panelists:
Panel Director: Paolo Castano
