Perlmutter Institute for Global Business Leadership established at IBS

Institute will prepare students for leadership positions in the global corporation of the future.

Louis ’56 and Barbara Perlmutter have made a $5 million gift to Brandeis University’s International Business School (IBS) to establish the Perlmutter Institute for Global Business Leadership, the university announced.

The mission of the institute is to prepare students for leadership positions in the global corporation of the future. The institute will enable students to sharpen their analytical decision-making skills through interaction with seasoned global business and policy leaders on real-life issues. Students will have a unique opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the interaction between legal, economic and political forces and market conditions on organizational behavior and policy.   

“Lou and Barbara Perlmutter's generous gift is a significant contribution to our university, strengthening the strong position IBS enjoys among the best international business schools,” said Brandeis President Jehuda Reinharz, PhD ’72. “This is a wonderful investment on behalf of our students, our faculty, and the global companies that will reap the benefits of hiring our well-prepared IBS graduates."

The Perlmutters have strong ties to Brandeis. Louis Perlmutter, a Boston native, is a 1956 graduate of Brandeis, a member of the Board of Trustees, and is the only alumnus to serve as board chair. He received an honorary degree from the university. Barbara Perlmutter is a member of the IBS board, a fellow of the university, and a founding member and past chair of the national board of the Women’s and Gender Studies Program. 

“Barbara and I share a deep commitment to preparing our business leaders of tomorrow for what they will face in the real world,” Louis said. “It is our vision that the Institute act as a bridge between the theoretical and technical knowledge that the student masters in the classroom, and the pragmatic skills needed for success in the rapidly changing world of business and finance. The only way to accomplish that is through exposure to real-world difficulties and interaction with seasoned practitioners who have lived and solved some of those problems.”

“The Perlmutters’ generous gift reflects their deep commitment to ensuring that Brandeis continues to be a leader in preparing business students to thrive and lead in the rapidly changing global business environment,” said Bruce Magid, dean of IBS and the Martin and Ahuva Gross Professor of Financial Markets and Institutions. “This gift adds a new dimension to IBS and will help us chart an innovative path in the education of global business leaders.”

The Brandeis community is invited to attend the inaugural Perlmutter Institute event, a symposium entitled “Leading in the New Global Economy,” will be held at 10 a.m. on October 7 in the Silver Auditorium located at the Sachar International Center.

Reuben Mark, chair of the Board of Directors for the global Colgate-Palmolive Company, whose products are sold in more than 200 countries, will deliver the keynote address.

The keynote will be followed by a panel discussion featuring top business leaders, including Lawrence Weinbach, partner of Yankee Hill Capital Management and former chair, president, and CEO of Unisys; Kenneth Jacobs, deputy chair of Lazard Worldwide and CEO of Lazard North America; and Brandeis professor Catherine Mann. Betty Wong, global managing editor at Reuters, will serve as moderator.