Brandeis International Business School

Dear Students, Alumni and Friends,

Justice Louis Brandeis wrote that business “is an occupation which is pursued largely for others and not merely for one's self.”

I was reminded of the importance of this philosophy several weeks ago when a group of Brandeis International Business School students were recognized by the Waltham Chamber of Commerce. Through a course led by Prof. Gene Miller, the students serve as non-voting members on the boards of local nonprofits. In addition to gaining valuable experience, these Brandeis Board Fellows are making a positive impact in our community by helping the organizations solve real-world business challenges.

The chamber honor was a wonderful way to kick off the spring semester. With classes now in full swing, we’re looking ahead to three exciting events on campus.

Trends in Asset Management Conference — March 26-27: This two-day, invite-only event is sponsored by the Rosenberg Institute of Global Finance, with corporate sponsorship provided by The Baupost Group and The Marquee Group. The conference will bring together practitioners, academics and policymakers to discuss recent events and relevant research on asset management, with a particular focus on ESG, climate change and private markets. Baupost Group CEO and President Seth Klarman and Dan Simkowitz of Morgan Stanley will serve as keynote speakers. Please contact Shane Dunn (sdunn@brandeis.edu) for more information on this event.

The Business of Climate Change — March 29-April 5: Sponsored by the Asper Center for Global Entrepreneurship, this weeklong program will kick off with a conversation featuring best-selling author and New York Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman ’75. Faculty throughout the week will also open their classrooms to the wider Brandeis community for lectures on the business risks and opportunities posed by climate change. Guest speakers include the CEO of the New England Aquarium and president of the Environmental League of Massachusetts.

From the Dorm Room to the Board Room — April 23: The Perlmutter Institute for Global Business Leadership is sponsoring an interactive panel on young leadership. The discussion will be led by Prof. Andy Molinksy and feature five guests from his From the Dorm Room to the Board Room podcast: lawyer Benjamin D. Stone, JustFix.nyc co-founder Georges Clement, Pivt co-founder and CEO Lynn Greenberg, Her Campus Media co-founder, CEO and Editor-in-Chief Stephanie Kaplan Lewis, and Pilleve co-founder and CEO Yossuf Albanowi.

In other school updates, 2020 marks the 20th anniversary of our first Master of Business Administration (MBA) graduating class. Demand for the Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) continues to grow, and our faculty have strengthened the program’s technical offerings by adding advanced programming courses and further depth in machine learning. Finally, experiential learning remains an area of strength — especially our in-demand field project program. This semester alone, students will work on a record 25 field projects with companies ranging from emerging tech startups to large international firms including Vanguard Group and Northern Bank.

I wish you all a pleasant and successful spring. Thank you for all that you do in support of Brandeis International Business School.

Sincerely,Kathryn Graddy
Dean