ORANGE, CONN. – The University of New Haven College of Business hosted a Global Business Symposium on Thursday, April 28, that brought global experts to the Orange campus to highlight global business trends and 2016 – 2020 opportunities for UNH students, the university and Connecticut businesses.
{{more}}
The program was open to the University community and the public, and featured speakers from London, Hong Kong, Dublin, Atlanta, and New York. Tony Carter, UNH professor of management, and George King, chairman of Infrastructure Group, Inc. and an adjunct professor, organized and moderated the event.
Keynote speaker Ray Nulty, managing director pf International Financial Services, Berkeley Research Group, a global strategy consultancy that offers advice on exports, opened the session with a talk titled “The Opportunity and the Necessity for a Global Mindset and Cross Border Business as the ‘New Normal.’”
Nulty noted that business must think globally and be prepared to deal with risks such as cybercrime and the Islamic State. “Because we are in a digital revolution, reinvention is necessary,” he said, “for businesses not only to thrive but to survive.”
Nulty spent the day at UNH and met with Dean Brian Kench of the College of Business, where discussions included the strategic partnerships and information about the college’s advisory board.
The symposium also included a panel led by Mariah Measey of British American Business and Aidan Hayes of Enterprise Ireland, who together highlighted transatlantic business priorities as well as local business opportunities for the New Haven region. BAB has more than 500 members in New York and London. Hayes informed the attendees that more than 700 businesses based in Ireland are seeking strategic business partnerships in the United States through Enterprise Ireland.
Suresh Sharma, a partner in Arcis Capital Partners of New York and Hong Kong, and author of “The 3rd American Dream,” spoke on “Asia (China focus) – Key Factors for America (West Coast USA and America (Northeast USA).”
Sharma highlighted his experience as a former General Electric executive in China and his research related to China and India described in his best-selling book, “Global Outsourcing.”
He said Chinese investors are often interested in commercial real estate and projects related to hospitality, healthcare facilities, student housing and technology projects.
The panel on “Technology as Disruption and Innovation for 2016 – 2020” was led by Katya Musacchio of Infrastructure Group, Inc. and Adam Pasquale of Recycle Track Systems, Inc. The panelists discussed FinTech, Impact Finance, environmental technology, and the significance of millennial founders and executives as leaders of technology companies.
Carter and students Justin Masi and Georgia Mills, both members of the class of 2016, discussed the expansion of Google into New Haven. King emphasized the regional advantage UNH has since it is located midway between New York and Boston in one of the most important global business locations in the United States.