World Business Chicago Partners With Chicago's Top 5 Business Schools to Raise the City's Profile in the International Business Community
Chicago's universities are a valuable asset for the city. Given that the area's leading business schools possess a wealth of international resources, World Business Chicago (WBC) is partnering with them to help position Chicago as a premier global business destination.
WBC is working with five top Chicago graduate business schools: Chicago Booth (University of Chicago), the Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern University), DePaul, Loyola and UIC. The initiative leverages the schools' resources to raise the city's profile within the international business community and appeal to the growing number of companies that are considering the U.S. for their operations.
WBC has engaged in numerous activities with the schools, including completing a faculty inventory which reveals experts in nearly every country. "The information we've compiled, including data, background information, and translations, is invaluable when visiting other countries or welcoming guests to the city," said Rita Athas, president of WBC. "The partnership has produced a wealth of resources that other cities could not replicate."
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As a part of the initiative, WBC presents on Chicago's global business climate to international executive MBA delegations that come to Chicago for short visits during their programs. To date, presentations have been made to senior executives from India, France, the Czech Republic, and Russia, with several more international groups expected.
Communications with international students has proven to be very beneficial. "These students are the future leaders of business in their countries," according to Ms. Athas. "And, we want them to walk away with a solid education and a good sense of our business capabilities in Chicago. We also want to maintain a strong connection to those alumni networks and build global ambassadors for the city."
Additionally, the initiative has led the business school deans to participate in WBC events, including the Global Cities Forum Luncheon, at which they met with visiting mayors from around the world. They have also taken part in business school conferences, one of the most notable being the Kellogg Centennial conference in Shanghai, China.
The universities have provided WBC with editorial coverage on this project in their magazines, electronic newsletters, and on their websites.
Deans and their key staff members have also embraced Chicago messaging provided by WBC, spreading the word while they are traveling domestically and internationally. Dean Ted Snyder of Chicago Booth, not only spoke of Chicago and its benefits at the school's Alumni Council meeting with senior international executives, but also sent them home with materials to engage these alumni as Chicago ambassadors.
Dean Snyder commented, "This partnership allows Chicago Booth to support the city in its efforts to connect with all sectors throughout the world and helps our school further develop our global approach to management education. We are proud to be part of this worthwhile initiative to help Chicago achieve its aspirations."
The other deans involved in this effort are Dean Dipak Jain - Kellogg School of Management, Dean Ray Whittington - DePaul, Dean Abol Jalilvand - Loyola, and Dean Stefanie Lenway - UIC.
