Global Forums in Asia and Europe
For those alumni who attended conferences in Taiwan and
Germany last summer, it was an opportunity to hear fresh
perspectives on business conditions in Asia and Europe.
The 1998 Wharton Asia Forum in Taipei, held June 11-13
in conjunction with the 5th Asian regional alumni
meeting, addressed the theme “Innovation and Evolution:
Asia’s Economic Emergence.”
Guest speakers included Paul Shih-Chun Hsu, chairman,
Bank of Kaohsiung, who spoke on how “SMEs in
Taiwan Have Evolved out of the Traditional Family Business
Model;” Morris Chang, chair and CEO of Taiwan
Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd., who offered his
views on 21st century Asian technology industries, and
Samuel C. Shieh, chairman, Board of Trustees, Chung-Hua
Institution for Economic Research, whose topic was “Technological
Innovation, Productivity and Economic Growth
— A Challenge to the Profession of MBA.”
Harvey H.W. Chang, WG’77, president of the Wharton
Club of Taipei and senior vice president and CFO of Taiwan
Semiconductor Manufacturing, welcomed alumni to
the event, held in the Far Eastern Plaza Hotel.
In addition, Wharton faculty led discussions that
addressed specific aspects of the current Asian crisis, including
marketing opportunities, investment strategies, and
the role of technology and innovation.
Discussion at The Wharton European Forum in Munich
on June 25-26 focused on the topic, “Labour at a Crossroads:
Can Europe Rise to the Challenge of Global Markets?”
Henning Schulte-Noelle, WG’73, chairman of the board,
Allianz AG, and Sir Paul R. Judge, WG’73, chairman,
Isoworth Ltd. and ex-ministerial adviser, U.K. Cabinet
Office, were keynote speakers.
A panel on global competitiveness included alumni Gerard
Thulliez, WG’71, vice chairman Europe, SpencerStuart;
Jacob Wallenberg, W’80, WG’81, chairman of the board,
Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken, and Klaus Zumwinkel,
WG’71, CEO, Deutsche Post AG, among other participants.
Alumni Jean-Pierre Rosso, WG’67, chairman and CEO,
Case Corp., and Barry W. Wilson, WG’67, president,
Europe, Middle East and Africa, Medtronic Europe SA, took
part in a discussion panel on labour regulations and issues.
“Entrepreneurship, Venture Capital and New Initiatives
for a Competitive Europe” included panelists Jean-Philippe
Larramendy, WG’67, managing partner, Tocqueville International,
France, and Richard Winckles, WG’71, partner,
Schroder Ventures, U.K., among others.
Dean Thomas P. Gerrity attended both the Taipei and
Munich forums.
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