School News

Alumnus Todd Thomson of Citigroup Heads New Leadership Advisory Board
Wharton announced the creation of a new Leadership Advisory Board, spearheaded by alumnus Todd Thomson, chairman and CEO of the global wealth management division of Citigroup. The board was convened to provide an essential link between the Wharton community and the foremost leaders in business, public service, government, entertainment, and sports. Advisory board members include Maria Bartiromo, CNBC anchor; Peter M. Dawkins, vice chairman of Citigroup Private Bank; Andrall E. Pearson, founding chairman of YUM! Brands Inc.; Lewis E. Platt, chairman of The Boeing Co.; David S. Pottruck, former CEO of The Charles Schwab Corp. and managing director of The Pottruck Group; and Dean Smith, former head basketball coach at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. read news release
Wharton School Publishing Announces Three New Titles
Wharton School Publishing continues to garner great press and reviews as it expands the Wharton brand with the release of three more books. Its total number of books is now 11, with at least 10 more books planned for 2005. The newest titles are: Making Strategy Work: Leading Effective Execution and Change, by Professor Lawrence Hrebiniak; Managing Customers as Investments: The Strategic Value of Customers in the Long Run, by Sunil Gupta and Donald Lehmann; and The Enthusiastic Employee: How Companies Profit by Giving Workers What They Want, by David Sirota, Louis Mischkind, and Michael Meltzer. visit WSP website
New Class on Social Entrepreneurship Offered
Wharton is offering a new class on social entrepreneurship this spring. Students in Prof. Ian MacMillan's class — designed as a living case study — will be required to come up with a business plan for a social venture. The ultimate goal is for students to start the businesses after the class. They'll study how to organize a social venture, raise money, recruit employees, measure social impact, and, if their venture succeeds, scale up to a large size. read article
Wharton West Hosts Leadership Conference
What qualities and capacities will rising managers require to be successful in the future? How can current leaders identify and nurture the right talent? Held at Wharton West in San Francisco, the Wharton Leadership Conference is devoted to exchanging ideas on how great leadership can best be developed and applied — whether in the private, public, or nonprofit sectors. Speakers include Brent Assink, executive director of the San Francisco Symphony; Mark Bernstein, president and director of the Palo Alto Research Center; and Michael Crooke, president & CEO of Patagonia, Inc. read more about the conference
MBA Students Meet Indian Business Leaders During Winter Trip
A team of Wharton MBA students traveled to India Dec. 24 - Jan. 8 to meet with key government and business leaders, as part of an ongoing effort to learn more about the country's growing influence in the international marketplace. The India Global Immersion Program was organized jointly by the Wharton Graduate Division and the Wharton India Club. The program offered 64 students an overview of India's past and current economic policy, as well as the role of critical reforms in shaping India's economy. read news release
Wharton Fellows Head to India in March
After a Master Class in New York City in December featuring presentations from executives at AOL Time Warner, JP Morgan Chase, Estée Lauder, AstraZeneca, and other companies, Wharton Fellows are preparing for a Master Class in India in March. The class in Mumbai and Bangalore will examine opportunities and challenges in one of the world's largest and fastest growing markets, as well as offer current insights on outsourcing. The Fellows, a lifelong learning network with more than 200 members, will hold other programs in 2005 on reinventing government, design and strategy, and Latin America and Hispanic markets. read more about the program
Zell/Lurie Real Estate Center Job Fair Sets Participation Record
A record 54 companies participated in the fourth annual Zell/Lurie Real Estate Center Job Fair on Jan. 21. Real estate companies from across the nation and Canada welcomed the opportunity to meet with more than 250 Wharton undergraduate and graduate real estate majors and members of the University's four real estate clubs, including those from the School of Design and the Law School.
Entrepreneur in Residence Program Announces Spring Line-Up
The Entrepreneur in Residence Program has announced its spring roster of visiting business owners. The program provides an opportunity for students to meet one-on-one with successful entrepreneurs. Visitors scheduled include Wendy Born of Metropolitan Bakery, Dan Ross of Optiant, and Josh Kopelman (W'93) of Half.com/TurnTide. visit website
WEP & Morgan Lewis Present Legal Clinic for Student Entrepreneurs
On Feb. 15, Wharton Entrepreneurial Programs and the law firm of Morgan Lewis will present a one-hour clinic for entrepreneurially minded Penn students, comprised of an introduction to the unique legal issues facing start-ups and a mock entrepreneur-lawyer meeting. Following the clinic, Morgan Lewis representatives will offer one-on-one legal insights to the student teams. visit website
Heard on Campus
Executives who came to Wharton in December and January to discuss business and leadership:
Dec. 6  - Steve Shiffman, EVP, Marketing & New Media, The National              Geographic Channel
Jan. 12 - Hank Paulson, CEO, Goldman Sachs
Jan. 20 - Donald Blair, VP & CFO, Nike

Scott Douglass Appointed VP for Finance and Treasurer
Scott Douglass, Wharton's senior associate dean of finance and administration, was appointed to the position of vice president for finance and treasurer of the university. read article

Sangyoung Song Wins Marketing Science Institute Award
PhD student Sangyoung Song was a winner in the Marketing Science Institute's annual Alden G. Clayton Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Competition. This competition encourages submissions of dissertation proposals on topics relevant to MSI's research priorities. Song's topic is, "Three Essays on Social Contagion and Spatial Diffusion: Evidence from Online Grocery Retailing." read more

Brian Wu Wins "Best Doctoral Paper" from U.S. Small Business Administration
Brian Wu, a Ph.D. student in the Management Department, has received the annual "Best Doctoral Paper" award from the Office of Advocacy of the SBA for "Entrepreneurial Risk and Market Entry." The award recognizes excellence in graduate-level papers that analyze issues of relevance to small businesses and entrepreneurs. read more

An End to Global Textile Quotas: Watch China Sew Up the Market
On Jan. 1, the Multifiber Agreement — which for 30 years allowed nations to place quotas on the amount of textile and clothing imports allowed into their countries — expired for members of the World Trade Organization, the multilateral global trade body. read more

Few Survivors Predicted: Why Most Airlines Are Caught in a Tailspin
Delta Airlines cuts fares in a price war that Merrill Lynch estimates will sap $2.5 billion in revenues from the six largest airlines. US Airways and United file for bankruptcy, and almost every other airline — Southwest is one of the exceptions — reports significant losses. read more

The Mega-Deals Are Back in Commercial Real Estate
It was around 11 p.m. one evening last August, as John Bucksbaum waited in his attorney's office in Lower Manhattan, when the phone rang with the news. He quickly buttoned his suit and picked up a folder that contained a single sheet of paper with a number on it — a share price. read more

CFO Magazine
November 1, 2004 — Jennifer Blouin, assistant professor of accounting, was quoted in an article about the telecom industry's financial challenges.

National Public Radio
November 4, 2004 — Justin Wolfers, assistant professor of business and public policy, was interviewed about how exit polling information affects financial markets.

CNN
November 11, 2004 — Olivia Mitchell, International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans Professor and Professor of Insurance and Risk Management and Business and Public Policy, was interviewed about pension investments and reform strategies.

The Boston Globe
December 1, 2004 — Brigitte Madrian, Boettner Associate Professor in Financial Gerontology and Associate Professor of Business and Public Policy, was cited in an article about proposed changes in 401(k) plans.

The New York Times
December 3, 2004 — Kent Smetters, associate professor of insurance and risk management, was quoted in an article about the current challenges facing the Social Security system.

The Economist
December 4, 2004 — Research by Julie Wulf, assistant professor of management, was quoted in an article about how company perks affect employee performance.

Bill Winters, WG'89, co-chief executive of investment banking at JP Morgan, has initiated a union with Cazenove, one of Britain's last remaining independent banking houses and broker to the Queen. (The London Times, 11/6/04); Kirbyjon Caldwell, WG'77, was featured in an article about his career in investment banking as well as his work involving faith, corporate responsibility and community service. (Houston Chronicle 11/9/04); Jose Cuisia, WG'70, was featured in an article about his career as CEO of the Philippine American Life & General Insurance Company. (BusinessWorld, 11/10/04); Jan Wolpert, WG'86, has been named CEO and president of Clearview Projects, a provider of analytical and tactical support to biopharmaceutical companies. (Asia Pulse, 11/18/04); Aditya Mittal, W'96, was featured in an article about his career as president and CFO of Mittal Steel. (Financial Times, 11/22/04); Claude Tellis, WG'00, was featured in an article about his business venture with Whole Foods and the creation of Tellis & Company, a manufacturer of healthy body products and snacks. (Houston Chronicle, 11/28/04); Craig Monaghan, WG'85, was featured in an article about his career as CFO of Auto Nation, a major auto dealership group in the U.S. (Investment Dealers Digest, 11/29/04).

Second Annual Wharton West Leadership Conference: Leading with Creativity and Conviction
(February 2)

Media & Entertainment Conference
(February 11)

Wharton Restructuring Conference
(February 11)

Health Care Conference
(February 18)

Technology Conference
(February 25)