First-of-Its-Kind Program, Leading in Foreign Markets, to be Held in April on Wharton School’s Campus
PHILADELPHIA — The Aresty Institute of Executive Education at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania today announced a first-of-its-kind program, Leading in Foreign Markets. The executive education program has been developed to meet the needs of business leaders working in foreign countries and cultures. The week-long program, to be held in April on the Wharton School’s Philadelphia campus, will address every aspect of leadership in an unfamiliar environment.
“Everyone recognizes that the world is flat,” notes Wharton Marketing Professor Z. John Zhang. “But not everyone seems to notice that flat doesn’t mean homogeneous. There are remarkable differences in cultures, language, and behavioral norms that carry over into the business environment. Bringing your business onto foreign soil without this recognition can set you up for many surprises.”
Leading in Foreign Markets will provide the knowledge and tools leaders need, including new perspectives on marketing, internal management issues, accounting, and finance. The program will help participants overcome cultural and language barriers, and navigate new regulations, marketing environments, incentive issues, and business acumen.
Zhang, who serves as the program’s Faculty Co-Director, continues, “Wharton programs draw participants with substantial responsibilities from around the world, some of whom have had a ‘honeymoon experience’ in unfamiliar markets. They come with specific problems, looking for new perspectives and new ideas, and deep learning comes from the experience in the room.”
Wharton Executive Education will prepare executives to expand their organizations into foreign markets to capitalize on some of today’s most promising growth opportunities. Leading in Foreign Markets offers a unique opportunity to learn from world-class faculty and a network of global peers how to lead, manage, and motivate people in a different culture or country.
Leading in Foreign Markets is designed for country managers, managing directors, regional presidents, and those anticipating a move into one of these roles in the near future. The program will be held April 9-13, 2012 at the Steinberg Conference Center at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. For more information and an application, please visit:
About the Wharton School
The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania— founded in 1881 as the first collegiate business school — is recognized globally for intellectual leadership and ongoing innovation across every major discipline of business education. The most comprehensive source of business knowledge in the world, Wharton bridges research and practice through its broad engagement with the global business community. The School has more than 5,000 undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA, and doctoral students; more than 9,000 annual participants in executive education programs; and an alumni network of 88,000 graduates.