Crisis, disruptive changes in international trade and business
THE DRAMATIC withdrawal of the United States from international trade obligations in the Pacific, the unprecedented dominance of consumer spending by a small number of e-commerce giants, and the acceleration of Beijing’s One Belt-One Road projects across central and south Asia and east Africa, have changed forever the way trade and business are conducted across the globe.
Technology and innovation, too, have their disruptive impact on the entire spectrum of corporate and daily life, health and wellbeing, and the job marketplace.
For Singapore's small and mid-sized entrepreneurs and leaders looking to ASEAN and further afield to grow their markets, there is an urgency for them to pursue and acquire professional guidance, knowledge and skill to navigate and survive in these interesting times. As the maxim goes, you and your enterprise can either go forward or be left behind.
It is therefore timely that Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., well-known for its thought leadership in business strategy, international trade and geo-political studies, is offering an Executive Education Program specifically targeted at Singapore’s business owners and executives.
The learning programme, co-developed with Human Capital Singapore, is helmed by Georgetown’s Professor Paul Almeida, dean of the university’s renowned McDonough School off Business and Professor Marc L Busch of Georgetown’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service.
In recognition of the quality and value of this programme, Singapore-registered business enterprises may claim subsidies up to 40 percent of the course fee, and Singapore citizens may be eligible for the S$5,000 SkillsFuture Study Award. Hence, for the total course fee of $10,000, eligible participants may need to pay no more than S$1,000.
The course fee covers a four-day seminar by Georgetown University faculty, a one-day Washington, D.C., tour, site visits around the US capital, airport transfers and meals during seminar days. Fees exclude airfare, accommodation and incidental expenses.
Seven high-impact modules are covered in this programme:
Small Business in the Big World
International Relations in the context of the new geo-political landscape, the disruption of the Trump Administration on world trade, tariffs and talent migration, and the uncertain nature of US-China relationship.
International Business Management
?The nature of global commerce, digital marketing and brand building across borders.
Doing Business in the Developing World
Topics include market research, regulations and managing risk, primarily in ASEAN and China.
Global Supply Chain
The working of the global supply chain with special reference to China, India and ASEAN vis-à-vis the rich economies, and how business enterprises can insert themselves as part of the offshore sourcing process.
Emergence of the e-Commerce Giants
The origin and success of e-commerce giants such as Amazon and Ali Baba and leveraging on their operation.
Business Leadership & the New Millennial Workforce
Re-defining the nature of work in the Gig Economy, traits of the Millennial workforce, and the changing role of business leadership
Data Analytics
Application of Big Data in identifying trends and patterns in consumer spending, business innovations and trade.
On completion of the programme, participants are awarded the Advanced Professional Qualification (APQ) in Global Business Leadership and International Relations.
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- A contact sent this comment about the above article: Hi Geok Choo. Just read your post on ' crisis disruptive change...'at first glance, I though it was your thoughts on global eco issues but then read about the program Human Capital was offering with Washington U. My reaction was one of disappointment that this was a sales pitch. However, I could be in minority who react this way in which case can we pretend I never send this note. My intent is to help, not complain. Tks.
Here's my reply:
Importance of sales pitch
Thank you for your comment on my article and your observation that it was no more than a “sales pitch”.
China’s greatest teacher, Confucius (born 550 BCE), espoused a humane and humanistic philosophy in matters of private conduct and public statecraft. In his days, the empire was fragmented into dozens of small states that were often at war with each other. Confucius wandered for many years visiting different rulers to persuade them to adopt his teaching. He urged them to care for the welfare of their longsuffering people and to spend less on attacking their neighbours.
However, Confucius wasn’t particularly good at “selling” his political programme or philosophy. He was known to be finicky in his dress and he easily got offended when others didn’t follow certain rituals and customs that he prescribed, based supposedly on the behaviour of those of the long-dead Zhou emperors.
In other words, Confucius was a lousy salesman who didn’t endear himself to anyone because of his high-minded snobbery. When a ruler got tired of listening to Confucius, and went to visit some dancing girls, Confucius would walk away in a huff. It took another 300 years until the establishment of the Han Dynasty (in 206 BCE) that his teaching became state ideology.
Just think: if he had got down from his high moral stool and be more accommodating when pitching his ideas, he might have won more converts, especially among the ruling elites. The general population would not have to suffer three centuries of misrule and civil war before some enlightened ruler recognised the value of Confucius’s teaching.
With learning and reflection, we gain understanding and knowledge of what is going on in the world and how to rectify some of its ills. But what we know will not benefit others until we reach out to our audience and sell them this knowledge.
Consider this: The world grows more than enough food to feed everybody but huge swaths of the globe suffer famine and hunger. Why? Because the food is not reaching the people due to bureaucratic infighting and bad logistics among the distributors.
Ideas, like food, no matter how noble and nourishing, are useless if they don’t reach their intended audience.
Therefore, there’s nothing bashful in making a “sales pitch” for what you strongly believe in. Religious people call it “evangelising”. In politics they call it electioneering and campaigning. In the realm of business, we call it marketing and branding. They all mean the same: be effective in selling what you have (your knowledge, ideas, educational courses, philosophy, innovative products and services, etc.) or condemn yourself to centuries of oblivion like Confucius.