MBA students from around the country came together last Thursday through Saturday for the Global Graduate Business Conference, hosted for the first time by the Robert H. Smith School of Business.
This year’s conference focused on dealing with the new global economy after the 2008-2009 recession. With guest speakers from around the world, graduate students were able to network with business leaders as they got involved in workshops and brainstorming sessions.
“I was so excited when I got invited to the conference this year,” said Alexander Johnson, graduate student at the Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley. “When I saw the lineup of speakers I couldn’t wait to get the chance to meet some of them. It’s a huge networking working opportunity.”
Over the three day period speakers ranged from Dean of the Smith Business School G. “Anand” Anandalingam to Executive Vice President of United Bank Thomas Nida. CEOs, ambassadors, government officials, reporters, corporate executives and distinguished professors from business schools around the world also joined for panel discussions. These panels addressed various issues from leadership in hard economic times to exploring the government’s role in regulating the economy.
Using the Smith School close proximity to Washington D.C., the first two days of the conference was held in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in the heart of the city. The last day of the conference, however, was held in the Van Munching building here at the University of Maryland.
“I loved how this conference was in the heart of D.C.,” said Jessica Calverton, graduate student at the Darden School of Business, University of Virginia. “This is a huge center for business and leadership. When we’re talking about the government’s role in regulating our economy after the recession, what better place to do that than in the place where it has to happen.”
After beating out a competitive bid for the conference in 2009 The Graduate Business Forum allowed the Smith school to host the 28th conference. The last conference was held in Taiwan.
The Graduate Business Forum is a non-profit organization that was created in 1983 to bring student leaders from graduate business programs worldwide together.
“Being invited to this program was a once and a lifetime opportunity,” said Cory Anderson, graduate student at McDonough School of Business, Georgetown University. “I meet so many people and made so many connections that I will keep for the rest of my life.”
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