Archive for December, 2011

Thunderbird School of Global Management’s traditional Parade of Flags took a twist Dec. 16 2011, when students from Germany and Greece found themselves on stage together during fall commencement in Glendale, Arizona, while a debt crisis escalates in Europe. “While we were rehearsing this morning, we realized that Greece and Germany are so close together alphabetically,” said German flag bearer Severin Nesselhauf ’11. “But in reality in times of crisis, it seems that our countries are so far apart.” The Parade of Flags, which has been part of Thunderbird commencement ceremonies for nearly 30 years, allows international students to represent their countries and to speak briefly about their culture, history and national attractions. Typically two students stand on stage together based on alphabetical order. | Video: Thunderbird Flag Ceremony, Fall 2011 (23:15) | Photos: View 496 graduation images on Flickr
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The world awaits the innovation that will come from Thunderbird School of Global Management graduates in the coming decades, retired Target Chairman and CEO Bob Ulrich said during his keynote address Dec. 16, 2011, at winter commencement. “Your creative ideas are what the world is waiting for,” said Ulrich, who received an honorary Doctor of International Law from Thunderbird during the ceremony. “Your ideas will help shape how we live in the rest of the 21st century.” Ulrich spoke to more than 170 graduates from 30 countries at the Renaissance Glendale Hotel and Spa near Thunderbird’s main campus in Glendale, Arizona. | Video: Thunderbird Winter 2011 Commencement (2:07:38) | Video: Graduates share their greatest T-bird moments (5:21) | Photos: View 496 graduation images on Flickr
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By Dr. Eileen Borris, Thunderbird Adjunct Professor

We all have perceptual filters that make communication a complex process. Two people who hear the same message attach different meanings based on their different circumstances and history. The communication process becomes even more complex when messages span political, geographic and cultural boundaries. When you go to another country or region, you must deal with an overlay of other variables. You must consider different perceptions of time and space. Some cultures favor direct communication, while others favor indirect communication. Sometimes yes means no in the broader cultural context. In the cross-cultural communication courses I teach at Thundebird School of Global Management, we focus on 10 dimensions of culture that influence the communication process. Learn more in this Thunderbird Knowledge Network video. | Video: Communication across borders (1:41)
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As a leader, BP Group CEO Bob Dudley ‘79 spends most of his time listening. “Many leadership problems can be traced to poor communication,” he said Nov. 10, 2011, during the opening keynote at the inaugural Thunderbird Global Business Dialogue in Glendale, Arizona. “In BP we talk about listening to the quietest voice in the room.” He said BP managers must train themselves to pick up “weak signals” that come from people reluctant to shout when they have something important to say. “We must listen to people on the front lines,” said Dudley, who provided a behind-the-scenes look at BP’s response to the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Download the full podcast here from Thunderbird School of Global Management. | Podcast: Leading in Times of Crisis (47:09)

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Individuals, organizations and countries looking for an edge in the new global economy can find all the wisdom they need from three fortune cookies collected by retired Intel CEO and Chairman Craig Barrett. “During any period of transition, people win and lose market share,” Barrett said Nov. 10, 2011, during a keynote luncheon at the inaugural Thunderbird Global Business Dialogue in Glendale, Arizona. “These three fortunes contain all the wisdom you need to win in an era of historic transformation.” The first fortune says: “The world will always accept talent with open arms.” Barrett said this message highlights the importance of education, the process of discovering passion and harnessing the human potential. The second fortune says: “You cannot win unless you choose to compete.” Barrett said too many people in mature markets resent the upstarts from China, India and elsewhere. Instead of complaining about the new global economy, they need to start competing. The third fortune says: “A small deed done is better than a great deed planned.” Barrett said people need to recognize that the power to win lies within themselves if they are willing to take action. “Stop looking to others to solve your problems,” he said. “Stop waiting on government.” Download the full podcast here from Thunderbird School of Global Management. | Podcast: Global Reputation Management (37:39)

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Global leaders will have opportunities to create a more inclusive, more sustainable society in the next 15 years as the world moves toward a low-carbon economy. “It is an opportunity to reinvent our lives — the way we work, the way we transport ourselves, and the way we interact in society,” former Costa Rican President José María Figueres said Nov. 10, 2011, in the evening keynote at the inaugural Thunderbird Global Business Dialogue in Glendale, Arizona. Figueres said a successful transition to the “Industrial Revolution 2.0″ will hinge on society’s ability to navigate three complex issues. The first two issues include population growth and energy consumption. These create pressure to solve the third issue, which is climate change. “It is here,” Figueres said. “It is not about the future.” Download the full podcast here from Thunderbird School of Global Management. | Podcast: Toward a Low-Carbon Economy (45:57)

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As global CEO of public relations and communications firm Burson-Marsteller, Mark Penn follows a simple formula to help his clients get the results they want: Numbers + creativity = strategy. Penn used the approach in the 1990s to help U.S. President Bill Clinton win re-election. The same formula has worked for Burson-Marsteller clients in dozens of countries. “I encounter a number of CEOs and others who want to operate by their gut,” Penn said Nov. 11, 2011, during a keynote address at the inaugural Thunderbird Global Business Dialogue in Glendale, Arizona. “They have great ideas, they have an inspiration, and they don’t want to be bothered by the numbers.” He also meets people at the other extreme who are completely numbers driven. “What I try to preach is, you’ve got to have the right combination for long-term renewal and success,” he said. Download the full podcast here from Thunderbird School of Global Management. | Podcast: Global Reputation Management (37:39)

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