Interview with Dean Hubbard, Columbia Business School(4)

2007-03-06 16:41:34 [ Big Normal Small ]　Comment

　　The fast, decentralized nature of modern firms means that such social intelligence is required in a manager’s career from the start. The Program on Social Intelligence at Columbia Business School, Professor Michael Morris draws on the School’s expertise—and business research—in psychology and related social sciences to ensure that students are trained not only in quantitative skills, like value analysis, operations management, and managerial statistics, but also the softer side of management and interpersonal interaction. The Program’s activities are grounded in proven combinations of empirical assessment, experiential learning, and executive coaching to help students sharpen their self-awareness, judgment, and decision-making.

　　Z: Executive education takes a punch any time there's turbulence in the economy. Dean Hubbard, what do you anticipate for Columbia's executive-education business in the next few years?

　　H: Our goal is to present content in our Executive Education program that is vital to the core process of a business. We believe that in good times and bad, driving the performance of a firm’s most critical resource, its human talent, is not optional but essential to success. Executive Education is critical for business leaders to stay out in front of rapidly changing business environments. Like our MBA graduates, executives who attend Columbia’s programs are better equipped to lead across units, divisions, and cultures in a global environment.

　　Z: Last question back to China topic. How many Chinese students does Columbia usually admit each year and what is your impression of them? What messages would you like to give for the prospective Chinese applicants? Anything else you would like to add?

　　H: Presently, we have 43 students from China at Columbia Business School. It is hard to provide a “usual” number because each year presents a different set of applicants. Like all of our students, Chinese applicants represent the most promising business leaders of the future and I am continually impressed by the extraordinary high quality of applicants to our school. In return, and my colleagues work to prepare our students by giving them the very finest business education and the very finest preparation for business leadership at the front of their careers.

　　Z: Dean Hubbard, thank you very much for your time and I wish you a great trip to China!