I’ve just returned from a trip to India and was again reminded not only how much the world’s economies are intertwined, but also that we need to be sure our students appreciate that economic integration. This is a shrinking world. For instance, while in New Delhi, Boston University was having Executive MBA presentations in my hotel. And GE Chairman Jeffrey Immelt was also in town holding GE’s Corporate Excellent Council meeting and talking about added investment in GE’s energy, aviation, and locomotive facilities as well as GE’s 30% growth in India. Warren Buffett was in Bangalore speaking at the Confederation of Indian Industries and then in New Delhi discussing growth of Berkshire Hathaway’s insurance business. Michael Dell, with eight data centers across India, was also in New Delhi reportedly reviewing performance and investment opportunities. Meanwhile, Sara Palin was speaking about the US economy at the India Conclave 2011 in Mumbai. And, of course, the Indian auto assembly plants of Honda, Toyota, and Suzuki were concerned about part shortages after the earthquakes in Japan.
As an aside, perhaps I should add that Bill and Melinda Gates were also in India and slated to meet with Buffett to recruit others to join them in their philanthropic activities.
As we put on our professor hats and ‘profess’, it is hard for us to overemphasize the global perspective our students need (and that we introduce in Chapter 2). Whether it is international economics, investments by GE, Berkshire Hathaway, or Dell, automotive supply chain issues, or Boston University’s international education, we owe it to our students to ensure that they have an international perspective. The world is not flat, but it is getting there.