Alumni Reunion Weekend - October 2019

Welcome

Highlights from last year's October reunion

Programme*

*The programme is subject to changes - please check this webpage regularly for updates.

Speakers

Europe's revolution
Speaker: Jonathan Story

The EU is embarked on a revolutionary experiment or more exactly on a series of revolutionary experiments. The reasons for this are rooted in the history of the twentieth century; but they are being implemented in the conditions of the 21st. What is crucial in the twenty first century is legitimacy. The EU does not have the legitimacy commensurate with its ambitions. So it either has to cut back on ambitions or to cut back on legitimacy.

The changing role of boards in the corporate governance ecosystem
Speaker: Annet Aris, MBA'86D

The past few years have seen significant shifts in the role non-executive board members play both formally and in daily practice. New corporate governance codes put much more emphasis on the long term and strategic thinking and give the voice of stakeholders such as employees and customers more weight. Non-executives have to interact more directly with important shareholders, especially on the topics of governance and responsible remuneration. Society demands a much more active stance from boards on ESG (Environment, Society and Governance) questions and customers have become much vocal, also thanks to the rise of social media. In addition, the digital transformation requires boards to fundamentally rethink business models and to invest in large transformational programs, which often only pay out in the mid- or long term. All in all, the role of boards has become much more complex, but also much more interesting. In this session we will discuss the key developments which are shaping the future role of non-executive board members and how you can best prepare for this.

Overcoming barriers to women leadership
Speaker: Xiaowei Rose Luo

One of the most powerful findings across social sciences is that perception may be different from reality, but nonetheless shapes individuals’ ways of thinking, decision-making, and the macro organisational and social structures. What are some of the powerful perceptions and assumptions we hold about women career and leadership roles? For instance, are women less likely to have broader and higher visions, less effective at negotiation, less confident, and less dedicated to career advancement? How do these shared and internalised views impede women’s leadership potential? How can we break such internal hurdles and help foster new norms in our organisations? We will discuss these issues and hope to arrive at a deeper self understanding and some actionable measures to start the transformational process within us! 

A moral theory of the firm 
Speaker: Subi Rangan

For much of the 20th century the focus of enterprise has been business performance.  In the 21st century we are seeing more enterprises also pursuing societal progress (this even at some risk to their business performance).  Think for instance of such firms as Tesla (USA), Unilever (Europe), and Natura (Brazil).  Why are more firms trying to integrate performance and progress?  Other than “greenwash,” or “an agency problem with limelight-seeking CEOs,” or long-term value maximization of “doing well by doing good,” is there something new going on here?  In this talk, I will supplement these sociological, behavioral, and economic theories of firm, and outline a "moral theory of the firm."  The exploration will open a window into how the practice and paradigm of business are evolving.  I will discuss implications for executives and entrepreneurs.  Come see how one research and teaching effort at our school is deepening our engagement with the idea of Business as a Force for Good.”

Business and business schools as "a force for good": wishful thinking or categorical imperative?
Speaker: Henri-Claude de Bettignies

In the turbulence and uncertainty of our time, media reports – quasi daily and in many countries - situations where corporations, their leaders and managers, seem to have a broken moral compass inducing negative consequences for people and for the planet. Hence, as corporate behaviour is criticised from inside and from outside organisations, some governments hope to regulate, international organisations put pressure, society reacts negatively while trust in business and in its leaders has vanished, with serious consequences for corporations and for society. Are business leaders doing now what is right in redefining the corporation "purpose" to regain trust from the society and be a "Force for Good"? If this is imperative, could business schools also contribute to become a "Force for Good"? Taking an example from China (with the use of a short case), we will question what change is needed, where it could come from and whether business schools can really do something about it? It is too late to be pessimistic. 

Broken ladders: income inequality and social mobility
Speaker: Kaisa Snellman

The last three decades have witnessed growing income inequality around the globe. While people at the top enjoy increasing income and employment opportunities, the middle class face narrowing employment options and stagnating incomes, which has resulted in a growing disparity in equality of opportunities among children. The children of college-educated parents and those of less-educated parents are raised in very different ways and are launched on very different trajectories in life. We will discuss what these trends means to social mobility and the implications for policy.

Quo vadis: where does your next transition lead you? 
Speaker: Katharina Balazs, MBA'94J

Today’s executive life is all about transitions, just as corporate life is all about change. From the first time an aspiring leader walks through a company’s door to the moment she or he transitions out from an executive into a non-executive role, each of the many transitions they make will confront them with the question: what will my next step entail for me and others? And with time, the focus gradually shifts from “me” to “others”. As we mature, the notion of accomplishment is more and more linked to usefulness, meaning and the legacy we want to leave. In this session, the focus will be on how the necessary transitions we all have to make can create positive change benefitting both ourselves and also other people around us. We will look at some of the “unstoppable” trends in organizations and the world today and incite you to think about how you can contribute with your own unique and special talents, skills and knowledge to create positive change for the future.

Making it happen

Get involved in the organisation of your reunion. Make a difference to this alumni reunion weekend.

INSEAD would like to thank our Reunion volunteers:

Class of MBA'74

Reunion Commitee - Anne Binder, Claude Elsen, Philippe Villette
Reunion Fund Chair - Eberhard Crain

Class of MBA'79

Reunion Chair - Babette Pettersen
Reunion Committee - Philippe Jouan, François Macaire, Eugen Weiss​, Henrich Wilckens
Reunion Co-Fund Chairs - Babette Pettersen and Roland Zoomers
Reunion Fund Committee - Christian Bernadotte, Yoav Chelouche, Guido Gamucci, Greg Infeld, Andrew Lowenthal, Franz Obermayer, Henrich Wilckens

Class of MBA'84J

Reunion Chair - Jamie Pike
Reunion Committee - Stefan Berger, Yves Elsen, Patrick Esnouf, Fredrik Fundin, Christophe Jeanteur, Philippe Lambrecht, Susan Mirbach, Henrik Tuxen
Reunion Co-Fund Chairs - Susan Mirbach and Jamie Pike 

Class of MBA'84D

Reunion Chair - Felix Hick
Reunion Committee - François Canivet, Fredrik Elwing, Francis Ghekiere, Paul Newman, Roberto Claudio Neuding, Pascal Ravery
Reunion Fund Chair - Pascal Ravery

Class of MBA'89J

Reunion Co-Chairs - Jan Willem Heemstra, Dean Stone
Reunion Committee - Dirk Luyten, Jaap de Mare, Roger Press, Bernd Reuther
Reunion Fund Chair - Jeremy Golding
Reunion Fund Committee - Vicken Aharonian, Christian Burger, Manuel de la Guardia, Sonia d'Emilio, Jan Willem Heemstra, Per Jonsson, Dirk Luyten, John Philips, Bernd Reuther, Jean-Philippe Solvay, Ralph Van Den Broek, Susanne Wamsler, Susan Worscheh

Class of MBA'89D

Reunion and Fund Chair - Baudouin Contzen
Reunion and Fund Committee - Caspar Baumhauer, Paul Brynsrud, Susan Cooper-Hedegaard, Carsten de Koning, Thibault de La Fresnaye, Charles Manby, Konrad Mech, Walter Ulrich Paessler, Roberto Roca, Frank Steinhoff, Thérèse Torris, Alexandra Villegas-Sanne, Elizabeth Walmsley

If you would like to learn more about becoming an alumni volunteer, please contact:

Marie Ferreira
Associate Director, Alumni and Institutional Events
Tel: +33 1 60 72 42 74

Giving back

All 30, 35, 40 and 45 year reunion classes are fundraising for INSEAD.

Gifts and pledges can be made towards either your reunion class project or to any other INSEAD cause. All gifts made between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2019 will be counted both towards the class gift and also towards participation in the INSEAD Force For Good campaign.

New Salamanders will be presented at the Dean’s Leadership Reception during the reunion weekend which will also recognize alumni who have made legacy pledges. To discover your lifetime giving total and how far you are from the next Salamander level, or for any questions about your giving, please contact Laurence Laemmel ([email protected]).

Find out more about INSEAD’s Force For Good campaign and make your gift here.

Class of MBA'74

Thank you for making your gift here. 

Class of MBA'79

Thank you for making your gift here.

Class of MBA'84J

Thank you for making your gift here. 

Class of MBA'84D

Thank you for making your gift here. 

Class of MBA'89J 

Thank you for making your gift here.

Class of MBA'89D

Thank you for making your gift here.