Two New Knowledge@Wharton Services: Indian Version, Audio Podcasts

Knowledge@Wharton audio podcasts are now available through iTunes, as well as the Knowledge@Wharton site and Audible.com. On February 15, Knowledge@Wharton was the #1 most popular podcast in the “Business” category on iTunes. Podcasts include articles narrated by professional readers as well as original interviews with Wharton faculty such as Jeremy Siegel and Peter Fader.

The next new service from Knowledge@Wharton will be an Indian version — announced in January with an anticipated Fall 2006 launch date. India Knowledge@Wharton will be published in English, featuring articles on topics such as business process outsourcing, family business and R&D for management leaders interested in learning more about one of the world’s fastest growing economies. Knowledge@Wharton already produces regional content in Spanish, Portuguese, and Chinese.

Wharton Represented by Six Faculty Members at World Economic Forum

Wharton was well represented in Davos, Switzerland, in January during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas. Participants included professors Ravi Aron, Stephen Kobrin, Howard Kunreuther, John Paul MacDuffie, Jeremy Siegel, and Michael Useem.

Faculty Examine Lessons from Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Katrina raised fundamental questions about how the nation can, and should, deal with the inevitable problems of economic risk and social responsibility. A new book from Penn Press, On Risk and Disaster: Lessons from Hurricane Katrina, co-edited by Wharton professor Howard Kunreuther, gathers leading experts to examine lessons from Hurricane Katrina. Contributing writers include Wharton professors Kunreuther, Robert Meyer, and Scott Harrington.

Entrepreneur in Residence Series Links Entrepreneurs and Students

On February 7 Chuck James, WG’85, CEO, C.H. James & Co., met with student Katerina Cai, WG’07, as part of Wharton’s Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) Program.  When James joined his family’s Chicago-area produce-wholesaling firm, he focused on the government contracting sector for growth.  From 1985-1992, C.H. James & Co. grew at a 31% annualized growth rate. Today the company has annual revenues in excess of $50 million in produce distribution and quick service restaurants.

Global Consulting Practicum Starts Projects in China, Israel

For the first time, the Global Consulting Practicum has projects in China. The GCP has a pilot partnership in the North with the Guanghua School of Management (Peking University) and in the South with Fudan’s School of Management. The GCP also participated in the first-ever Wine Export Conference with Israel’s wine industry. Students are working with leading beverage experts, brand experts, and Israeli wineries to enhance exports to the U.S.

NFL Players Back on Campus

More than 35 NFL players came to Wharton on February 26 – March 1 and April 3-5 as part of an ongoing initiative to assist players in preparing for their post-playing careers. Organized by the Wharton Sports Business Initiative and Executive Education Division, the three-day event brought together players from teams such as the Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots, New York Giants and NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks, who attended sessions taught by faculty including Professors Kenneth Shropshire, Peter Linneman, Georgette Poindexter, William Tyson, and Jeremy Siegel.

Executive Education Launches New Learning Model, Runs First Program at All Wharton INSEAD Alliance Sites

Wharton Executive Education has introduced the Wharton Learning Continuum, a new learning model that supports participants from before they arrive in the classroom until after they return to the office. This unique executive education model spans nine to 12 months to support individuals — and their companies — before, during, and after leaving the classroom. Innovations include manager’s briefings and the use of Virtual Classrooms to reconvene the cohort at three-month intervals for follow-up.

Wharton Executive Education has expanded its reach geographically as well, as “Leading the Effective Sales Force” has become the first Executive Education program to run at all four of the Wharton INSEAD Alliance sites: Philadelphia, San Francisco, Singapore, and Fontainebleau, France. In this program, co-directors Professor Leonard Lodish and INSEAD Professor Erin Anderson address how to cut costs while raising sales.