Wharton’s Global Impact: From Hong Kong to San Juan

New Heights, Breathtaking Sights

Calgary, Canada

Go West, friends: The Wharton Graduate Emeritus Society and Penn Alumni Travel are co-sponsoring a summer tour of the Canadian Rockies. Travelers will kick off the 11-day trip on July 24 in Calgary before journeying to Montana to take in the picturesque sights of the state’s 1,583-square-mile Glacier National Park. They’ll head back to Canada afterward to explore that country’s Jasper and Banff national parks.

Building a Brighter Tomorrow

San Juan, Puerto Rico

The focus was on economic recovery and leadership at the two-day “Puerto Rico at a Crossroads: Investing in the Future” conference held in late March. Dean Geoff Garrett led a lineup of international business, civic, and academic speakers, including Puerto Rico governor Ricardo Rosselló; Popular, Inc. executive chairman Richard Carrión W74; HUB International CLC president/principal partner José Carrión C92; and seven Wharton/Penn faculty members.

Forging New Connections

New York, USA

Wharton Women’s Circles is a new way for alumnae to connect by bringing graduates together in small groups to engage in conversation and create supportive relationships. The program hosted its inaugural open house in February and sparked meaningful discussions about professional and personal development. More than 200 women have applied to lead or participate in the WWC’s monthly meetings, due to launch in the New York area in May, and a second open house is slated for September.

On the Campaign Trail

São Paulo, Brazil

The More Than Ever tour rolls on, celebrating the School’s $1 billion campaign and bringing dynamic faculty presentations to six cities across the U.S. and the world. Following MTE’s launch in Tokyo in the fall, events in Philadelphia, Miami, and New York drew hundreds of alumni for conversations with industry leaders and new research from Wharton’s all-star educators. The tour continues in Washington, D.C., on April 30, with professors Jessie Handbury, Kevin Werbach, and Raghu Iyengar, before wrapping up in São Paulo on June 5.

Healing Technology

London, England

With offices in the U.K. and U.S., Sana Health—named for the capital of Yemen, not far from the scene of an accident that changed the life of founder Richard Hanbury WG01—aims to provide relaxation and relief from chronic pain with its therapeutic FlowState eyewear. Read more about Hanbury’s invention in our Watchlist.

Intellectual Tourism

Malaysia

After graduating this May, Adedotun Adejare W19 will pursue a master’s degree in China. Among the experiences that inspired his interest in studying abroad was a Global Modular Course on sustainable growth that led him to Malaysia and across Southeast Asia. For more on Adejare’s transformative time at Wharton—on campus and far, far away—see “Reflections on the Wharton Undergraduate Experience.”

Global Business Potential

Mumbai, India

The student-run Wharton India Economic Forum recently held two conferences focused on Indian innovation and enterprise. RBC Capital Markets managing director Venkat Badinehal WG96 was among the high-profile speakers at the group’s November event in Philadelphia. A companion conference held in Mumbai in January also brought an array of thought leaders and alumni together, to discuss business in India and participate in finals of the sixth annual Wharton India Startup Challenge.

Smart Ideas, Critical Capital

Hong Kong, China

Good news for investors and founders in Hong Kong, India, and Chicago—the newest chapters of Wharton Alumni Angels want to hear from you. Led by John Braze WG16, the group launched in Silicon Valley in 2016 and since has gone global, including chapters in North America, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia. Its goal: to provide the Wharton network with a community and the tools to fund early-stage deals.

Published as “Wharton’s Global Impact” in the Spring/Summer 2019 issue of Wharton Magazine.