Executive Education Partners with China Minsheng Bank

In March 2006, Wharton Executive Education unveiled its first program in China—a partnership with China Minsheng Banking Corp. to prepare senior executives at China’s only privately held bank. The comprehensive eight-module management development program will be taught in Shanghai by Wharton faculty with sequential translation into Chinese. Participants will include branch managers from various locations of China Minsheng Banking Corp.

Wharton Deputy Dean David Schmittlein and Shao Ping, Executive Vice President of China Minsheng Bank

Leadership Center Helps Launch Women’s World Banking Program

THe Center for Leadership and Change Management has helped launch a three-year initiative — Women’s Leadership Development Program — with Women’s World Banking (WWB). The initiative was developed to promote the next generation of women leaders in microfinance, so that more women will have a seat at the table when financial policies and services are developed for the poor majority. Twenty-four rising microfinance female executives from 11 countries, including Colombia, Brazil, Russia, Uganda, Philippines, and Jordan, convened for a training in New York City in March.

Knowledge@Wharton Launches Corporate Affiliate Program

Knowledge@Wharton, the online business analysis and research journal of the Wharton School, has launched a strategic corporate affiliate program that, for the first time, allows companies and organizations to deliver content directly to their clients and contacts through a special co-branded website and e-mail distribution.

Undergraduate Marketing Club Named Best New Chapter by AMA

The Undergraduate Marketing Club (MUSE), recently was named best new chapter and one of only 16 “outstanding” chapters of the American Marketing Association. The group joined the AMA earlier this year. Also, a team of Penn and Wharton students won first place in the AMA’s case competition. The team included Selin Alkans, Laura Choi, Jean Hsu, Nancy Lee, Annie Nozawa, Charles Pensig, and Ran (Anna) Ying.

Undergraduate Division Invites Alumni to Participate in New Website to Demystify Business Careers

Ever try to explain to a ninth-grader what it is exactly that you do in business? Now it’s a little easier. In March Wharton’s Undergraduate Division and Wharton Publications launched the “What is Business?” website. This site features profiles of 11 leading undergraduate alumni, in different stages of their careers and working in very different fields, including investment management, real estate, entertainment, technology, and international development. The site invites undergraduate alumni to fill out a brief survey that will be used to encourage high school students (prospective Wharton applicants) to have a broad understanding of “business” as a field of wide opportunities that opens doors to varied and exciting career paths. The site can be found on the home page of the undergraduate program website or at <www.wharton.upenn.edu/what_is_business/>.

Societal Wealth Generation Program Receives $1 Million from William Holekamp and Family

William Holekamp, WG’72, and the Holekamp Family made a $1 million gift to establish the William F. Holekamp Fund to sustain the Societal Wealth Generation Program. At the same time the Holekamp Family has been named a founder of the program. As part of Wharton Entrepreneurial Programs, the Societal Wealth Generation Program applies theory with practice by conducting experiments to demonstrate that entrepreneurship can directly confront social problems, creating new societal wealth and benefits along with viable business opportunities for entrepreneurs.

Alumni Return to Campus to Tape “CEO Exchange” for PBS

Alumni Brian Roberts, W’81, CEO of Comcast Corp., and Harold McGraw III, WG’76, CEO of The McGraw-Hill Companies, returned to Wharton’s Philadelphia campus to tape an episode of national PBS series “CEO Exchange.” Moderated by respected broadcast journalist Jeff Greenfield, the April broadcast featured a discussion with the CEOs about their family businesses and the rapidly expanding world of cable television and publishing. Professors Raffi Amit and Kenneth Shropshire participated by asking questions, along with Wharton students in the audience.