By José Ángel de la Paz
Students from nine Global Network for Advanced Management member business schools participated in the EGADE Business School - Tecnológico de Monterrey “Social Innovation” module, within the June 2020 Global Network Week for EMBA Students.
Unlike previous occasions, this year’s program was offered in an online format owing to the global COVID-19 contingency, connecting 24 students, of 15 different nationalities, from ESMT Berlin (Germany), IE Business School (Spain), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile School of Business (Chile), Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO (Russia), Saïd Business School (UK), Strathmore Business School (Kenya), Yale School of Management (USA), UNSW Business School (Australia) and EGADE Business School.
Participants had the opportunity to meet and work with other students from the Global Network to explore the worldwide development of social innovation, with a special focus on Mexico and Latin America.
Guided by professors Ezequiel Reficco and Francisco Layrisse, they learned about the different concepts (hybrid organizations, B corporations – B systems, systemic thinking), tools, and attitudes needed to lead a social innovation.
Networked learning is here! We're pleased to welcome 24 students from the Global Network for @advancedmgmt who will be attending this week's virtual Global Network Week
— EGADEBusinessSchool (@egade) June 8, 2020
? ? #GNW2020 pic.twitter.com/A1t26kT4C9
They also conversed with social entrepreneurs and guest speakers from Inditex, World Wildlife Fund, Ashoka, and Smart Impact, and went on virtual tours of the Impact MX center for collaborative innovation and the Fablab social innovation laboratory.
They also enjoyed cultural interactions directed by Professor Valeria Sánchez, including a tasting of Mexican candy, delivered at their homes beforehand by courier, and talks on tacos, Day of the Dead, and mariachis, among other traditional Mexican topics.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE
Students from other schools commented on the EGADE Business School program:
"I truly appreciate the entire team from the bottom of my heart. Valeria Sánchez made me feel like I was literally in Mexico. She’s extremely good and very passionate. Ezequiel Reficco, on the other hand, made me feel like I’m ready to be a social entrepreneur, he had a great knowledge of the subject. 'Pancho' Layrisse was a great moderator and facilitator. His input on the hybrid organizations enlightened me a lot. The experience was amazing. I hope to travel to Mexico in the coming days and to meet the team physically," said Washingtone Koech, a Kenyan student at Strathmore Business School.
"I chose this course as someone making a large career transition with the hope of gaining an understanding of ways to make an impact and gained so much more. You’re all very inspirational and I’m grateful to have been part of this experience with you all. Also, I can’t wait to visit Mexico, what an amazing place," said Jodie Beattie, an Australian student at UNSW Business School.
Students participating in Global Network Week learn about our culture and traditions! ? ?? ?
— EGADEBusinessSchool (@egade) June 11, 2020
Such an honor to have you! #GNW2020 @AdvancedMgmt pic.twitter.com/moXgcJPpPK
"What touched me the most was how truly passionate and helpful everyone is, from professors 'Pancho' Layrisse to Ezequiel Reficco to Armida Lozano to the rest of the EGADE team to the speakers to the entrepreneurs... I can feel their fire even through Zoom! I hope this fire continues to burn in every one of us, and whatever we do in the future, think social, think hybrid, think systems, think SDGs, and about all that we have experienced. I don’t know when I will start my social entrepreneur journey, but today I will start spreading the word! Last but not least, Valeria Sánchez showed us her true love for her beautiful country and its colorful culture. The gesture of sending us sweets was very touching," Bosco Lai, a Canadian student at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.
"To the EGADE team, I just want to thank you all for making this experience as authentic as possible given the constraints of virtual learning. I’ve gained such a great perspective about social innovation and México! I'm truly grateful for this course, and I do wish this was part of all courses and not a separate course. Perhaps that’s a social innovation question we all need to think about! Thank you for the resources 'Pancho' Layrisse and Ezequiel Reficco. I truly enjoyed the learning experience, and my daughter did too when she would sneak into class. I’ll recommend this course to everyone in my cohort at Oxford," said Masego Mbaakanyi, a Botswanan student at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.
EGADE STUDENTS ALSO PARTICIPATED IN OTHER PROGRAMS
A total of 53 EGADE Busines School students, from the EGADE MBA, Full-Time MBA in Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Global OneMBA, and Master in Finance programs, participated in 12 modules delivered online within the June 2020 edition of the Global Network Week for EMBA Students.
Some of these modules were: “Behavioral Science”, Yale School of Management; “COVID-19, Sustainability, and the Future of Business”, UBC Sauder School of Business; “Digital Transformation”, IE Business School; “Gender Equity and Leadership in the 21st Century”, Berkeley Haas School of Business; “Innovative China: Towards Sustainable Growth”, Fudan School of Management; “Negotiating in a Global Environment”, UNSW Business School; and “The Start-Up Challenge: an innovation sprint to launch your first business”, ESMT Berlin, among others.