vol. XVII no. 2

				Page 3 Page 1 2 3 STATE: You have been tireless in your efforts to make the College visible throughout the world. You have served on numerous committees, chaired the Part-time MBA Affinity Group of AACSB International and recently keynoted the MBA Directors Meeting for the European Foundation for Management Development (efmd). Why did you think involvement of this type was so important? SH: Having the appropriate resource base is the key to implementing any effective strategy. To this end, communication with all our stakeholders is important. It opens doors to new opportunities. Therefore, my purpose in being involved was to learn from others where appropriate and to get people excited about our vision and what we were doing so they would support us. This included deans and academic leaders at other business schools as well as constituencies closer to home, such as alumni and key business leaders. STATE: You are a strong believer in marketing, advertising and public relations. Why are these activities so important in helping a business school thrive in today's environment? SH: An important component of leadership is teaching and sharing as well as learning from others. You have to tell people about what you are doing to be an effective leader. As we put together our marketing, advertising and PR plans, we are always thinking about ways we can build support for our efforts and influence others. STATE: What are the major trends that will affect business education in the future? SH: Technology will continue to transform business schools as it transforms business. Before, we couldn't fully appreciate the transformational qualities of technology. Now we can see what a powerful force technology can be and that the revolution we've seen in the past few years is just the beginning. This need to stay abreast of the latest technological developments will cause schools to invest in ways not seen before. It will also challenge schools to make sure that technology does not replace the personal relationships and linkages that are so essential to learning and growth for our students. Another major issue for the future will be the development of globally sensitive, culturally astute faculty. Faculty of the future must become foot soldiers in the effort to bring ideas from the global market. Therefore, enabling faculty in this regard is key. Lastly, I think it will be challenging for most schools to offer the diverse array of experiences that students will want and expect as par for the course - from team building to leadership coaching to exposure to international business. This will make the management challenge a lot more complex in the future. STATE: As you reflect on your term as dean of the Robinson College, what are you most proud of? SH: Probably my greatest feeling of accomplishment comes from seeing the teamwork that goes on every day throughout the College. The spirit of partnering to move forward and the desire to excel is something that I hope will live on and continue to keep Robinson in the forefront of business schools throughout the world. STATE: What role do you plan to play with the College as former Dean Harris? SH: As someone who taught here many years ago and then served as dean, I feel very close to Georgia State and the Robinson College. I plan to remain a member of the College's faculty, teaching and conducting research in the areas of international trade, productivity and technology as well as corporate governance and leadership. I am also very interested in transition economies and plan to focus on specific industries in areas such as China. I am excited about my return to the classroom where I will have a much more direct role in shaping and preparing our future leaders for the challenging and exciting global business arena. Previous Page | Top

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