Usc Ibear Business Class

Climate change forces an industry to adapt of die. Business Class spoke with Bill Dewey of the Taylor Shellfish Company about being one of the first industries that had to face the impacts of climate change. Taylor Shellfish, founded in the 1890s, is a family owned company with over 500 employees in the Pacific Northwest. The company operates a shellfish farm, a chain of restaurants and needs it’s baby oysters to survive. In 2008 a crisis hit the company when all of the newly hatched oysters suddenly began to die. In this change or die story, Business Class looks at how a business has to react, not against competition, not against new taxes of policy changes, but to something as amorphous as CO2 and how it is changing the environment.

Palau is a small island nation. It’s northern island -Babledoab - is mostly trees, rivers, farms and some small villages. And yet, on the very northern tip of the island are two groups using classic business planning techniques to form a working partnership. In this episode, Business Class takes a look at how the Farmers and the Fishers of Babeldoab plan to form a merger - and how these sophisticated negotiations came about. We speak with Faustina Marugg, The Minister of State of Palau & Steven Victor, Director, Micronesia Program, The Nature Conservancy

In this two-part series, Business Class explores the business policies on the small island nation of Palau. We hear that choosing to protect the nation’s environment is a long term business decision. In Part 1 - we talk tuna. We learn how small countries of the region formed an alliance to protect tuna stocks in their waters from the fishing giants of the world. We also explore Palau’s business model of protecting and enhancing coral reefs to attract high-value SCUBA diving tourists. We study what happens when a country manages the environment as its primary business asset. We spoke with Steven Victor, the Director of The Nature Conservancy’s Micronesia Program. In Part 2 we look at Palau’s business model of local farming and fishing, and see that no matter the size – a business faces the same questions and problems.

Business Class speaks with Fan Bao of Renaissance China in Shanghai, about what he terms the New Economy of China. This economy has no state owned enterprises and represents half the economy of China. Digging deeper, Mr. Bao describes two important super cycles that are driving the China economy and gives an inside view on how important entrepreneurs are to the country. In an interview that ranges from the trade war with the US to the tense situation with Huawei, Mr. Bao delivers unique insight into international business. The interview is conducted by Dick Drobnick, The Director of the USC IBEAR MBA Program

Jim McGregor, the Chairman of APCO China and former Wall Street Journal Bureau Chief has been working in China since 1990. When he says, “The US and China are at a fundamental turning point,” it pays to listen. McGregor looks at the idea of a trade war differently than most. While the trade aspects are important, he sees that the US and China, “Are now in fierce competition for all the technologies of the future.” In this Business Class episode, Dick Drobnick sits down with Jim McGregor in Shanghai and goes deep on the ‘Made in China 2025’ plan and how this fundamentally pits the world’s two largest economies directly against each other. Interview conducted by Dick Drobnick, Director of the USC Marshall IBEAR MBA Program

Krish Sridhar is building a company that sees 2 billion potential users. The goal, “Connecting the top floor with the shop floor,” in places where the only technology is a smart phone. Know, is a Singapore based start-up that recently pulled down a 7 figure round of US, VC funding. Krish, Know CEO and former McKinsey consultant, spoke with Business Class on why a hot start up would pick Singapore as its base; and explores the what, why and how of Singapore creating a vibrant startup ecosystem.

Any mention of Singapore and business has to take into account the policies of the Singaporean government. In the case of entrepreneurs, the government has taken its foot off the brake and is stepping firmly on the gas. Business Class spoke with Paul Meyers of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on the shifts that now make Singapore the entrepreneurial center of SE Asia. Meyers is a serial entrepreneur and has been working on the digital transformation of SE Asia since the late 90’s. Now, as an adviser on early stage investment for the Asian Development Bank, he is seeing changes take hold. He notes that the government’s decision to make things easy for both start-ups and investors, attracts companies and investment from around the globe. He feels that being the “go-to location” for entrepreneurs in SE Asia, “is a way to keep Singapore relevant.’

Danny Russel has seen diplomacy in action. As the Assistant Secretary of State under John Kerry, he had a ringside seat. Now, watching punches being traded in the trade war between the U.S. and China he feels he’s watching, “the new abnormal.” Discussing China’s expected response to tariffs, he says, “Trying to body slam the Chinese is not going to make them give in. It will make them dig in.” Overall all he is seeing a strategy that is leading both countries in a difficult direction as, “Strategic rivalries bring out the worst on both sides.” In this Business Class conversation we hear topics covered from IP theft to the weak spot authoritarian regimes have when it comes to public opinion. Danny Russel served in the State Department into the second month of the Trump administration. Danny Russel is the former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State and is currently Vice President of the Asia Society Policy Institute. The interview was conducted by Dick Drobnick, Director of the USC IBEAR MBA Program.

In Part 2 of this Business Class conversation, we look at the backstory of the US -China Trade War. Kevin Rudd, former Australian Prime Minister says “I worry that the lines of communication are shutting down.” Using his background as a Sinologist, he notes that both Presidents are looking at the politics of the confrontation. And as, “The impact of a shuddering halt to US – China trade would be profound,” feels that a resolution and a declared victory from both sides could be an expected result. He adds, this dual victory is partly possible as, “The US President has a remarkable ability to re-describe reality.” Kevin Rudd is currently the President of the Asia Society Policy Institute. The interview was conducted by Dick Drobnick, Director of the USC IBEAR MBA Program.

Kevin Rudd is the former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Australia and also happens to be a China scholar. He feels that, “2018 is a watershed for US / China relations.” In Part 1 of this Business Class podcast, Mr. Rudd brings his deep experience to analyze what is going on behind the scenes in Beijing and Washington. In his view, both Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are leading their countries away from the 40 year old policies that both countries have followed since the time of Deng Xiaoping and Richard Nixon. In this discussion, Mr. Rudd digs in to the clues of where each leader is heading. Kevin Rudd is currently the President of the Asia Society Policy Institute. The interview was conducted Dick Drobnick, Director of the USC IBEAR MBA Program.

Bob Zukis wants people to understand the digital transformation. He wants people to understand that a successful business needs a trained technologist in the C-Suite. With social technologies showing their power in events such as the manipulation of the US election, he reflects, “Bad preceeds the good, until we learn how to control it.” His view is that we are just at the beginning of building the regulations and controls needed to bring the good side of social technology to the forefront. He points out education is needed to deliver the promise of the digital transformation to companies, “Only 14% of boardroom directors have any technology training.” He continues, “And even if someone on the board asks the right questions, they have a very low probability of understanding the answers.” Bob runs the USC IBEAR MBA International Business Consulting Project and is CEO of the Digital Directors Network.

Chris Darnell likes risk and has “a high capacity for ambiguity.” Good traits for an executive whose career path includes being CFO of the Microsoft Cloud as well as an entrepreneur in Sub-Saharan Africa. Always looking to blend the worlds of the executive and creative, Chris’ current company ‘The Human Baton” will burst onto the media scene soon with race cars, horses, high speed boats and more. In this Business Class interview, we hear how Chris has taken the skills from his USC IBEAR MBA and applied them to a unique career. Chris spoke with Business Class when he returned to USC, to serve as Commencement Speaker for the IBEAR MBA’s 40th class.

Kazu Yozawa is the Global CTO of NTT Security and thinks we live in a scary world. This is the world of network security, where threats can range from a teenager forging a user code on a piece of software, to state sponsored hackers that target specific industries around the globe. He said that more education in how computer networks operate will help, but at this time, “only a few executives understand this situation.” Mr. Yozawa keeps a positive view saying that although the threats are coming faster now than before, he feels that in the long term the ‘Good Guys’ can prevail.

“What’s the difference between this U.S. president and others” -QiWei Chen There is a question inside China about how this president is different from other U.S. presidents. Dr. QiWei Chen, the Founder of ABC Capital of Shanghai considered this and other questions in an interview with Business Class. Noting that China has benefited greatly from trade with the U.S. - he feels that China will respond to tariffs set by the U.S., but would do it carefully. Is talk from President Trump a provocative threat, or a negotiating tactic? He notes that this may be the case as Trump is known more as a businessman than a politician. Listen in to hear this analysis, as well as a look into the world of equity investment in China. Interview by Richard Drobnick, Director of the USC Marshall IBEAR MBA Program. Dr. QiWei Chen is the Founding Partner and Chairman of ABC Capital and Chairman of ABC Corporation.

Wendy Cutler spends a lot of time thinking about trade. She was the Chief Negotiator on the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement and the Lead Negotiator on the TPP Agreement. We spoke with her just as the US announced that tariffs were going to be placed on China and other US trading partners. She commented on what trading partners might feel, “Well it’s China today, but maybe tomorrow the president will impose tariffs on us as well.” In this conversation, we look at the ripples and shock waves that are created within the trading world when a country the size of the US throws a stone. Wendy Cutler is the Vice President of the Asia Society’s Policy Institute. Interview by Richard Drobnick, Director of the USC Marshall IBEAR MBA Program.

In the first year of his presidency Donald Trump largely avoided trade issues with China. As the second year unfolded, Clay Dube notes that the President seems to have returned to the attack mode promised in the campaign. As policies shift daily, Business Class asked Clayton Dube, the Director of the USC US – China Institute, to take a look at the Trump playbook and bring his insight to the Administration’s game plan. Clayton Dube, is the Director of the USC U.S - China Institute

Economics is front page news around the world as trade pacts are dismantled, tariffs are threatened and trade wars suddenly appear on the horizon. Baizhu Chen, noted USC China expert takes us inside the threatened US / China tariffs to see what is at play. In the complex trade relationship between the US and China, it seems that the main issues in this trade war are explained in every Econ 101 text book. Baizhu Chen is professor of Clinical Finance and Business Economics at the USC Marshall School of Business.

Gary Locke, former US Ambassador to China, Secretary of Commerce and Governor of Washington has experienced trade issues from all angles. He sees threatening tariffs more as a political gesture, than a well thought out strategy. Tariffs on steel for example would hurt Canada more than it would China. He asks, “Why would we want to anger our allies?” Locke brings insight to questions ranging from tariffs and technology transfers, to strategic exemptions and North Korea. Interviewed by Dick Drobnick, Director of the USC IBEAR MBA Program.

How do you align a career with your own motivations? When do you pivot your career? How does extra training such as an MBA impact your strategy? In Part 2 of the Constructing a Career series, Grant Ingersoll, President of Integrated Oncology Network and Ana Maria Stringi Guemáraes, Audit Director at MUFG US Bank, discuss when and how to make a move. Ana Maria and Grant are both graduates of the USC IBEAR MBA program.

Where does an MBA fit in a career plan? How do you plan a career? How many steps does it take to reach your goal? In this episode of Business class we begin a series that will take a deep look into careers. We will talk with MBA grads at all stages of their career. We’ll hear what steps they took, mistakes they made and insights they have gained. In Part 1, Doug Montgomery, VP of Customer Insight at Warner Brothers and Regina Leung, Founder of Mayflower Health Consulting analyze the steps that brought them to where they are today. Regina Leung and Doug Montgomery are both graduates of the USC IBEAR MBA program.