Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/62913
P BY SHARON SHINN tion originally focused its efforts on Sub-Saharan Africa, but it has expanded its reach to Asia, Latin America, and other parts of the world. In November 2006, GBSN was spun off from the World Bank to become an independent nonprofit headquartered in Washington, D.C. oor management perpetuates poverty. With those emphatic words, the Global Business School Network identifies one of the primary challenges it sees facing business today: how to strengthen management education in emerging economies. Founded in 2003 by the World Bank, the organiza- Largely conceived as a networking organization, GBSN facilitates relationships between member schools in developed and developing nations through an annual conference and other opportunities. Faculty at Western schools mentor their counterparts in developing nations. In return, schools in the West gain access to information and research in countries where previously they might have had few connections or little experience. Since 2003, membership has almost tripled, from 18 to 50 business schools. In addition, GBSN also implements specific programs in emerging markets. In the past few years, the organization has launched five healthcare management ini- tiatives in Africa, funded by entities such as the Gates Foundation's Global Health Program, Johnson & Johnson, and Nigeria's National Primary Healthcare Devel- opment Agency. These included a conference among African business schools that are teaching health management programs and a workshop for senior manage- ment professors who are engaged in training medical personnel. From its inception, GBSN has been led by Guy Pfeffermann, a 40-year veteran of the World Bank and previously chief economist of its International Finance Corporation. He's passionate about the notion of management education as one of the most powerful tools to strengthen emerging economies. BizEd May/June 2012 31 TIPS/GLOW IMAGES, AMANA IMAGES/GLOW IMAGES