Cecilia Chan is the Managing Director of a Manhattan-based private equity firm, Octonovem. In over 30 years as an investor, she has honed a style that focuses beyond the bottom line, to assess success by including a project’s effects on its community and the world. “Asset-light” companies, such as content creators, travel companies and products lik…

Cairn Spring Mills is a company that surprisingly is growing during the pandemic. The company is a varietal flour mill that produces a high quality locally sourced product. While other companies have been strapped by failing consumer demand and disrupted supply chains, Cairn Spring has increased sales by changing their business model - pivoting fro…

The #Covid-19 virus is changing accepted business norms around the globe. In this episode of Business Class, we spoke with #MarcusLu as he sheltered-in-place at his home in #China. With deep insight into business in China, Marcus described how the virus is changing long accepted patterns of how business is conducted. “We realize and are starting to…

In this episode of #BusinessClass, we return to Thailand for an #MBA review of the business skills needed to face this financial crisis. We spoke with PJ Van Hecke, a 2018 graduate of the #USCIBEARMBA program. PJ used his time in the program to shift from a global career in maritime engineering to the entrepreneurial side of book publishing. He is …

The moment the St. Patrick’s Day Parade was cancelled, Janet Lightner - General Manager of Boundary Bay Brewery - knew they were in trouble. In this episode of Business Class, we move to the Microeconomic impact of the pandemic and go to the craft brewery nexus of Bellingham, Washington, to explore how the virus has upended the business model of a …

In this episode of #BusinessClass, we look at how the #Covid-19 pandemic is affecting the ASEAN nations, particularly #Thailand. We turn to #Dr.NarongchaiAkaransee, a former Thai government minister with extensive business knowledge.Dr. Narongchai explains Thailand’s successful approach to control of the Covid-19 virus. In comparing the government’…

It’s always difficult to know what’s happening inside China. In this episode of Business Class, we hear first-hand information and analysis on China’s Covid-19 response from Shanghai resident, Jim McGregor, the CEO of APCO China.In an interview with USC’s Dick Drobnick, Jim notes that “China’s exports have fallen off a cliff.” They explore if: havi…

Millions of sports fans across the Asian sub-continent are watching the results of Jasdeep Pannu working from his living room. In this episode of Business Class, we speak with the Head of Digital Programming for ESPN India about how his organization saw the virus coming and moved #ESPNIndia out of the studio and into the guest room. The biggest pro…

Overnight, the Covid-19 pandemic moved much of the world’s business and business interactions online. In this episode of Business Class, we talk with Paul Wilson, Managing Director for Google Cloud (Public Sector) Asia Pacific. We asked Paul how this pandemic has created a moment in time, where technology tools are being adopted for use by people a…

Are the numbers coming out of China real? Will China record any positive GDP growth for the year? Will global companies change their strategies to remove the China bottleneck in their supply chains? Business Class continues its look at the economic impact of the Covid-19 virus with Clay Dube, Director of the USC US-China Institute. “The Chinese eco…

Business Class originates in Los Angeles, the home of the entertainment industry. In this episode, we look at how Covid-19 has brought the entire industry to a standstill. Movie theaters are empty, studios are closed, the few TV commercials being filmed are done so in isolation via Zoom and iPhones. Devin Mann, Founder of Iconic Talent Agency of Be…

Business Class begins a series of interviews to explore the effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic. In this episode, Peter Guyer, Founder of Athena International Foods gives insight on the effect the virus has had on his business, his supply chain and his sector. What can a business do to prepare for this kind of event? What lessons from past experience …

Cintra is one of the world’s largest infrastructure building companies. In this episode of Business Class, Carlos Ugarte, Global Head of Corporate and Business Development, explains how a project must send the right economic signals to be successful. Using toll roads and managed pricing as examples, Carlos explains the right moves that cities need …

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At heart, Indra Uno is a consultant. He did a case study of his country and came up with a powerful set of findings:• manufacturing jobs are leaving for less expensive locations• unemployment is steady of 5% - but is 15 – 16% for youth• 98% of the countries businesses are micro-entrepreneurs with sales under $50,000 USD• Regulations are slowing nee…

Sidney Rittenberg led an exceptional life. He tumbled into the swirling waters of history as the communist revolution swept Mao into power. He was a friend of Mao. He was also a prisoner of Mao. Twice. He spent sixteen years in solitary confinement, six years thanks to Josef Stalin, and ten years courtesy of the Cultural Revolution.Somehow he rebou…

In this episode of Business Class, the subject is climate change and business. Interviewed by USC’s Dick Drobnick, Singapore’s Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Masagos Zulkifli explains how Singapore, a small country with few natural resources, may present a very realistic model for a world that is facing effects from its changing …

According to Sri Manchala, CEO of Trasers, “This is where the game begins.” Sri and Trasers are digging in deep to help companies understand the Digital Transformation. Trasers has recently completed an exhaustive, many industries wide survey, of just where companies stand and what they understand about the Digital Transformation.The resulting repo…

Bob Zukis sees two corporate worlds. In one world, a company is smoothly navigating the Digital Transformation and using these new tools to connect with customers and advance their business. In the other world, he sees boardrooms that simply don’t comprehend how the digital world operates and that there are barbarians at the gates. Bob says, “this …

How does the Cold War inform business strategy? What truism about strategy did Lord Nelson understand to win the Battle of Trafalgar? Carl Voigt, Professor of Clinical Management and Organization at the USC Marshall School of Business and Academic Director of the USC IBEAR MBA Program brings storytelling to Business Class to describe what makes a g…

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 she…

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 Babeldoa…

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 …

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 entrepreneu…

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…

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…

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 entrepreneuria…

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…

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 o…

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 Dona…

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…

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 w…

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 h…

“What’s the difference between this U.S. president and others” -QiWei ChenThere 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 trad…

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 …

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 …

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 …

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?…

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.…

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. I…

In this episode of Business Class, Bill Zarit, the President of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, describes the monumental economic shifts that are taking place. He sees Chinese investment in the U.S. doubling, while U.S. investment in China is drifting downward. He notes that China is making strategic purchases in sectors aimed at challen…

Wayne Forrest has been President of the American Indonesian Chamber of Commerce through many of the country’s business and political cycles. He’s been integral to Indonesia’s relationship with international energy and mining conglomerates. Now as the nature of business is shifting toward the world of startups and venture capital, the Chamber is dee…

Jim Castle, who describes himself as ‘an accidental businessman’ established CastleAsia in 1980 which has given him a unique view of the shifting of economic power from west to east. Through CastleAsia’s Indonesia Country Program executive roundtable, Jim meets weekly with top executives from 140 member companies. This insight is reflected in an in…

Ito En sells over $4 Billion USD of tea annually in Japan. In North America Ito En hits $300 million. In this classic international brand building story, Yosuke Honjo, CEO and President of Ito En North America, describes how his company pushed by a shrinking population and growing competition domestically, “Must go out from Japan and find a new mar…

There is book learning and then there is taking your knocks on the street. The students who enroll in the USC IBEAR MBA take their knocks all around the world. The International Business Consulting Project is an extreme version of experiential learning. The class is literally turned into an international consulting firm, where clients contract for …

Alfred Fung starts speaking about his gaming with the absolute that it must be fun.He traces his love for gaming to his childhood, but credits his entry into the business to the MBA he received from the USC IBEAR program. His facility with big data, business analytics, monetization and his ability to connect the dots put him ahead of a flood of app…

Dan Ping Mu faces challenges for her consulting clients in China head on – and then looks at them from all angles to find the right solution. Her goal is to keep things moving ahead by presenting both sides of an issue with a clear win. She finds that many issues with ventures in China can be solved by sending the team with the not only the rights …

Marcus Lyu runs hard commodities trading in Asia for the 100 billion USD, Swiss head-quartered energy trading firm Mercuria. In this interview in Shanghai, Business Class again looks at a changing China. Marcus explains how the coal and iron ore commodities markets, give insight into Chinese policy. He also describes how the 2008 global crash has s…

Jim McGregor engages in a spirited interview on issues facing foreign companies doing business in China. Speaking with Dick Drobnick in Shanghai, they cover topics from finding employees, to product dumping, to the impact of politics. McGregor states that, “This is China’s day,” and companies need to constantly re-evaluate their position as China i…

Nat Rothschild has a storied family name that defined banking for centuries. Nat spoke with Dick Drobnick while taking part in the USC IBEAR MBA 40th anniversary two day seminar. The conversation ranged from his starting of one of the 90’s most lucrative hedge funds, to losing millions in a Indonesian coal mining venture. Now in the business of ‘st…