Fordham London

Gabelli School of Business

London Speaker Series Provides Perspectives from Europe

Launched during the 2020-21 academic calendar year, the Gabelli School of Business London Speaker Series has been connecting students with industry and academic partners across the U.K. and the European Union, providing a unique global learning experience and the opportunity to hear from and network with international professionals. The London Speaker Series is open to the Gabelli School community, including its 40,000+ alumni, as well as the Fordham University community.

“As the world economy rapidly evolves and becomes more globalized than ever before, it is critical for those who aspire to become the next leaders and innovators of business to benefit by learning about issues and opportunities from a variety of vantage points,” noted Andrea Mennillo, chair of the London Advisory Board. “The London Speaker Series provides a deep and invaluable understanding of the European business perspective and its influence on the economy now and in the future.”

Landscape photograph of downtown London, England area with the green Westminster Bridge in the foreground (a red double decker bus is seen driving) and the Big Ben cultural landmark clock tower to the far right distance in the background situated nearby other buildings on a overcast day with slight sunshine peeking through the clouds

“The London Speaker Series gave us the valuable opportunity to develop our professional connections by meeting and hearing from London-based industry professionals who are affiliated with the University’s broad professional network.”

Matthew Quijano, BS in Marketing
Avery Tritz, BS in Business Administration

The Speaker Series offers both online and in-person options for engagement and focuses on topics from ESG to sustainable marketing to corporate responsibility. Content is delivered by top industry executives and academicians, providing fascinating insights on emerging business trends and affording students opportunities to explore the career paths of the future.

“The London Speaker Series enhances the learning experiences of our students, while also positioning the Gabelli School of Business as a thought leader in the global business education space. It amplifies our mission of harnessing the power of business as a catalyst for deep and lasting social change,” said Dean Lerzan Aksoy, Ph.D.

This winter and spring, through the careful curation of Ergem Senyuva-Tohumcu, Fordham London’s head of experiential learning and a global sustainability marketing professor, the London Speaker Series featured its most ambitious and diverse programming to date. “Our goal is to provide a stimulating environment for the important discussions that business leaders must have to address the complexities of the changing business landscape and a changing world. There is no better place to do this than Fordham University London, where business and academia intersect.”

Among the many notable guest speakers who shared insights were Chantal Beaudoin, partner and head of ESG, Knight Frank Investment Management, who spoke about real estate, investments, ESG and sustainability; George Maher, author of PUGNARE: Economic Success and Failure, who engaged the audience with “a historical account of the Roman Empire written from a practical business perspective” and what it can teach us; and Ersilio Vaudo, chief diversity officer for the European Space Agency, who spoke about space as an opportunity to get out of our comfort zone. Frédéric Ponchon, head of research and SRI strategy, and Anne-Claire Abadie, portfolio manager, environmental specialist, Sycomore Asset Management, will speak about the role of ESG and sustainability in the rapidly changing world of finance.

Previous speakers have included numerous successful Gabelli School alumni, such as Justin Striebel, BS ’10, a senior leader in global procurement and the supply chain; Lucas Fee, BS ’20, private equity associate, The Carlyle Group; Thomas Muoio, BS ’90, managing director and global head of leveraged finance syndicate, Santander CIB; and Joachim Schlange, BS ’82, managing partner at S&Z North America.

—Paola Curcio-Kleinman

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