In the Classroom II

From Davos to Philadelphia: The World Economic Forum Partners with Wharton

When Michael Seo, founder of the MetroNYC Network Group, came to Wharton in July, it wasn't as chairman of his organization. Seo instead attended an executive education program as one of the World Economic Forum's Global Leadership Fellows. He explains, "When I first received the program for our Wharton week, I was interested from a personal learning standpoint. However as we experienced it, I found that the curriculum had direct application to the work we are undertaking in the WEF's health initiative."

The direct application Seo speaks of is the result of a dynamic partnership between the WEF and Wharton. A number of professors, as well as University of Pennsylvania President Amy Gutmann, participate in many of the WEF's initiatives, including the Global University Leaders Forum (a community of the WEF of leading university presidents) and Global Agenda Councils. So it was no surprise that when seeking an educational program in global business leadership and risk management for its Fellows, the WEF turned to Wharton.

In support of its mission of "entrepreneurship in the global public interest," the WEF develops and supports the leaders of the future by accepting a group of high-potential, highly experienced young leaders from around the globe who represent a range of public and private sector interests. "The next generation of leaders will face an entirely new set of issues," says Gilbert Probst, professor of organizational behavior and management at the University of Geneva, and managing director at the WEF, responsible for Leadership & Academic Affairs. "They will have to find new responses and innovative ways of dealing with the responsibilities that come their way. With this in mind, the Forum created the Global Leadership Fellows (GLF) Program, designed to equip the next generation of global leaders to take on this vital role and embody the mission of the Forum."

Participants in the three-year program on global leadership work at the WEF as community managers of multiple industries or heads of initiatives in areas such as global health, corporate citizenship, water, and education. Combining this practical experience with first-class knowledge, the program provides the Fellows with diverse educational opportunities, including classroom study, professional coaching, mentoring, and interaction with world leaders.

In June and July 2009, two groups of Fellows, including Seo, attended week-long programs designed by Wharton exclusively for the WEF. The curriculum specifically addressed the challenges faced by those working in the business and public sectors, providing the Fellows with the knowledge they need to focus on the global issues of today and the future. When Gutmann addressed the Fellows, she stressed the natural partnership between the school and the WEF. "Using entrepreneurship at the highest level to make a positive difference in the world is what Penn is all about," Gutmann said.

WEF's Probst concurs. "There is undoubtedly a natural compliance between Wharton and The World Economic Forum. Both believe in providing today's young leaders with the necessary skills to become global leaders. Wharton and WEF enjoy a strong, dynamic relationship. Because of it, the Fellows are afforded the opportunity to operate in a challenging environment, learning how to handle professional and academic deliverables which ultimately trains them for their future leadership roles. They can reflect on that role and their potential impact, and gain a more comprehensive global understanding."

Specifically, the Wharton program gives the Fellows an opportunity to learn from some of the world's top academics and the latest research. They are challenged to defy conventional thinking, develop a global mind set, and as Gutmann notes, "use their education and new ideas to enhance the spirit of entrepreneurship that thrives on enthusiasm and optimism."

Michael Seo agrees. "My experience at Wharton has been invaluable. I've learned how to view my initiatives through new lenses, and can now frame the issues I'm dealing with in more useful ways. The project I am managing, 'Innovative Models in Healthcare Delivery,' is benefiting from these new skills. The partnership between Wharton and the WEF is clearly evident. The professors and the program perfectly addressed the issues and concerns we're dealing with. I'm returning to my project as a better leader, with the insights and knowledge to meet the challenges ahead."

• World Economic Forum