Global Business Events
Our events engage a range of business leaders, policymakers, societal representatives, faculty and researchers, and students, across the globe. We are dedicated to discussing and addressing the most pressing issues in global business.
Our Events
Future of Global Business Conference
The annual Future of Global Business Conference is pivotal for our academic organization: fostering knowledge exchange and collaboration. Each year, this event enables participants to present research, discuss trends, and connect with peers. Learn about our conferences and see how they are shaping our future.
Working Groups and Other Events
Our Working Groups are the next step in the collaboration process, where we bring together global executives, policymakers, and Georgetown faculty to solve real-world issues facing global businesses today.
Past Events
10/30/25 – Future of Global Business Conference 2025
Event Photos | Virtual Program | Event Recap
On Thursday, Oct. 30, the Baratta Center hosted its third annual Future of Global Business Conference. Challenges from previous years — ranging from shifting trade policies and geopolitical tensions to the rapid pace of technological change — not only persist, but are growing in more complex and unprecedented ways.
In this context, the imperative for business leaders of today and tomorrow is clear, though difficult: to reimagine the future of global business through a lens of adaptability, innovation, and impact.
This moment calls for a new approach to leadership: one that is informed by global transformation, grounded in leadership, and driven by a commitment to long-term value creation.
Featured Speakers included: Joseph Baratta (B’93), global head of private equity strategies, Blackstone; Gina M. Raimondo, former U.S. secretary of commerce; Urban Ahlin, ambassador of Sweden to the U.S.; Troy Fitrell, former U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Guinea; Vinay Kwatra, ambassador of India to the U.S.; George James Tsunis, former U.S. ambassador to Greece; Reggie Aggarwal (L’99), CEO and founder, Cvent; Thomas Becker, head of external affairs and sustainability, BMW Group; Shyam P. Kambeyanda, president and CEO, ESAB Corporation.
07/16/24 – U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction, Investment, and Innovation Forum
Event Recording | Photos | Virtual Program
On Tuesday, July 16, the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business and Walsh School of Foreign Service hosted the US-Ukraine Reconstruction, Investment, and Innovation Forum. The forum featured a keynote address by Stephanie von Friedeburg, Managing Director at Citi; a Keynote Dialogue featuring Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Economy Tetyana Berezhna, USDFC’s Chief of Staff Jane Rhee, and USAID’s Senior Advisor for Ukraine Recovery Alex Tiersky; panels on Resilience and Reconstruction; and Renewal and Reinvention; and lunch remarks from Ukraine’s former First Lady Kateryna Yushchenko.
The forum commenced with opening remarks from Michael Ryan, Teaching Professor of Global Business at Georgetown McDonough, Michael O’Leary,Teaching Professor and Senior Associate Dean at Georgetown McDonough,,Chemonics Chair Susanna Mudge, and Baratta Center Executive Director Anil Khurana. They underscored the importance of public-private partnerships and the pivotal role of technological advancements in driving innovation, growth and the financial independence of Ukraine.
In her keynote address, Stephanie von Friedeburg noted that it was a war about democracy overcoming tyranny, highlighted the war’s devastating impact, and pointed out the long-term challenges for reconstruction. She emphasized six key elements for Ukraine’s recovery: air defense systems, a culture of rule of law, new risk management tools, sufficient capital, and social recovery (including the return of 5 million refugees).
The keynote dialogue, moderated by Walsh School of Foreign Service Professor Raj Desai, focused on the adaptability of Ukrainian businesses amidst wartime challenges, emphasizing the critical need for workforce development and energy partnerships. Tiersky spoke about the historical context of USAID’s involvement since 1992 and the importance of stabilizing exports and agriculture. Rhee highlighted financial tools and partnerships with multilateral banks to bridge gaps in agriculture and manufacturing, while Deputy Minister Berezhna pointed to demographic challenges and the significant number of forced migrations, but also emphasized that Ukraine’s situation remains optimistic, citing a 5.3% growth in GDP that is projected to continue rising.
Panel 1 on resilience and reconstruction, moderated by former US Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst, brought together former Deputy Minister of Ukraine Oleksandr Gryban, Dragon Capital’s Volodymyr Tymochko, Stephens Managing Director Max Blandon, and US-Ukraine Business Council Chair Eric Luhmann. The discussion focused on energy independence, technological innovation, and the essential role of American leadership. Panelists emphasized the urgency of decentralizing energy systems and preparing for winter with strategic plans for energy imports and local production. Tymochko discussed equity co-investments, while Gryban and Luhmann highlighted the need for transparency, and competition, and Blandon called for a Marshall Plan-like approach to rebuild Ukraine’s infrastructure.
Panel 2 on renewal and reinvention, moderated by Chemonics’ Tetyana Dudka, featured insights from Horizon Capital’s Hanna Shuvalova, Microsoft’s Anupama Shekhar, Nova Ukraine’s Nick Bilogorskiy, and Medtronic’s Trevor Gunn. Shekhar discussed the transformative potential of AI and education, while other panelists highlighted medical equipment, community relations, private partnerships, and cultural preservation.
The forum closed with remarks from First Lady Yushchenko, introduced by John Herbst, and a networking luncheon. First Lady Yushchenko emphasized the importance of psychological support, education programs, and the Sister City program. She stressed the need to protect Ukraine’s cultural heritage against disinformation and external threats, advocating for corporate sponsorships to promote historical research and cultural initiatives. First Lady Yushchenko led by example on this point, donating several books on Ukranian culture and Russian imperialism to Georgetown’s library, a tradition she shares with her husband, Former President Viktor Yushchenko whenever the pair visit universities.
10/02/23 – Future of Global Business Conference
The first annual Future of Global Business Conference, hosted by Georgetown McDonough’s Baratta Center for Global Business brought together senior executives from the international business community, policymakers, and Georgetown faculty, students, and alumni for discussions on global value chains, cross-border investing, artificial intelligence, and the future of globalization
Speakers: Gina M. Raimondo, Secretary of Commerce, Joseph Baratta (B’93), global head of private equity at Blackstone, Moisés Naím, former minister of trade and industry of Venezuela, and Kevin Warsh, member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.