Join Us on October 30
Thursday, October 30
2:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Georgetown University
Rafik B. Hariri Building, Lohrfink Auditorium
The Future of Global Business Conference 2025
Reimagining the Future of Global Business: Transformation, Leadership, and Impact
The global business landscape is becoming increasingly fragmented and unpredictable. 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. Join us for the third annual Future of Global Business Conference to explore these issues alongside global executives, policymakers, academics, and students.
Speakers
Joseph Baratta (B’93)
Joseph Baratta is the global head of private equity strategies and a member of Blackstone’s Board of Directors. He is also a member of their management committee and serves on many of the firm’s investment committees.
Baratta joined Blackstone in 1998, and in 2001, he moved to London to help establish Blackstone’s corporate private equity business in Europe. Since 2012, he has served as the firm’s global head of private equity in New York City.
Baratta has served on the boards of many past Blackstone portfolio companies. Currently, he serves as a member or observer on the boards of Ancestry, Candle Media, First Eagle Investment Management, Medline, and Merlin Entertainments Group. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees at Georgetown University, is a trustee of the Tate Foundation, and serves on the board of Year Up, an organization focused on youth employment.
Before joining Blackstone, Baratta was with Tinicum Incorporated and McCown De Leeuw & Company. Baratta also worked at Morgan Stanley in its mergers and acquisitions department. He graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University.
Gina M. Raimondo
Gina M. Raimondo was the 40th U.S. Secretary of Commerce. As Secretary, she focused on making America more competitive by driving job creation, fostering innovation, and strengthening national security. Under her leadership, the Department of Commerce made historic investments in internet access, manufacturing, workforce training, and climate readiness through initiatives like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act. She oversaw $39 billion in incentives for chip manufacturing, $40 billion in broadband grants, and significant investments in climate resilience and minority business support.
Raimondo has also led efforts on AI development, launched the U.S. AI Safety Institute and established an international network of AI Safety Institutes. She has been recognized as one of TIME’s Most Influential People and is known for her role in advancing national security through technology and international cooperation.
Before her tenure as Secretary of Commerce, Raimondo served as the 75th Governor of Rhode Island, becoming the state’s first female governor. During her time in office, she revitalized Rhode Island’s economy by attracting new businesses, reducing unemployment, and creating thousands of jobs. She prioritized infrastructure, education, and job training, making record investments in these areas. Notably, she launched the first statewide program offering tuition-free community college to all high school graduates, a groundbreaking initiative to provide accessible higher education.
Raimondo is a graduate of Harvard University, Oxford University (as a Rhodes Scholar), and Yale Law School. She is married to Andy Moffit, and they have two children.
More information forthcoming.