Business Law
This course is not a traditional business law survey class. This course is an application oriented class that provides the business professional with an understanding of certain critical legal concepts that are an integral part of the decision-making process for a business enterprise to operate effectively in the United States. The purpose of this course is to provide the student with a framework that will enable the student to identify legal issues that arise in a variety circumstances during the life cycle" of the business enterprise beginning with the formation of the business enterprise through the dissolution of the business enterprise through sale or bankruptcy. This course will focus primarily on the legal regime in the United States, although the laws of other jurisdictions will be noted where appropriate. The course is highly interactive - legal principles will be imparted as students seek to identify legal issues arising in actual business situations. Daily student class participation is a significant element of the course and will account for 30% of the student grade. "
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Instructor:
Donna M Hitscherich
Info - 3 points
International Seminar: Munich
Branding has become a hot topic. Many companies realize that they need to understand the financial value of their corporate brand and its products; manage brands strategically; and deliver implementations to customers that are relevant, differentiated and powerful to build an emotional bond and loyalty.This course shows you how this can be done. It familiarizes you with best practices in branding, from iPod and the launch of the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty to successful branding initiatives in financial, pharmaceutical, consumer goods, entertainment and a wide range of other companies.We will focus on three topics: brand strategy and valuation; visual identity and experiential branding; and organizational branding issues. You will be asked to complete a couple of individual exercises and homeworks during the course and be part of a final group project. No midterm. No final.The course is unique in many ways. First, it will be fun. Second, just like the topic itself, you will learn how to combine analytical and strategic thinking with creative development of ideas and implementations. You will be exposed to lots of cases of successful and some unsuccessful branding campaigns so that you learn what to do and what not to do in your own job. You will learn about frameworks and concepts and be equipped with methodologies and tools to manage a branding project. You will meet people from the branding industry, both from within companies and from external service suppliers, such as corporate identity firms, packaging designers, advertising firms and brand agencies. Finally, you will be participating in a group project that will bring it all together, focusing on a specific company of your choice.Hope to see you in the fall. If you would like additional information on my own brand, check out www.MeetSchmitt.com."
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Instructor:
Bernd H Schmitt
Wikipedia h-index: 65 Info - 3 points
International Seminar: South A
The objectives of this course are to learn some key lessons about starting and running an entrepreneurial company, and to learn about the state of entrepreneurship in South Africa. The essence of the course will be our guest speakers, through whom we will learn not only about their personal experiences and lessons, but about entrepreneurship in general. Our guest speakers will be South African entrepreneurs from a wide variety of business sizes and backgrounds. In addition, we will have guest speakers from the local government and the leading business school. There will be a hands on project to be done with local South African entrepreneurs that will require preparation before leaving for Cape Town and a report to follow afterward.
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Instructor:
Stephan Meier
h-index: 33 Info - 3 points
Business and Climate Change
Climate science informs us that global emissions of greenhouse gas emissions must be rapidly and dramatically reduced if humanity is to avoid catastrophic climate change. After three centuries of rising emissions, the entire global economy must now decarbonize in the coming three decades. Fortunately, most of the technologies and investment capital necessary to reduce and eventually eliminate emissions exist or are in development, but the urgency to implement those solutions is critical.
This course provides an overview of climate change, its effects on business, and how businesses can (and should) respond. The course covers emissions sources and their impact on climate change, followed by an exploration of the policy landscape, including current legislation, carbon markets, and climate justice. The course then evaluates current and evolving mitigation technologies, reviews the tools of climate finance, and considers strategies for reducing emissions to net zero. Finally, the course introduces the role of businesses in addressing climate change, including net-zero goals, actions they can take to mitigate their impact, and the perspectives of shareholders.
Throughout the course, the business case for climate action is emphasized, highlighting the economic benefits of taking action to address climate change.
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Instructor:
Bruce M Usher
Info - 1.5 points
Business and Climate Change
Climate science informs us that global emissions of greenhouse gas emissions must be rapidly and dramatically reduced if humanity is to avoid catastrophic climate change. After three centuries of rising emissions, the entire global economy must now decarbonize in the coming three decades. Fortunately, most of the technologies and investment capital necessary to reduce and eventually eliminate emissions exist or are in development, but the urgency to implement those solutions is critical.
This course provides an overview of climate change, its effects on business, and how businesses can (and should) respond. The course covers emissions sources and their impact on climate change, followed by an exploration of the policy landscape, including current legislation, carbon markets, and climate justice. The course then evaluates current and evolving mitigation technologies, reviews the tools of climate finance, and considers strategies for reducing emissions to net zero. Finally, the course introduces the role of businesses in addressing climate change, including net-zero goals, actions they can take to mitigate their impact, and the perspectives of shareholders.
Throughout the course, the business case for climate action is emphasized, highlighting the economic benefits of taking action to address climate change.
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Instructor:
Bruce M Usher
Info - 1.5 points
Global Immersion: Doing Busine
Tunisia, the birthplace of the Arab Spring, was a crossroads of many civilizations from its indigenous Berber population to the Phoenicians who founded Carthage in 814 BC, to the Romans who destroyed Carthage in 146 BC after three Punic wars, to the Arabs introducing Islam and Arabic in the 7th century, to the Turkish Ottomans who ruled Tunisia from 1574 to 1881, and more recently to the French who occupied Tunisia from 1881 to 1956. This melting pot of more than 3000-year history is what distinguishes Tunisia from other countries in the Middle East and North Africa. Because of its free trade agreements with Europe and several countries in Africa and the Middle East, Tunisia can potentially become a gateway to a market of more than a billion people. As Tunisia is still going through profound political changes following the initial upheaval of the Arab Spring in 2011, there are many questions that await. Will Tunisia transition to a stable democracy? Will it be able to create a business environment that is attractive to investors? If so, what investment opportunities exist in Tunisia? What are the risks involved and the future challenges? And, how best to enter such a market? The course will explore these questions with a focus on the entrepreneurship ecosystem and doing business in Tunisia. The course project involves working closely with start-ups from Africa. The project provides a truly immersive, multicultural experience where students will partner, mentor, coach, and interact with young entrepreneurs, both online and offline. Travel to Tunis will take place prior the class meetings, October 12-18, 2025. A predeparture meeting will take place on Tuesday, September 30 12:30-2:00pm to prepare students for the pre travel assignment and week of travel. This class will follow the A term add/drop period. No program fee refunds will be given after the add/drop period has closed. Upon return from Tunisia, the class will meet for 6 weeks during the fall B term; students will continue to work on their projects during this time as well. Global Immersion Program classes bridge classroom lessons and business practices in another country. These three credit classes combine half a term in New York with a one week visit to the country of focus where students will meet with business executives and government officials while working on team projects. The 2025-2026 Global Immersion Program mandatory fee for all classes is $2100 and provides students with double occupancy lodging, ground transportation and some meals. It does
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Instructor:
Kamel Jedidi
Info - 3 points
Global Immersion: The Brazilia
Brazil is the largest national economy in Latin America, and the world's tenth largest. It is one of the world's leading producers and exporters of food, it has become self-sufficient in energy thanks to the development of ethanol and deep-sea drilling and has a sizeable and well-developed consumer market. It is also a stable and peaceful democracy. However, it is a complex economy with large inequalities and systemic deficiencies in infrastructure, education, and basic services. After a spurt of healthy and resilient growth for more than a decade, the economy is facing serious headwind lately. Most of Brazil’s problems, however, are self-inflicted and can be corrected. The purpose of the Global Immersion Program is to understand the sources and the challenges impacting current and future growth in the Brazilian economy, identify business opportunities that appear as the country grows and, through your research towards the final project, gain in-depth knowledge and become an “expert” in an aspect of Brazilian business and economics that particularly interests you. Global Immersion Program classes bridge classroom lessons and business practices in another country. These three credit classes meet for half a term in New York prior to a one week visit to the country of focus where students will meet with business executives and government officials while working on team projects. Upon return from the travel portion of the class, students will have a wrap up meeting at Columbia Business School. The course consists of six 1.5-hour sessions in New York during the first six weeks of Fall 2025 semester before traveling to Brazil. There will be a follow-up post-visit class for 2 hrs on a Friday in the B term.. We will be visiting companies and meeting with business leaders in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Attendance and regular participation both in New York and Brazil are a crucial part of the learning experience and as such attendance is mandatory. Students who miss the first class meeting may be removed from the course. No program fee refunds will be given after the add/drop period has closed. Travel to Brazil will take place October 12-18, 2025 to Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The 2024-2025 Global Immersion Program mandatory fee for all classes is $2100 and provides students with double occupancy lodging, ground transportation and some meals. It does not cover roundtrip international airfare. Attendance both in New York and in-country and regular participation are a crucial part of the learn
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Instructor:
Medini Singh
Info - 3 points
Global Immersion Program: Navigating Arg
GIP: Argentina
Argentina offers a unique context for understanding how macroeconomic volatility and shifting global dynamics shape business strategy and innovation. Over the past century, the country has experienced cycles of rapid growth, chronic inflation, sovereign defaults, and deep economic reforms, creating a resilient and highly adaptive business ecosystem. Argentina has globally competitive sectors in agriculture, energy, and technology, and plays an important role in global trade, connecting South America to China, the United States, and Europe. The country is currently undertaking major reform and stabilization efforts, including fiscal adjustment, monetary restructuring, and renewed engagement with international financial partners, such as the U.S. Treasury.
Building on the Argentina foundations introduced in the Global Economic Environment core course, this elective expands the coverage of Latin America while exploring the opportunities and challenges of operating in complex dynamics. It examines Argentina’s historical cycles, macroeconomic context, and the strategies that local and multinational companies have used to succeed in a volatile environment.
Argentina provides a compelling lens to study resilience and strategic adaptation. Companies in the country have developed sophisticated approaches to pricing, financing, supply chain management, and vertical integration under recurring instability, generating lessons transferable to other emerging and frontier markets. The course highlights the successes of firms such as Mercado Libre, Arcor, and YPF, as well as high-growth technology companies like Ualá and Despegar, analyzing how each navigated structural volatility to build competitive advantage.
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Instructor:
Brett House
Info - 3 points
Global Immersion: Ghana: A Gateway for E
Africa’s economy has grown significantly over the last several years, and among countries in Africa, Ghana has been a standout. Overall, Ghana is experiencing a period of robust economic stabilization, with the IMF recently revising the country's GDP growth forecast upward to 4.8% for 2026 following a strong 6.0% expansion in 2025. Investment is being aggressively attracted by the government’s new "24-Hour Economy" policy, which provides tax incentives and cheaper power to businesses operating multiple shifts to boost industrial output. A major driver of this influx is the country's reputation as the "Silicon Valley" of West Africa, a title earned through its high concentration of fintech startups and a digital-first infrastructure that outpaces its neighbors. Ghana also has focused on taking traditional businesses such as agricultural exports, and building out new infrastructure in manufacturing. Consequently, Ghana has repositioned itself as a leading gateway for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), offering a stable, innovative hub for Western firms looking to scale across the continent.
This course aims to train students’ knowledge of entrepreneurial ecosystems, i.e. their understanding of how the institutional laws, environment, and government policies, affect entrepreneurs across an ecosystem – using Ghana as a case study. A West African country with 29 million inhabitants, Ghana is changing rapidly but predicting how it will change and who will be able to capture entrepreneurial value is affected by the environment facing entrepreneurs. In this course we will peel back the component of institutional environments affecting entrepreneurs, using Ghana as our case study. This will allow students who want to invest in startups or build start ups of their own, valuable knowledge about how to “see” what is often hidden beneath the surface, but that affects the day to day lives of entrepreneurs. In addition to understanding entrepreneurship in West Africa, and Ghana in particular, the course should also strengthen student’s cultural intelligence, i.e. their capabilities to function and manage effectively in culturally diverse settings.
Please note this class will meet in the B term, and travel to Ghana will take place during December 12-19, 2026. This class adheres to full term add/drop but will not have a class meeting during the A term add/drop week; please reach out to the faculty or Chazen Institute with any questions you may have
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Instructor:
Adina Sterling
Info - 3 points