CREATIVITY IN BUSINESS
- MTWRF 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
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Instructor:
Faculty
h-index: 37 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.
- R 2 p.m.-6 p.m.
- R 9 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
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Instructor:
Gernot Wagner
Wikipedia Info -
Instructor:
Mark Rodgers
Info - 1.5 points
Global Immersion Tech in Africa: Innova
This immersive course explores the dynamic tech landscape of Africa, with a special focus on Nairobi, Kenya. Known as "Silicon Savannah," Nairobi has emerged as a leading hub for innovation, startups, and technological advancement on the continent. The city is renowned for its vibrant tech ecosystem, which includes pioneering initiatives like M-Pesa, the revolutionary mobile money transfer service that has transformed financial inclusion across Africa. Throughout the course, we will delve into various facets of the African tech scene. We will learn about the historical evolution of technology in Africa and how Nairobi has become a pivotal center for tech innovation. The course will cover a broad spectrum of sectors where technology is making a significant impact, such as financial technology (FinTech), agriculture technology (AgriTech), healthcare technology (HealthTech), and educational technology (EdTech). The class will compose of a mixture of lectures that provide theoretical foundations and case studies and guest lectures from industry leaders. The in-country portion will have visits to tech hubs, startups, and multinational companies. M-Pesa will not only serves as a case study in the transformative power of mobile technology but also illustrates how African solutions can lead the way in global tech innovation. The course also aims to address the unique challenges faced by tech startups in Africa, such as regulatory hurdles, infrastructure limitations, and cultural factors affecting tech adoption. The class will allow students to identify and analyze these challenges while exploring the abundant opportunities within the African tech market. Ultimately, the course seeks to critically evaluate the impact of technology on economic and social development in Africa, fostering a deep understanding of how innovative solutions are driving progress across the continent. Please note this class will meet in the A term, and travel to Kenya will take place during December 6-13, 2025. A predeparture meeting will be held on November 20 during the lunch break. 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 not cover roundtrip international airfare. Attendance both in New York and in-country and regular participation 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
- T 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
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Instructor:
Stephan Meier
h-index: 33 Info - 3 points
Global Immersion: Consulting and Advisin
GIP: Family Enterprises I
Prerequisites / Co-requisites
Students must have completed or be currently enrolled in the following courses:
B8579: Navigating Dynamics and Conflicts in Family Enterprise
B8521: Foundations of Family Enterprise
Many advisors mistakenly equate years of practice with competence, overlooking the need for specialized training in family enterprises. Research highlights a troubling misalignment: while family firms prioritize relational concerns as key drivers of business operations, strategy, decision-making, and work roles, advisors often focus on structural and cognitive aspects. This misalignment can lead to ineffective or even damaging outcomes for both the family and the business. The primary objectives of this course are to identify and build the skills related to the profession of advising family enterprises to increase the potential for creating long-term value for clients and advisors and to create awareness around the biggest risks and mistakes advisors may encounter while advising family enterprises, exploring the concept of code of ethics. This course aims to bridge the gap between advisors' general practices and the specific needs of family enterprises by providing specialized education and firsthand cultural experiences. As culture plays a significant role in shaping the decision-making process of enterprising families, particularly in terms of individualism and collectivism, this class offers a unique opportunity to explore the profound impact of these factors on the identity of such families. By immersing ourselves in Italy, we will witness collectivism in action, gaining invaluable insights into its influence within families and among advisors. Moreover, this international trip provides a platform to experience firsthand the contrasting dynamics of transactional and relational environments, enhancing our understanding of the multifaceted nature of business relationships. By the end of this course, participants will have explored and experienced the core of advising family enterprises as a profession, including appreciating specific skills, interpersonal and value-based competencies, and concrete behaviors showing professionalism to be better prepared to appreciate and navigate the complexities of family enterprises. Travel to Italy will take place during spring break, March, 15-21, 2026. The 2025-2026 Global Immersion Program mandatory fee for all classes is $2100 and provides students with double occupancy lodging, g
- T 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
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Instructor:
Gaia Marchisio
Info - 3 points
Global Immersion: Green Industrial Polic
Global Immersion: Europe
Europe is at the forefront of climate policy globally. It has ambitious goals, concrete plans, and is working hard on the implementation. It is also facing significant challenges, from high energy costs to sluggish economic growth. Germany, Europe’s largest economy, has been in a recession for 2 years. This class will explore climate through the lens of green industrial policy in Europe, with an eye toward hard-to-abate sectors like steel and cement, the challenges facing companies in these sectors, and the opportunities a push into clean and low-carbon technologies provides.
- M 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
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Instructor:
Gernot Wagner
Wikipedia Info - 3 points
Industry Immersion Program American Inn
GIP: Climate Tech
Climate change represents one of the most significant challenges of our time, fundamentally driven by human activities and amplified by the rapid pace of industrialization and economic growth. At its core, climate change is as much a technological problem as it is an environmental one – enabled by outdated methods of energy production, inefficient resource management, and unsustainable infrastructure. At the same time, technology holds immense promise for solutions for mitigating emissions and adapting to the impacts of a warming planet.
American Innovation in Climate Tech is a spring semester elective course designed for Columbia Business School students to explore the cutting edge of innovation in climate technologies. It aims to provide students with exposure to a range of industries and companies at the forefront of innovation. We will explore the latest breakthroughs and emerging technologies for addressing climate impacts in energy generation, alternative fuels, grid modernization, mobility, decarbonized materials, agriculture, and carbon management. By analyzing recent advancements and engaging directly with industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and project developers, students will gain practical insights into how new technologies are developed, piloted, and commercialized.
- T 4:10 p.m.-5:40 p.m.
- 3 points
Global Immersion Malaysia: Developm
Global Immersion: Malaysi
Malaysia offers a unique example of economic transformation. Our course explores the country from three lenses: development, dynamism, and diversity.
Within a single generation of its 1957 independence, Malaysia progressed from “poor” to “upper-middle income” status. Its GDP per capita, now third highest in Southeast Asia, is supported by a thriving middle class. Its economy has diversified from reliance on agriculture and commodities to a broad range of industrial and service sectors. Part of the ASEAN regional alliance, Malaysia has deep trade ties not only in Southeast Asia but also with China, India, the US, and the EU.
Malaysia has remarkable diversity. While a majority of the population is of Malay or indigenous ethnicity, roughly a quarter of the population is of Chinese descent and nearly 7% is of Indian descent. These unique demographics add to the linguistic, cultural, and social dynamism of Malaysia.
Some of the questions that we examine include:
• How has Malaysia achieved and sustained its economic growth?
• What initiatives were taken to diversify the economy from agriculture and commodities to a broad range of manufacturing and services sectors?
• How does Malaysia collaborate (and compete) with its neighbors in Southeast Asia? How does it engage with China and India?
• In what ways has diversity been a source of strength for Malaysia? In what ways has it introduced challenges?
• What is the landscape of major Malaysia-based institutions across sectors?
• What role do government-linked companies (GLCs) play in Malaysia’s economy?
• How have the Ministry of Finance, central bank (Bank Negara Malaysia) and Securities Commission collaborated on strategic plans to grow the country’s finance sector?
• What role might Malaysia and the ASEAN region play in students' post-CBS careers and personal lives?
- T 10:50 a.m.-12:20 p.m.
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Instructor:
Aamir Rehman
Info - 3 points
Global Immersion: The Innovation and Ent
Global Immersion: Israel
This Global Immersion course provides students with knowledge, insights, and experiences with respect to Israel’s innovation ecosystem. What is the “secret sauce” that propelled Israel to its present leadership position, a global innovation and entrepreneurship hub often referred to as “startup nation,” that hails the highest concentration of startups and unicorns per capita? The course's in-class meetings and its one week visit to Israel will provide background and hands on exposure to some of the key drivers, including leadership, politics, economics, geography, and culture. Students will gain an understanding of Israel's unique circumstances and achievements through a combination of academic learnings, guest speakers, business and government leaders that will share first hand experiences and perspectives, and on-the-ground exposure to Israeli businesses, cultural and historical sites. This Global Immersion course begins with six 1.5-hour sessions, followed by a one-week study trip to Israel. The course's pedagogy combines current examples, presentations, guest visits by leaders from business and government. Travel to Israel is planned for March 14-21, 2026. The 2025-2026 Global Immersion Program fee for all classes is $2100 and provides students with double occupancy lodging, ground transportation and some meals; unless an increased fee is otherwise specified in the course description. It does not cover roundtrip international airfare. Attendance both in New York and in country and regular participation are a crucial part of the learning experience and as such attendance is mandatory. Unexcused absences are highly frowned upon and will have negative consequences on class grade, and students who have expected conflicts should not apply for this course. 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. Please visit the Chazen Institute website to learn more about the Global Immersion Program, and visit the Global Immersion Policies page to review policies affecting these courses. The ongoing conflict in the region over the past two years has fortunately culminated in a recent cease fire, of which the US was instrumental in brokering and enforcing. Nevertheless, it is possible that if the security situation deteriorates, we will have to cancel and offer an alternative travel plan. At present, Columbia's travel insurance provider categorizes Israel and th
- M 10:50 a.m.-12:20 p.m.
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Instructor:
Assaf Zeevi
h-index: 40 Info - 3 points
Global Immersion: Lessons from Rwanda on
Global Immersion: Rwanda
Parts of Africa are now some of the most exciting regions of the world for business. A growing number of African countries have achieved steady, high growth rates during the last few decades. A wide range of sectors in these “lion” economies – commodities, tourism, agribusiness, eCommerce, oil and gas, retail, etc. – are buzzing with activity and attention from foreign investors and multinationals.
But how can companies and investors enter and operate efficiently in African countries? What challenges characterize the private sector in Africa, how do they vary with context, and what strategies can firms and organizations adopt to overcome them? Where can new MBAs interested in Africa add the most value?
Rwanda is a wonderful country to explore and address these questions. In 1994, Rwanda suffered a brutal genocide in which nearly 1 million people were killed in a 3-month period. In the years since the genocide, the country has rebuilt with remarkable results. Rwanda is now one of the safest countries in Africa. Rwandans now live side by side in peace, the country’s economy continues to grow rapidly, and Rwanda has made great strides in reducing poverty and increasing entrepreneurship, education, and access to health care. Further, the country has been praised for its handling of the COVID pandemic. Armed with frameworks and analytical tools from management and economics, we will meet with executives in Rwanda to understand the leadership practices, processes, and structures that have led to Rwanda’s remarkable recovery, reconciliation, current peace, and economic growth.
About the Global Immersion Program
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 may have one wrap up meeting at Columbia Business School. The 2023-2024 Global Immersion Program fee for most classes is $1950 and provides students with double occupancy lodging, ground transportation and some meals; unless an increased fee is otherwise specified in the course description. It does not cover round-trip international airfare. Attendance both in New York and in-country and regular participation are a crucial part of the learning experience and as such attendance is mandatory. Stud
- W 10:50 a.m.-12:20 p.m.
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Instructor:
Syrena Shirley
Info - 3 points
Global Immersion: Philippines:
The Philippines is Asia’s rising tiger. It is among the world’s fastest-growing economies with average annual growth of 6 to 7% per year. After a dip in GDP growth during 2020 due to Covid, the economic growth rebounded to 7.6% during 2022. Average annual GDP per person has risen dramatically over the past two decades, from below US$ 1,000 per person in 2000 to US$ 3,500 by 2022. Philippines is on track to become one-trillion dollar economy by 2033. The central bank, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, is well managed and follows a sound monetary policy. The long-term prospect for the country is contingent upon improvement in governance, reducing income inequality, tackling corruption and a better regulatory environment. After losing its way for the past few decades, Philippines seems to be on the right path. We will develop a strong foundation in understanding Philippines’ history, economy, industry and competitive position, before we visit the country. The Global Immersion Program is structured to create this depth through readings and classroom discussion. This course will travel to the Philippines March 14-21, 2026 to Manila, Philippines’ business hub and an island that is yet to be confirmed. 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 not cover roundtrip international airfare into Manila and out of the second location. Attendance both in New York and in-country and regular participation 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. Please note all international travel involves risk. We do not control the cities and companies we visit. We try our best to plan a safe trip with positive experience. However, if your tolerance for risk or uncertainties is low, GIP is not for you. No program fee refunds will be given after the add/drop period has closed. Please visit the Chazen Institute website to learn more about the Global Immersion Program, and visit the Global Immersion Policies page to review policies affecting these courses.
- W 4:10 p.m.-5:40 p.m.
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Instructor:
Medini Singh
Info - 3 points
Global Immersion South Africa:
South Africa has transformed itself into an economic and political power, with membership in the G20 and BRICS, and a dynamic business ecosystem. This forward-looking course will consider the opportunities created by South Africa’s multiple identities, the implications of its particular history, its current challenges, and its position between advanced and emerging markets. Students will develop an intimate understanding of South Africa’s commercial environment and extract insights on creating impact in a range of economic landscapes. The course will delve into South Africa’s ongoing post-apartheid transition, the role of natural resources in South Africa, developments in the country’s new-economy sectors, prospects for innovation and entrepreneurship, and the possibilities created by integration with the African continent. The class will travel to Johannesburg and Cape Town during March 14–21, 2026; the first mandatory in-country meeting will be dinner on March 14 in Jo’burg. The 2025–26 Global Immersion Program mandatory fee for all courses is $2,100 and provides students with double occupancy lodging, ground transportation, and some meals; roundtrip international airfare is not covered. Attendance in New York and in-country, as well as regular participation, are crucial parts of the learning experience; hence, full attendance is mandatory. Students who miss the first in-class meeting may be removed from the course. No program fee refunds will be given after the add/drop period has closed. Please consult the Chazen Institute website to learn more about the Global Immersion Program (GIP). Note that all international travel involves some risks and uncertainties as we do not control the sites that we visit. We draw on our expertise and experience to make every reasonable effort to create a positive and safe learning environment in New York and in-country. The primacy of our safety objective may at times require changes to or deviations from pre-announced programming. If your tolerance for risk or uncertainties is low, the GIP is not the right choice for you.
- F 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
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Instructor:
Brett House
Info - 3 points
Global Immersion: Foundations of VC in J
Global Immersion: FVC in
Learning Objectives: (1) To understand and experience the process of investing in early stage startups and how that differs between the US and Japan (a) Sourcing deals from the startup ecosystem (b) Conducting diligence (c) Valuing startups (d) Negotiating term sheets (financial and governance terms) (e) Managing a portfolio post investment (2) To understand the investing landscape: players and resources (3) To understand the structural differences between venture capital and angel investing. This course covers many of the same topics as Foundations of VC and therefore students will not be able to take them both for credit. The course will travel during spring break March 14-21, 2026 to Tokyo, Japan. 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 may have one wrap up meeting at Columbia Business School. The 2025-2026 Global Immersion Program fee for all classes is $2100 and provides students with double occupancy lodging, ground transportation and some meals; unless an increased fee is otherwise specified in the course description. It does not cover roundtrip international airfare. Attendance both in New York and in country and regular participation 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. Please visit the Chazen Institute website to learn more about the Global Immersion Program, and visit the Global Immersion Policies page to review policies affecting these courses.
- T 2:20 p.m.-3:50 p.m.
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Instructor:
Angela W Lee
Info - 3 points
AI for Academic Research
This course will teach PhD students to use agentic AI to improve their research process. The goal is to go from project development, to data collection to measurement, analysis, verification, writing, and communication. Students are
expected to work on their own research projects and produce reproducible, verifiable, novel, and hopefully important research with the assistance of AI.
- R 2:20 p.m.-5:35 p.m.
- 3 points