When I was working on my MBA, I wanted to study abroad to develop a global business mindset, but no such program existed at that time.
2019 Spring
Walt Conn – Conversations from the C-Suite
Walt Conn spends a lot of time on airplanes. The 1985 Harbert accounting alumnus is Global Chief Operating Officer—Quality, Risk and Regulatory for KPMG.
It all started with VHS tapes.
No streaming devices. No live classes on your phone.Heck, way before CDs. Before there was a Harbert College, distance learning started with VHS tapes and a VCR.
Walk a mile in their shoes
As business expands globally, so much rests on the ability of people from different cultures and countries to communicate faster than ever. But emphatic messages often dissolve into confusion. What begins as a significant conversation never reaches the other side of the table.
How the buildings we shape then shape us
In 1943, shortly after the German Blitzkrieg destroyed the Common Chamber of Parliament, Winston Churchill said, “We shape our buildings and afterwards, our buildings shape us.”
Student fund pursues steady growth
“We aren’t turning into a global marketplace—we have been one,” says Auburn Student Investment Fund (ASIF) vice president Jimmy Brewster.
Smoothing out snags with supply chain expertise
Imagine the ten most populous cities in the world. Local economies are improving. Buying power is increasing. Retail is saturated with online customers. It’s a potential supply chain nightmare—one that Harbert expertise can help avoid.
Lenders need to be consultants, too
Like businesses everywhere, small businesses in impoverished nations also depend on loans—often very small loans, or microfinancing—to get off the ground. Whether it’s operating a vegetable stand, selling goat milk, or offering other merchandise, a little financial jolt from the bank helps kick-start the business.
It’s what is on the inside that counts
Many companies focus on benevolent practices, humanitarian aid, or community service. But a strong corporate social responsibility record does not necessarily translate into better brand perception.
FDIC should help make small loans feasible for big banks
As finance professors, we have studied payday loans, banking, and small credit generally for years. We offer these thoughts on the FDIC’s request for information on small-dollar lending.