Schedule

Join Director Mauro Guillen at this exclusive Lauder reception to learn about new program initiatives and The Lauder Institute Challenge: Investing in Global Leaders. To register, please contact Kimberly Norton at kanorton@wharton.upenn.edu.

Join us for this facilitated networking breakfast session where you will meet other women from Wharton. This is an opportunity to cultivate a network of peers. It is also a chance to discuss the challenges and opportunities that women encounter in the business world. Learn from the wisdom of other alumnae, while making new friends and professional contacts.

Travel and tourism growth remains robust throughout the region and is an important contributor to local economies. The future of the sector is increasingly shaped by three major forces: (1) eco and sustainable tourism that respects and protects sites of cultural and environmental significance, (2) "specialized" tourism including medical and related products, and (3) the shift in demand makeup (away from traditional markets in the US and Europe). The panel will discuss these and other issues and provide a unique perspective on how Thailand differentiates and competes in this global sector.

Myanmar is hoping to follow its fellow ASEAN countries like Thailand and Malaysia to higher economic growth and prosperity. This panel will explore what conditions are necessary for faster growth and how trade and investment might foster that growth. Are there opportunities for investors and how might these investments accelerate Myanmar’s growth?

The energy landscape has changed dramatically in the last several years, providing both opportunities and challenges in Asia. Crude oil and natural gas prices have fallen precipitously in the near term, offering opportunities in downstream sectors. Fracking has unleashed a technological revolution for natural gas provision which is quickly spreading. At the same time, climate change and rapid growth in Asia has led to an accelerating need to shift to alternative energy sources such as hydro, wind and solar.

With Asia expected to rapidly account for the majority of global energy demand, what are the key business challenges and how can alternative energy best position itself to grow even further in Asia? What can governments do to help? Panelists will give their perspectives on the significant volatility in the energy market, recent oil price declines, and the future of world energy supply, and the implications of technological breakthroughs and their impact on the alternative energy market.

M.R. Pridiyathorn Devakula, Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister, told the World Economic Forum (Davos) in January that ASEAN “…will have a single market by the end of the year.” However, reaping the benefits of economic integration requires well developed national and regional infrastructure -- ports, roads, rail links, communications, and an energy grid. At this point there is general agreement that ASEAN infrastructure is not sufficient to support an effective regional economic community. That raises questions about both Thailand’s and ASEAN’s most important infrastructure needs, what projects are currently underway, whether cross-national or regional projects are planned or if regional coordination is taking place, the levels and sources of funding needed to meet infrastructure needs, and whether funding will be public or private or some combination of the two (PPPs). The possible role for foreign investors is also of interest.

In recent years advances in cognitive neuroscience have broadened our understanding of the neural substrates of decision making. How can we use the results of neuroscience research to improve our strategic reasoning and decision making skills? This session will focus on how to incorporate in our work lives recent research on the role of values in decision making, the importance of intuition and emotional reasoning, and how individuals process risk and reward. Neuroscience research suggests that most people associate strategy with rational thinking and other high-level functions of the brain, but that the best strategic thinkers show more activity in parts of the brain linked with emotion and intuition.

David and Assaf discuss the transforming power of digital and social media through the lens of Assaf's career from his graduation from the Wharton School through his current position as Head of Ad Operations and Account Services at LinkedIn. The discussion focuses on: (1) how digital media redefines advertising and communications, (2) the role of social media networks and platforms in ad delivery, and (3) potential career paths and key learnings in this critical business landscape. The discussion will illustrate key issues with examples from LinkedIn and other prominent platforms.

This highly interactive session considers the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) from the perspective of the firm. Beginning with a very short introduction to the agreement, topics of interest to firms are discussed including market access, nontariff barriers, “regulatory coherence,” qualification for special programs, and dispute resolution. The participants then work together to develop a checklist for firms to work through regarding potential affects/uses of the TPP.

On-site registration will not be offered at the gala dinner. Please wear your name badge as it is required for entrance.

The middle-class accounts for the bulk of the global consumer market. Over the last two decades, more than 500 million people have joined the middle class around the world, mostly in Asia. What are the economic aspirations of the new global middle class? What categories of goods and services will they find attractive and necessary? What is the right way to brand, position, and sell products to the emerging global middle class of consumers? What should be the balance between online and brick-and-mortar approaches?

This session considers those countries that have been most successful in raising growth rates (starting with Japan in the 1960s), and their long term patterns of international equity returns. The outcomes for equity investors will be discussed, along with the American model of providing entrepreneurs special access to financing for innovative projects through the venture capital market.

In a rapidly changing and every more interconnected global environment, firms and managers increasingly turn to acquisitions and divestitures to capitalize on new market opportunities and refine their scope. In this session we will explore the newest ideas in the use of acquisitions to implement corporate strategy. In addition we will discuss the rising incidence of divestiture as a pro-active device to change firms scope. We will use examples of successful and unsuccessful transactions from different global markets to identify and illustrate new developments in this domain.

In this session, we make the financial case for the strategic and efficient cultivation of talent on a large scale. We consider in detail the options for growing talent quickly and different ways of acquiring it, such as "lift-outs," where entire teams are brought in an alternative to buying a company; joint ventures; and partnering with outsourced-talent.

Increasingly, the separation of online and offline is evaporating. Traditional offline retailers are incorporating online strategies and online retailers are adding physical presence in key markets.

Add to the mix innovative "go to market" strategies such as flash sales, pop-up stores and social event retailing and we have perhaps the most dynamic retail environment ever imagined.

Tom will set the stage with a quick overview of this new retail world with examples from Asian markets. David will summarize his unique GRAVITY framework of real world-virtual world interaction from his book, Location Is (Still) Everything, and will explain what retailers must consider in order to succeed in the rapidly merging retail environment.

Minimum: 8 persons
Maximum: 50 persons
Vehicle: Transfer by long-tail boat
Dress code:

NO sleeveless shirt, see-through blouse, skintight blouse

NO all type of shorts or three-quarter trousers, skintight trousers, mini skirt, culotte

Maximum: 100 persons
Vehicle: Transfer by coach

Dress code:     

• NO sleeveless shirt, see-through blouse, skintight blouse
• NO all type of shorts or three-quarter trousers, skintight trousers, mini skirt, culotte and fisherman's trousers.
• Gentlemen must wear cover-knee trousers, covered shoes.
• Ladies must wear cover-knee skirt. No pants are allowed for ladies, covered shoes. 

The Arts of the Kingdom at AnantaSamakhom Throne Hall displays the masterpiece handiwork created by members of agricultural families, who learned Thai artistic skills from the Chitralada Arts and Crafts Centre under H.M. the Queen's Royal Patronage.

Examples of the delicate works shown here are the replicas of royal thrones and barges. In addition, there are beautiful embroidered screens and the replica of the royal dinner table once used for receiving the royal guests on King Bhumibol's 60th coronation anniversary on June 9, 2006.

Each piece of work has an English label describing its details.

Then visit one of Bangkok's most beautiful temples, WatBenchamabophit, also known as "The Marble Temple". The temple is a magnificent example of the Bangkok architectural style with its multi tiered roofs, elegant Chofahs at the top end of the roof and the beautiful gold carvings. The white marble and the golden decorated windows give the ubosot a delightful appearance, especially in the sunlight. On either side of the entrance is a large stone lion, guarding the temple.

Minimum: 10 persons
Maximum: 50 persons
Vehicle: Transfer by minivan
Dress code: Comfortable outfit with sport shoes

Starting in the heart of Chinatown, the ride explores its frenetic market environment. Winding through narrow alleyways, the senses come alive with the sights, sounds, and smells of a community in motion. We'll pass by shophouses selling everything from Buddhist amulets to recycled truck engines. Locals worshiping at hidden temples, ritual paper burnings, and the omnipresent spirit house display evidence of a culture centuries in the making.

Crossing the Chao Phraya River with majestic views of the city skyline behind us, we visit Thonburi, the historic third capital of Thailand. Contrasting chaotic Chinatown, peaceful elements of local Thai life abound as we cycle through diverse residential communities. Inquisitive smiles and friendly greetings reinforce the feeling we have truly left the "beaten path" and are now experiencing the REAL Thailand.

Maximum: 100 persons
Vehicle: Transfer by coach and back to hotel by express boat

Dress code:     

• NO sleeveless shirt, see-through blouse, skintight blouse (These types of shirts/blouses are not permitted even if a jacket or a shawl is worn over these shirts or blouses).
• NO all type of shorts or three-quarter trousers, skintight trousers, mini skirt, culotte and fisherman's trousers. Trousers/ Skirt must cover knees
• NO Flip flop.
• Nice Sandals are fine but covered shoes are highly recommended.

Elegantly situated next to the Chao Phraya River and dominating the south-western end are the fluted spires and golden domes of the Grand Palace.  The beauty of the Palace grounds is matched by its stately buildings. The more prominent ones are the Throne Hall, State Reception Hall and Coronation Hall, each richly decorated in its own style in a fabulous array of colors.  In one corner of the Palace grounds is WatPhraKeo, the Chapel of the Emerald Buddha, which houses the highly revered green image of Lord Buddha, whose history is shrouded in legend. The 75-cm-high statue of translucent jade sits atop an 11-meter golden pedestal.  The temple compound is packed with richly decorated pavilions, each one an outstanding example of Buddhist architecture, as well as mythical giants, garudas and monkey warriors. A magnificent mural around the outer walls depicts the gallant deeds of the Ramanya epic.

End of the Grand Palace Tour with the Queen SirikitMusuem of Textile to experience the dress of Thai ladies and the story of how HM Queen Sirikit has helped turn Thai silk from a simple local handicraft into a key export and an icon of Thailand. Highlights includ

Minimum: 15 persons
Maximum: 38 persons
Vehicle: Transfer by minivan
Dress code: Comfortable outfit

Adding "spice" to Thailand's culture is its wonderful cuisine containing a huge variety of seasoned Thai dishes. Learn the art of Thai cooking and discover how to make its delightful flavors dance on your tongue. A Thai food expert will explain the secrets of the spices and herbs used in cooking Thai food then let you shop for your ingredients.

After that, you are center stage, cooking - and sampling - your own creations.