On October 25, the 2025 Fudan–Siyuan Global Leaders Forum was held at the Zhengli Campus of School of Management at Fudan University (Fudan SoM).

As the School celebrates the 40th anniversary of its re-establishment, representatives of the International Advisory Board of Fudan SoM joined faculty members, students, alumni, and partners from diverse sectors to embark on a forward-looking dialogue and exploration. Under the overarching theme of "Leading Transformation, Shaping the Future," the Forum brought together cross-sectoral wisdom to reflect on strategic choices and judgment in an era of profound change.

Professor Xiongwen Lu, Dean of Fudan SoM, chaired the Forum and delivered opening remarks. He briefly reviewed the School's four-decade development journey, noting that its achievements were forged through persistent reform and breakthrough amid challenges. He remarked that last year's Fudan–Siyuan Global Leaders Forum marked the first major event following the opening of the Zhengli Campus, while this year's Forum serves as a key intellectual platform within the School's 40th anniversary commemorations—conveying the School's vision and values through dialogue with global leaders.

Dean Lu emphasized that the global business environment is undergoing profound transformation. Technological disruption, market restructuring, and international geopolitics are placing higher demands on management education. The ability to seize the momentum of the times and transform accordingly, he noted, is among the most critical challenges facing modern leaders. He underscored that humanity shares common questions, missions, and aspirations. Diversity, inclusiveness, openness, and equality are hallmarks of human civilization, while sustainable development remains a shared challenge and enduring pursuit. The four distinguished speakers—spanning industries, bridging East and West, and integrating theory with practice—embodied precisely the wisdom and strength required to explore how to lead transformation and shape the future.

Mr. Ronnie C. Chan, Vice Chairman of the International Advisory Board of Fudan SoM, Honorary Chair of Hang Lung Group Limited, and Honorary Chair of Hang Lung Properties Limited, delivered a keynote speech titled "Advancing the Role of Global Enterprises and the Speed of Chinese Capital amid Geopolitical Uncertainty." He observed that globalization has undergone structural change and entered a phase of de-globalization. In an environment characterized by rapid change and heightened uncertainty, he stressed that managers must possess strong adaptability and resilience to respond effectively across diverse contexts. He further emphasized that talent development should extend beyond professional skills to include training in the humanities and social sciences, enabling leaders to remain competitive in an increasingly complex global landscape. Future management talent, he stated, must be broadly informed about global politics, capable of cross-disciplinary thinking, and equipped to navigate complexity. Business schools can better prepare students for the next 10, 20, or even 30 years of professional challenges by integrating curricula that enhance humanistic literacy and holistic perspectives.

Mr. Arnd Franz, Member of the International Advisory Board of Fudan SoM and President and Chief Executive Officer of the MAHLE Group Management Board, delivered a keynote speech titled "Sustainability vs. Growth: A Dilemma? The Strategic Approach of a Global Automotive Supplier." He outlined MAHLE's more than 100-year history and global footprint, and examined the multiple challenges currently facing the automotive industry and the world at large. From perspectives including geopolitical tensions, market slowdown, supply chain disruptions, rising energy costs, and carbon neutrality targets, he discussed pathways toward addressing global warming and decarbonizing mobility. These pathways include electrification, hybrid technologies, renewable fuels, and hydrogen solutions, alongside insights into the company's "MAHLE 2030+ Strategy."

Mr. X. Rick Niu, Member of the International Advisory Board of Fudan SoM, Chief Executive Officer of Nexus International Group, and Global Board Member of Junior Achievement Worldwide, delivered a keynote speech titled "Mission-Led Leadership: How Global Business Education Shapes a Shared Future." Focusing on the mission of global business education in a rapidly changing world, he explored the importance of purpose-driven leadership in shaping industries, policies, and ideas amid accelerated flows of technology, capital, and information. He also shared reflections on how China can sustain competitiveness in future development trajectories.

Professor François Ortalo-Magné, Member of the International Advisory Board of Fudan SoM, Executive Dean for External Relations at London Business School, and Professor of Management Practice in Economics and Strategy and Entrepreneurship, delivered a keynote speech titled "Sustaining Excellence in Business Education." He noted that business schools have thrived through rigorous research systems, healthy competition fostered by rankings and regulatory mechanisms, the rise of well-funded non-academic competitors, and continuous innovation in technology and pedagogy. At the same time, he cautioned that these very forces are eroding funding support for researchers and research projects. To address this, he advocated for the concept of "integrated scholarship" -- breaking disciplinary boundaries to integrate theoretical inquiry, practical application, and educational transmission -- in order to sustain the relevance of academic insights and strengthen the research foundations of business education. Aligning with Fudan SoM's Sci-Tech Innovation Strategy, he called for reforms in faculty evaluation and incentive systems to reward problem-driven, interdisciplinary collaboration and industry–academia integration, thereby enhancing the sustainability and societal impact of future research.

Representatives attending the Forum also included Mr. Vincent H. S. Lo, Vice Chairman of the International Advisory Board of Fudan SoM and Chairman of Shui On Group, as well as Mr. Fang Liu, Member Representative of the International Advisory Board and Deputy General Manager and Board Secretary of Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

The Fudan–Siyuan Global Leaders Forum was initiated and founded by Fudan SoM in 2014 and is generously supported by the Siyuan Foundation, established by Honorary International Advisory Board Member alumnus Zengtao Chen and his spouse Qiming Chenxu. Over the past decade, the Forum has brought together members of the School's International Advisory Board alongside distinguished leaders and thinkers from global political, business, and academic communities, serving as a key platform through which the School connects with the world.