Time: 18:30-20:30, Mon, May.19^th, 2014
Venue: Room 303, Starr Building, School of Management
Topic: The BIG issues and leadership
Speaker: Dr. Ramin Khadem, Former CFO of Inmarsat Plc., Guest professor of Tsinghua University

Introduction of the speaker:
Ramin is the former CFO of Inmarsat Plc. based in London, England. He was one of the initial individuals who helped start the organization, was involved in its subsequent privatization and conversion to a public company, then in its sale to private equity and ultimately its preparation for listing on the stock exchange. Following Inmarsat he served several years as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the International Space University based in Strasbourg, France. A major project was setting up of a joint summer school together with China Aerospace Scientific and Commercial Corporation and Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics to bring students from around the world for an intensive course on all aspects of space education in China. He has also been consulting to business in areas of financial performance and structure notably to the telecom, space and satellite industries. He is involved as a principal in a space project related to the Moon.

Currently, he is a Non-executive Director on the Board of SOHO China Ltd and Chairman of its Audit Committee and serves on the board of other enterprises in the UK and US and some charitable organizations. He teaches an MBA course at Tsinghua University and makes his home in London, England.  He has a Bachelor of Science from University of Illinois, and Masters and Ph.D. degrees in economics from McGill University in Canada, including specialized training at MIT and Harvard Business School.

Abstract:
What are the really big issues facing humanity over the next few decades? A review shows that most are quite daunting and have the potential to derail the progress mankind has made over the last century and lead us into a very uncertain, even frightening future. Yet, these big issues and challenges open up massive opportunities for action from hydroponic farming and water conservation to mega philanthropy and impact investing to nanotechnology and quantum computing. But the greatest scope for good arises from a transformation in the mind-set of those in position of leadership particularly, those in business and commerce, to become passionate about value creation in all their actions. Value creation is not to be measured only in financial terms but also in terms of additional benefits that flow to society, termed by Michael Porter as “shared value”.  To get there a new form of leadership is needed that is transformative and beyond the dominant styles traditionally ascribed to business. When practiced widely it will become acutely mindful of its social responsibility, in promoting sustainability, in instilling ethics and in the creation of goodwill, teamwork and unity. In the process transformative leadership will overlay a passion for excellence and achievement on top of good financial performance.