SLU International Business Now

SLU International Business Now is a podcast produced by the Boeing Institute of International Business at Saint Louis University's Chaifetz School of Business exploring key issues in international business today with critical thought leaders from around the world. 

Join a new guest host each month from the Boeing Institute's Advisory Board of business executives as they discuss topics ranging from post-Brexit Europe to COVID market recovery, geo-economic strategies, the green deal and much more with leading global experts in international business.

View Full Episode List on Buzzsprout

Episode 15: International Franchising

featuring Ahmed Al Lawendy

Franchising can help a business successfully enter new markets by leveraging the market knowledge and expertise of the franchise partners. At the same time, compatibility is seen as an important characteristic of long-term franchise success. Join host Gene Cunningham for a special conversation with Ahmed Al Lawendy to hear how Al Jomaih Holdings of Saudi Arabia and US-headquartered Enterprise Holdings created a successful vehicle leasing franchise in Saudi Arabia and expanded into additional markets. 

Ahmed most recently served as the chief operating officer for AJAR (Al Jomaih Auto Rent). He oversaw the operations for AJAR, the Master Franchisee for Enterprise, National, and Alamo vehicle leasing in GCC countries, Jordan, Lebanon and Austria. 

View Guest Ahmed Al Lawendy's LinkedIn

Episode 14: Meds & Food for Kids: International Social Enterprise Perspectives

featuring Dr. Patricia Wolff and Chris Greene

Join Boeing Institute of International Business Advisory Board member Todd Hovermale as he leads a discussion with Dr. Patricia Wolff and Chris Greene from Meds & Food for Kids, a nonprofit organization based in Haiti. This episode dives into the background and operations of this inspirational and important work of this organization. To learn more or to donate to MFK, please visit their website. 

Dr. Wolff is the founder and executive director of Meds & Food for Kids, an organization with four main activities: Haitian production of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTFs) for treatment of malnourishment in children and pregnant women; treatment of malnourished children and supplementation of pregnant women; an agricultural program that helps Haitian farmers grow low-aflatoxin peanuts with higher yields, which are then purchased and used for RUTFs; development of a nutritious school snack and evaluation of the efficacy and acceptability of the snack among impoverished school children. Dr. Wolff also studies the prevention of malnutrition in at-risk babies in the urban slums of Haiti.

Chris Greene serves as CEO of Meds & Food for Kids. He started his career in management of an entrepreneurial beverage distribution business, overseeing a staff of 20 with over 100 accounts. He joined Meds & Food for Kids based in Haiti in 2015 and ran the manufacturing and distribution operations for 5 years. Chris then established a consulting business based in Georgia. Meds & Food for Kids recruited him back as CEO in June of 2022.

Guest Patricia Wolff's LinkedIn
Guest Chris Greene's LinkedIn

Episode 13: Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency, Part Two

featuring Brian Dixon

Join SLU's Chaifetz School of Business professors Dr. Naresh Bansal and Dr. Norman Guo as they discuss the world of Bitcoin with industry expert Brian Dixon. In part two of this two part series, Brian takes a deeper dive into the intricacies of Bitcoin and its role in international business operations.

Guest Brian Dixon is president of Off the Chain Capital, and has developed a robust background in technology, digital assets and investment. He has written three books covering bitcoin, blockchain and other advanced technologies and a fourth lifestyle book covering intuition, manifestation, diet, exercise and the power of consciousness. His expertise and knowledge in the tech space have afforded him over 70 features in publications such as Forbes, Inc., TechCrunch, Entrepreneur, Blockworks and many more. 

Dr. Naresh Bansal is a professor of finance and Finance Department chair at Saint Louis University's Chaifetz School of Business. Dr. Norman Guo is an assistant professor of finance at the Chaifetz School of Business, and will be debuting a class in Spring 2023 featuring the latest topics on cryptocurrency and blockchain applications in business. 

Guest Brian Dixon's LinkedIn
Co-host Naresh Bansal's LinkedIn
Co-host Norman Guo's LinkedIn

Episode 12: Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Basics, Part One

featuring Brian Dixon

Join Chaifetz School of Business professors Dr. Naresh Bansal and Dr. Norman Guo as they discuss the world of Bitcoin with industry expert Brian Dixon. In part one of this two-part series, Brian helps listeners learn about bitcoin and cryptocurrency in an easy and efficient way. This episode sets the stage for part two of this episode series (to be released in October 2022), where we take a deeper dive into bitcoin and its role in corporations and international business operations.

Guest Brian Dixon is president of Off the Chain Capital, and has developed a robust background in technology, digital assets, and investment. He has written three books covering bitcoin, blockchain and other advanced technologies and a fourth lifestyle book covering intuition, manifestation, diet, exercise and the power of consciousness. His expertise and knowledge in the tech space have afforded him over 70 features in publications such as Forbes, Inc., TechCrunch, Entrepreneur, Blockworks and many more. 

Dr. Naresh Bansal is a professor of finance and Finance Department chair at Saint Louis University's Chaifetz School of Business. Dr. Norman Guo is an Assistant Professor of Finance at the Chaifetz School of Business, and will be debuting a class in Spring 2023 featuring the latest topics on cryptocurrency and blockchain applications in business. 

Guest Brian Dixon's LinkedIn
Co-host Naresh Bansal's LinkedIn
Co-host Norman Guo's LinkedIn

Episode 11: Benson Hill: A Recent IPO Grows Internationally

featuring Andres Martin

Join host Jeff Klopfenstein and his guest Andres Martin as they delve into how a recent IPO, Benson Hill, is growing internationally. Andres is the executive vice president and general manager, international, for Benson Hill.

Benson Hill is a food-technology company focused on setting the pace of innovation of food. Benson Hill unlocks the natural genetic diversity of plants using CropOS®, its leading food-technology platform. With the consumer in mind, the company uniquely combines data science, plant science and food science along with advanced plant-breeding techniques to create innovative food, ingredient and feed products that are more nutritious, better tasting, more accessible and more sustainable. Benson Hill went public in September 2021 on the New York Stock Exchange ($BHIL).

Andres Martin is responsible for expanding Benson Hill’s international customer base and introducing its proprietary, non-GMO soybean portfolio to markets outside the United States.

Guest Andres Martin's LinkedIn

Special thanks to Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated for sponsoring this episode.

Episode 10: Blockchain and Modern Supply Chains

featuring Larry Wigger

Join host Jeff Klopfenstein and guest Larry Wigger as they dive into blockchain and its implications for the modern supply chain. Larry is a supply-chain economist with over 20 years of both practical and academic experience. He currently serves as an assistant teaching professor of supply chain management at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Guest Larry Wigger's LinkedIn

Special thanks to Nidec Motor Corporation for sponsoring this episode.

Episode 9: Leading During Chaotic Times

featuring A.C. Marchionne

The international business landscape has been disrupted by COVID-19 for nearly two years, and now a war in Europe is creating chaos. Join Host Todd Hovermale as he discusses strategies for leading during chaotic times with A.C. Marchionne, president of sales and marketing/board chairman at Greiner Bio-One North America. 
 
The international business disruptions experienced by Greiner have created a need to develop stronger leaders. Together, Todd and A.C. engage in a discussion on the need for strong international business leadership and the skills necessary to motivate and lead teams to success during highly chaotic times.    

Guest A.C. Marchionne's LinkedIn

Host Todd Hovermale's LinkedIn

Special thanks to Greiner Bio-One for sponsoring this episode. 

Episode 8: International Business Strategies: KPMG 

featuring Dr. Andries Terblanché

Join host Jeff Klopfenstein and guest Dr. Andries Terblanché, global lead of dynamic risk assessment with KPMG, as they discuss risk assessment in the global market. Dr. Terblanché goes beyond theory and provides action items from his experience as it concerns global business managers.

Guest Dr. Andries Terblanché's LinkedIn
Host Jeff Klopfenstein's LinkedIn

Special thanks to Nidec Motor Corporation for sponsoring this episode. 

Episode 7: Responding to Global Crisis

featuring Christine Duffy

Join host Gene Cunningham and guest Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, as they discuss how Carnival is overcoming the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the creation of opportunities to propel the company safely into the future. This conversation is an excerpt from the 2021 Bayer International Business Conference that took place Dec. 7, 2021 at Saint Louis University.

Christine captains a company that sails a fleet of 24 ships, annually hosts nearly six million guests and employs more than 43,000 people who hail from 110 nations around the globe. Host Gene Cunningham is a faculty member in the Chaifetz School of Business at Saint Louis University and a retired aerospace executive with a 41-year career in international business, strategy and operations.

Special thanks to Bayer for sponsoring this episode.

Episode 6: International Business Strategies: Enterprise Holdings

featuring Peter Smith

Join host Gene Cunningham and guest Peter Smith, VP of global franchising at Enterprise Holdings, as they dive into the strategy and decision processes used by Enterprise as it expanded from its very successful domestic rental car market to the global marketplace. Peter shares his thoughts on the opportunities and challenges Enterprise faced as it expanded internationally. Of particular interest is the “franchising strategy” Enterprise embraced for international growth.

Peter oversees the company's worldwide franchise operations and expansion efforts and has been with Enterprise since 2004. Host Gene Cunningham is a faculty member in the Chaifetz School of Business at Saint Louis University and a retired aerospace executive with a 41-year career in international business, strategy and operations.

Host Gene Cunningham's LinkedIn

Special thanks to Greiner Bio-One for sponsoring this episode.

Episode 5: Sustainability Efforts at Boeing

featuring Chris Raymond

As businesses worldwide increasingly focus on reducing their own environmental impact, it is important to examine how industries are evolving to embrace more sustainable practices. Guest host Todd Hovermale sits down with Chris Raymond, chief sustainability officer and VP of global enterprise sustainability at Boeing, to educate listeners on sustainability efforts aligned to the enterprise's strategic objectives and values. 

As Boeing’s first chief sustainability officer, Raymond is responsible for further advancing Boeing’s approach to environmental, social and governance (ESG) priorities, stakeholder-oriented engagement, reporting and company performance. Guest host Todd Hovermale serves on the Boeing Institute of International Business Advisory Board in the Chaifetz School of Business at Saint Louis University. 
 
Learn more about Chris Raymond 

Special thanks to Reinsurance Group of America (RGA) for sponsoring this episode. 

Episode 4: Sustainability Efforts in Global Business

featuring Carol O'Neill

As businesses worldwide increasingly focus on reducing their own environmental impact, it is important to examine how industries are evolving to embrace more sustainable practices. In episode 4 of SLU International Business Now, guest host Dr. Jennifer Mackey sits down with Carol O'Neill, group president of packaging for Barry-Wehmiller, to discuss efforts in global consumer packaging.

As group president of packaging, Carol O'Neill leads efforts to enhance the alignment and capabilities of the five divisions within the BW Packaging Systems Platform. Guest host Dr. Jennifer Mackey serves as director of sustainability solutions at Bunzl Distribution USA and brings her strong background in the plastics industry as a marketing and sustainability professional to the episode.

Guest Carol O'Neill's LinkedIn
Host Jennifer Mackey's LinkedIn

Special thanks to Bunzl for sponsoring this episode. 

Episode 3: Navigating COVID Business Challenges: Maritz Global Events

featuring David Packinpaugh

During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to examine how industries are evolving and changing to ensure a bright future despite current challenges. Join host Gene Cunningham as he sits down with David Peckinpaugh to discuss the economic impact of the pandemic in the global events industry, and how Maritz is weathering the storm. 

A 30+ year champion of the events industry, David Peckinpaugh is President of Maritz Global Events and ensures the consistent design and delivery of exceptional experiences to clients and their guests. David joins host Gene Cunningham, faculty member in the Chaifetz School of Business at Saint Louis University and retired aerospace executive with a 41-year career in international business, strategy and operations.

Guest David Peckinpaugh's LinkedIn 
Host Gene Cunningham's LinkedIn

Special thanks to Novus International for sponsoring this episode.

Episode 2: Navigating COVID Business Challenges: Novus International

featuring Dr. Dave Dowell

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a myriad of challenges to navigate in business environments. Join guest host Dr. Patricio Duran as he sits down with Dr. Dave Dowell to discuss how Novus International has addressed customer and employee health concerns while tackling the pandemic's ripple effect on sales, manufacturing and supply chains. Life scientist and strategist Dr. Dave Dowell is chief operating officer and executive vice president of operations at Novus International, and within these roles has global responsibility for manufacturing, logistics, procurement, and regulatory affairs.

Dr. Patricio Duran, assistant professor of international business in the Chaifetz School of Business at Saint Louis University with research specialties in global strategy and international business environment.

Dr. Dave Dowell's LinkedIn
Dr. Patricio Duran's LinkedIn

Special thanks to Enterprise Holdings, Inc. for sponsoring this episode.

Episode 1: EU Business Now

featuring Dr. Gabriele Suder

Current business opportunities and challenges in the EU marketplace pose interesting and diverse topics for discussion. In this episode, guest host and BIIB Advisory Board member Gene Cunningham sits down with Dr. Gabriele Suder to break down key elements at play: Brexit, the Green Deal, Asian market integration in Europe and the role of senior executives in the EU marketplace.

Suder is an international business management and strategy expert who serves as a professor of international business at RMIT University in Melbourne and member of the EU Centre of Excellence, in addition to being an award-winning business and scholarly publication author. 

Cunningham serves as an adjunct faculty member in the Executive Master of International Business program at Saint Louis University and is a retired aerospace executive with a 41-year career in international business, strategy and operations. 

Prof. Gabriele Suder's LinkedIn
Host Gene Cunningham's LinkedIn

Special thanks to Bayer for sponsoring this episode.