Deans Conference

Engage in an interactive networking experience designed for sharing and learning best practices among peers. Participants will have 10 minutes to present a topic they are proud of accomplishing at their institution. To maximize learning and connections, attendees will switch tables every 15 minutes, allowing for a dynamic exchange of ideas and experiences. This session is a unique opportunity to foster content-based networking in a collaborative environment.

Join us for a session designed specifically for new deans and first-time conference attendees. This welcome session provides an excellent opportunity to network with peers, meet AACSB leadership, and connect with fellow attendees. Gain valuable insights on how to navigate the conference, maximize your experience, and build meaningful relationships that will support your professional journey. Don't miss this chance to start your conference with a strong foundation and a network of supportive colleagues.

This showcase offers an opportunity to explore the latest products and services from the conference sponsors, establish connections, and learn how their solutions can enhance your work.

Begin your day by networking over coffee. This is an excellent opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, make new connections, and discuss the sessions ahead.

Join us for a welcome message from Lily Bi, President & CEO of AACSB International, and Sherif H. Kamel, Chair of AACSB International Board of Directors and Conference Chair. Following their welcome comments, Lily and Sherif will engage in a fireside chat on the urgency of driving change in business education. As the pace of change accelerates, with emerging technologies like AI and significant geopolitical shifts, the role of business school deans in leading their institutions through these changes has never been more critical. This session will set the tone for the conference, focusing on the disruptions affecting business schools and the imperative to think differently about solving problems.

In this thought-provoking speech, Ethan Mollick dives into the highly discussed, transformative realm of AI. Discover how AI technologies are revolutionizing the way we work and live, creating disruptions that can significantly transform your business school. Ethan shifts the conversation towards a pivotal question: How can we thoughtfully and consciously embrace AI to propel innovation and shape our future? Through dynamic and interactive elements, Ethan sparks curiosity and takes the audience on an exploration of the boundless opportunities and incredible possibilities in this era of AI revolution. This session will inspire business school deans to seize the boundless opportunities presented by the AI revolution and position their institutions at the forefront of this transformative era.

This session will demonstrate how AI tools can be used to forecast enrollment trends, enhance financial planning, and optimize resource allocation. See firsthand how data-driven insights can transform your decision-making process, enabling you to make strategic choices that align with your institution’s goals. Perfect for those looking to quickly grasp the practical applications of predictive analytics.

Dive into a live demo of an AI-powered admissions tool, showcasing how it answers high-volume inquiries with perfect consistency while freeing up staff to focus on engaging candidates at critical decision points. Gain practical insights and best practices for implementing similar tools at your institution to elevate your talent acquisition strategy and improve candidate experiences.

This session will explore effective strategies for getting faculty on board with AI initiatives, particularly those who may feel hesitant or lack experience in this area. Speakers will discuss practical approaches to supporting faculty through tailored training programs and continuous learning opportunities. Discover how to turn potential resistance into enthusiasm, ensuring that your faculty are well-prepared to educate the next generation of leaders in an AI-driven world.

The integration of GenAI in business education brings opportunities for innovation and efficiency. However, it also introduces complex ethical dilemmas that require careful navigation. This session will delve into the ethical challenges posed by GenAI, including issues such as data privacy.

Join fellow deans for an informal networking luncheon focused on exchanging best practices and fostering connections. Discuss how innovative initiatives at your school have driven positive change and explore new ideas. Use this time to share success stories, inspire others, and collaborate on future innovations.

Discover how AI can streamline the accreditation process and enhance the quality of your reports. In this session, Stephanie Bryant, AACSB’s EVP & Chief Accreditation Officer, will summarize the white paper on AI and accreditation, and demonstrate how AI-powered tools, including advanced prompt engineering, can be leveraged to efficiently gather data, generate insightful narratives, and ensure your institution meets the highest standards of excellence. Learn practical tips on using AI to make your accreditation journey more efficient and accurate while maintaining rigor and compliance.

Join business education leaders as they discuss the rapidly evolving landscape of work and education. This session will focus on career readiness, shifting workplace trends, and the rise of competency-based hiring. Discuss what these changes mean for the future of business education, their impact on business, and how to build new forms of university-industry partnerships that engage faculty and practitioners and yield actionable insights. The session features roundtable discussions with peers to develop innovative ideas for building new partnerships that address pressing challenges.

Explore how a business school has reimagined faculty development programs to cultivate a culture of continuous improvement and innovation. The speaker will share specific initiatives that enhance teaching effectiveness and faculty engagement.

It is widely acknowledged that it is now impossible to navigate today’s complex challenges with knowledge from just one discipline; interdisciplinary collaboration has become an indispensable competence for individuals and organizations. Yet, as many business school deans can probably testify to from their own experience, making interdisciplinary collaboration work in practice is not always easy. This session builds on these lessons learned in practice and suggests practical steps that you as a dean can take to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration of and within your school.

This session explores strategies to prioritize wellness while managing the complexities of leadership roles. Participants will discuss how to integrate self-care and professional growth, even with time constraints, and share practical approaches to fostering a work-life balance that enhances both personal well-being and career advancement.

Challenge traditional strategic planning methods and explore disruptive approaches to leadership in complex times. Learn how to lead strategic planning sessions that are innovative and responsive to the unpredictable challenges facing business schools today.

Session Details Coming Soon!

Networking while navigating a complex landscape: the Metropolitan Business School Dean Our time together centers on key questions and current events. Meet a new colleague and another friend in the field.

Building Engagement Across Stakeholders: A series of facilitated round table conversations to explore best practices for building engagement in three segments: (a) building engagement with graduate students (online communities, in person, and with hybrid programs); (b) measuring faculty engagement and service equity; (c) engaging alumni and corporate partners in philanthropy. Specific ideas and initiatives will be shared to enable deans to leave with action plans. Open to all attendees!

As small schools, we struggle with many things, including succession planning, team dynamics and productivity, and ensuring our curriculum is competitive with the “big” schools. Bring your CliftonStrengths profile and explore how to apply this knowledge in small schools toward leadership development, heightened performance, and student success.

Relax and enjoy the company of your colleagues. This reception is the perfect opportunity to unwind and continue the day’s discussions in a more informal setting.

Start the day by reconnecting with your peers over breakfast. Discuss the key takeaways from Day 1 and prepare for another day of insightful sessions.

Take advantage of this networking break to build new connections and engage in valuable peer-to-peer learning. Designated meeting areas will be available for specific interests:
• Mentor Program: Deans participating in the mentor program can use this time to meet with their mentors and exchange insights and advice.
• Peer Review Teams: Deans who are new to peer review teams can connect with experienced members to gain guidance and learn best practices.
• Regional Networking: Deans seeking to connect with peers facing similar regional challenges (EMEA, AP, Americas) can gather in designated areas for focused discussions.

This session will be designed for those planning for a Continuous Improvement Review visit. Experienced Peer Review Team members will discuss visit preparation and planning, visit execution, and what to do when the unexpected happens.

If you have an upcoming Initial Accreditation visit or are considering accreditation, this session is for you! We invite you to bring questions related to the initial accreditation process as we discuss what is expected and how to thoroughly prepare.

This showcase offers an opportunity to explore the latest products and services from the conference sponsors, establish connections, and learn how their solutions can enhance your work.

Join us for a session on driving global change and leading with purpose, featuring James Rhee—the bestselling author and acclaimed leader/CEO, TED Speaker, educator, and investor. James will share his remarkable journey and provide valuable insights into successful change management and innovative organizational models. Discover the principles from his new book, which integrates kindness with mathematical precision to create intuitive, human-centered change. Explore his future-forward framework for tackling current challenges in business and education. Learn about his venture, red helicopter, a pioneering global media-education platform that unites people and organizations around a new way of living, learning, and earning. Experience the immersive, agency-centered curriculum he teaches to his undergraduate, law, and business school students.

Crises can strike at any time, and how you respond can define your institution’s future. This session focuses on equipping deans with the tools to develop a crisis management plan. Learn how to prepare for potential threats, communicate effectively during a crisis, and implement strategies that ensure quick, decisive action.

Conflicts among faculty, students, and other stakeholders can significantly impact the culture and operations of a business school. In this session, deans will learn practical strategies for identifying and addressing conflicts early, mediating difficult conversations, and fostering a collaborative environment. Join this session to gain insights into effectively managing tensions and maintaining a positive, productive atmosphere within your institution.

Explore how innovative institutions have transformed their reward systems to prioritize societal impact as a key factor in career advancement. This session will provide insights from senior leadership on how to shift the focus beyond traditional research metrics to include collective contributions that drive meaningful societal change. Discover strategies to enable your organization to make sustained progress in aligning career development with broader social goals.

In an era where students' motivations and expectations are evolving, business schools must play a crucial role in helping students discover their purpose and redefine what success means in today’s dynamic environment. This session will explore how understanding and nurturing students’ passions can lead to more fulfilling, impactful careers. Speakers will share perspectives on finding purpose and discuss how schools can support students in balancing immediate financial goals and long-term fulfillment.

In this interactive session, deans will engage in discussions about the most pressing challenges they face. Facilitators will guide attendees through a series of small-group conversations, encouraging them to share experiences, brainstorm potential solutions, and explore strategies for overcoming common obstacles. This is an opportunity for deans to not only connect with one another but also gain practical insights and new perspectives on the critical issues keeping them up at night.

An informal networking luncheon with discussion prompts designed to foster connections and collaborations among deans. Use this time to discuss potential joint initiatives and share experiences.

This session explores how business schools can develop new revenue streams by developing new, non-traditional programs and forming strategic partnerships. Attendees will gain insights into how to create additional revenue pathways that can enhance a school’s financial resilience and reduce reliance on student enrollment alone.

Deans will learn how to optimize recruitment, retention, and program offerings to drive growth while aligning with long-term financial goals. The session will focus on using data-driven approaches, financial aid optimization, and differentiated programs to meet market demands. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to increase enrollment, improve retention, and secure their institution’s financial future through student-centered financial planning and enrollment tactics that sustain long-term fiscal health.

Designed for business schools operating with smaller budgets or limited resources, this session will explore how to tap into new funding opportunities through partnerships, grants, and community support. The session will also cover ways to build donor pipelines, maximize alumni engagement, and utilize digital tools for fundraising on a tight budget.

This session focuses on strategies for reducing costs and optimizing operational efficiency in business schools. Explore how deans can leverage technology and process innovations to lower cost structures while maintaining quality.

Explore how leaders can harness the power of paradox to tackle complex challenges. Leaders with a paradox mindset recognize that multiple perspectives and approaches can coexist, and they embrace these contradictions rather than rush to resolve them. Learn how to cultivate this mindset in your decision-making processes and how it can lead to more effective problem-solving in the context of business education.

It is widely acknowledged that it is now impossible to navigate today’s complex challenges with knowledge from just one discipline; interdisciplinary collaboration has become an indispensable competence for individuals and organizations. Yet, as many business school deans can probably testify to from their own experience, making interdisciplinary collaboration work in practice is not always easy. This session builds on these lessons learned in practice and suggests practical steps that you as a dean can take to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration of and within your school.

Business schools are under pressure to maintain full enrollment across entire portfolios of graduate programs. To succeed, they need a strong tech system that connects all parts of their operations. Join this session to learn how you can leverage technology to make data-driven decisions and optimize your enrollment processes.

This session explores strategies to prioritize wellness while managing the complexities of leadership roles. Participants will discuss how to integrate self-care and professional growth, even with time constraints, and share practical approaches to fostering a work-life balance that enhances both personal well-being and career advancement.

Business schools are under increasing pressure to produce research that is not only academically rigorous but also relevant and impactful to industry and society. This session will explore strategies for encouraging cross-disciplinary research and aligning research agendas with global challenges.

Session Details Coming Soon!

Spiritually Rooted Business Schools : Aims, organization, and examples. Join this brand-new affinity group as they discuss the uniqueness of Spiritually-Driven Business Schools Share examples of how SRBS have made a difference in education, leadership and community engagement. Foster a holistic approach to education, business practices and leadership. All attendees welcome!

Maximizing Impact: Strategies for Building and Leading Effective Advisory Boards: Join this workshop discussion to learn strategies to engage, manage, and maximize the value of your advisory boards. Open to all attendees!

Cap off the day with a relaxed networking reception. Continue your conversations in a casual environment, solidifying connections made during the day.

Begin the final day with networking over breakfast. Reflect on the insights gained and prepare for the final sessions.

In today's dynamic environment, business school deans frequently encounter divergent viewpoints among faculty, students, and stakeholders. This session delves into strategies for transforming disagreements into constructive dialogues. Drawing from her extensive research on the psychology of disagreement, Dr. Minson will offer evidence-based techniques to enhance receptiveness to opposing views, foster collaborative decision-making, and cultivate a culture of open communication. Attendees will gain practical tools to navigate conflicts effectively, ensuring diverse perspectives contribute positively to their school's mission and goals.

In today’s polarized world, business schools face unique challenges that require thoughtful and strategic responses. Building on the constructive dialogue strategies from the previous session, panelists will explore how global tensions and shifting alliances shape academic environments, daily operations, and decision-making processes. They will also discuss the impact on curricula and the formation of international partnerships, equipping leaders with the insights and tools necessary to guide their institutions through complex landscapes with inclusivity and strategic foresight.

In an increasingly interconnected world, the challenges we face—such as climate change, growing inequality, and societal well-being – are too vast for any one institution to tackle alone. This session will explore the evolving role of business in society and how business schools must rethink and reshape their educational strategies to reflect this shift. Speakers will discuss how business schools can forge global collaborations across borders, sectors, and industries to address these pressing issues collectively. The session will emphasize the critical role that business schools play in shaping future leaders equipped to contribute to societal well-being and tackle global challenges. By working together, business schools can amplify their impact, create innovative solutions, and prepare their students to lead in a world that demands collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches. Join this session to explore strategies for fostering global networks, developing joint initiatives, and ensuring that business schools remain at the forefront of addressing the world's most urgent challenges.

The conference Chair, Sherif H. Kamel, will wrap up the event by reflecting on the key themes and takeaways.