Interview with Gregg Glover (Harvard University)
Professor working in the BSB “International Excellence Programme” since 2013
Gregg Glover is an affiliated professor at Harvard University (Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA) and an educational consultant. He has also been a professor in the “International Excellence Programme” at BSB since its creation in 2013. Each year, on the occasion of this program, more than thirty professors from prestigious international universities, recognized for their expertise, offer modules in English that provide students with a multicultural perspective in a variety of fields. Gregg testified here in 2023 about his experience at the School as part of these modules of excellence.
What modules do you teach as part of BSB's “International Excellence Programme”?
This year I am teaching two modules in the program. The first is a module on “Business Ethics”, and the second is an exciting course that I have been teaching for many years: “Leadership, Strategy and Decision Making”. The objective of the latter is to show that business leaders use a variety of analytical means to feed their organization's change strategy. Most often, these means include functional analytics such as marketing, financial data, and human resources.
There are a variety of ways to measure the success of our organizations. But instead of functional analysis, this course proposes using structural analysis to consider a leadership strategy. Here we learn this set of theories, frameworks, to prepare students to be effective leaders and, more importantly, effective decision makers in the workplace.
What does this course offer BSB students in concrete terms?
I think that theory is a very efficient thing for students starting out in their professional careers. We taught this theory for many years at Harvard and people find it incredibly useful. So I am always happy to be able to teach it here. BSB has a long history of emphasis on leadership, including leadership in change.
So I think this course is particularly relevant for the students here. We live in a complex age where organizations and the people who run them are under a lot of pressure. This course provides a range of tools that students can use when faced with difficult decisions in a professional context.
It will also allow them to better understand the organizations in which they work. And, as I've already mentioned, to become effective leaders from a variety of perspectives. Leadership is something that is practiced rather than something that is spontaneously created. And even if you have natural, formal, or informal authority, leadership learning is a must. So I hope that students will take away from this course that it is possible to learn how to become better leaders.
What do you think of the BSB “International Excellence Programme” concept?
I have been coming to BSB to teach in this program for over ten years now and it has been an absolute pleasure and joy to participate, especially since I have been involved since the first edition. This program is a wonderful opportunity for students to learn from faculty around the world and to experience international teaching styles and cultures. In terms of the internationalization of the course offer, it is for me a remarkable model that an institution like BSB deploys here. I am thrilled to support the program, the school, and especially the students.
On a personal level, I love teaching BSB students who come from very diverse multicultural and international backgrounds, and participating as a faculty member allows me to interact with an incredible group of colleagues who learn from each other while developing strong networks between them. The program is very well managed and it's an experience I look forward to every year.
Every year, in fact, dozens of teachers from around the world meet in Dijon as part of this program...
That is exactly what it is. The BSB “International Excellence Programme” is truly unique as it provides students with a set of skills and exposure to the globalized world thanks to professors who have come from all over the world to teach. It is a wonderful model for the internationalization of courses for a school like BSB.
This year, my colleagues come from South Africa, Italy, Australia, Australia, Australia, Australia, Australia, Canada, Australia, Australia, Australia, Australia, Australia, Peru, Peru, Brazil, Brazil, Thailand, Mexico, Canada, Belgium, Ireland, to name but a few. It's really remarkable. For students, being exposed to such a variety of pedagogies and cultures is a great experience.
For international students who come to BSB in particular, learning not only with French teachers but also with professors from all over the world improves their English skills if they are not native English speakers. It also gives them the chance to build their personal and professional networks.
What if you had to summarize the “International Excellence Programme” in three words?
I would say: global, engaging and exciting. Exciting because I have always liked international teaching and because here international teaching is at the top.
Have you seen BSB evolve in ten years?
Absolutely, and it was particularly interesting to see a bit from within BSB becoming one of the best management schools in France. Today, with its triple crown, it is recognized as such. I really enjoyed watching the school improve year after year, both in terms of its campuses and the quality of its students. It is really a great school and I repeat: it is a pleasure and an honor to come back every year to teach there.
A word about the city of Dijon?
Dijon is an incredible city whose beauty and history I love. Its atmosphere is quite charming. And of course, the food and wine are simply the best, unrivaled for a city of this size. There are endless discoveries to be made. It's an easy, attractive, relaxed city. So I have nothing but wonderful things to say about Dijon. It's definitely one of my favorite places to go and I think it's a great experience for students.
