Any misgivings about hosting a business conference at the height of the economic crisis vanished when Dean Barbara E. Kahn’s vision for a UM Global Business Forum boldly materialized mid-January, attracting international media attention and nearly 700 students, alumni, faculty, and industry leaders.

“When we started planning this event more than a year ago, we knew that the time was right for a forum of this nature, addressing the power of the connected world,” said Kahn, welcoming an energized audience to the Coral Gables campus. “But today, in the wake of a historic world economic crisis, the timing is truly remarkable.”

A recurring message during the panel-filled, two-day inaugural event organized by the School of Business Administration was the need for businesses to be increasingly innovative, customer-centric, and socially responsible.

President Donna E. Shalala, one of eight keynote speakers, called the crisis a “real-world learning experience that no classroom can simulate.”

Among the many other prominent presenters were CEOs from The Coca-Cola Company, McDonald’s Corporation, and presenting sponsor John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Alumni presenters included Frances Aldrich Sevilla-Sacasa, A.B. ’77, former president of U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management; Jose Armario, M.S. ’03, group president for McDonald’s Canada and Latin America; Matthew Rubel, M.B.A. ’80, chairman, CEO, and president of Collective Brands Inc.; and Serona Elton, M.M. ’95, interim director of the Frost School of Music’s Music Business and Entertainment Industries program. Chief executives from Cisco, Florida Power and Light, and General Electric spoke on the world’s energy future at a follow-up Global Business Forum program in April.

Former General Electric CEO Jack Welch, whose lively discussion with President Shalala closed out the Global Business Forum on January 16, and wife Suzy Welch, a noted author and columnist, returned to campus on April 30, to give the 2009 Spring Convocation address, “Myths of Success.” Jack Welch reiterated his belief that this economic turbulence offers unprecedented, real-world educational opportunities. “There will be more opportunities for success coming out of this turmoil,” he added. Suzy Welch, whose book 10-10-10: A Life-Transforming Idea portrays the power of making decisions by forecasting their impact after ten minutes, months, and years, told the hundreds of students in attendance, many on the verge of entering careers, that credentials or academic pedigree alone won’t land them a dream job. Their edge will come from “over-delivering” and listening, she advised.