Baratta Center Discusses Global Competition and Collaboration During Annual Conference
The Baratta Center for Global Business hosted its second annual Future of Global Business Conference at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business to gather thought leaders, industry executives, and members of the Georgetown community to discuss the theme, “The Path Forward: Competition and Collaboration in a Fragmented World.” The conference welcomed over 300 attendees to share insights on topics such as cross-border investing; resilient leadership; transformations in energy, mobility, and food; and the intersection of profit and purpose.
“Pulling from our longstanding traditions and partnerships here in Washington, D.C., and around the world, we are ideally positioned to understand, unravel, and find answers to the most complex issues facing our global business community,” said Paul Almeida, dean and William R. Berkley Chair at Georgetown McDonough, during his opening remarks. “Through this conference, new degree programs, and our faculty-led centers and initiatives, we demonstrate to the next generation of business leaders that positive change comes from embracing ambiguity, leaning into innovation, and keeping a values-based approach to business.”
Keynote Dialogue: Investing Globally in a Fragmented World
In a keynote conversation David Rubenstein, co-founder and co-chairman of the Carlyle Group, shared his insights on the current challenges facing cross-border investment. He stressed that one of the key challenges is the growing backlash against globalization, particularly in the United States.
“Many people see globalization as a way of taking jobs and shipping them offshore,” Rubenstein explained, referencing the sentiment of displaced workers in the United States.
He noted that this sentiment, often directed at China, has fueled protectionist policies, including tariffs and investment restrictions, which continue to strain international trade relations.
“Right now, the U.S.-China relationship is as challenged as any time I’ve seen since Tiananmen Square, because the U.S. has a view that China is not just an economic competitor, but a technological and military competitor.”
He also underscored the value of ethics in decision-making and encouraged finding work that sparks genuine passion. As it relates to investments, Rubenstein emphasized that trust is the cornerstone of successful investments.
“Investing is about predicting the future, trusting that the people you give the money to are going to be honest, and that you’re going to get your money back,” he explained.
As he closed the panel, Rubenstein noted the significance of giving back to society, reinforcing that a life of purpose extends beyond personal success.
“You should try to do something that gives back to society and gives back to the country. Something that’s more meaningful than just having a big bank account. I think you’ll be happier for doing that.”
Resilient Leadership: CEO Perspectives on Global Risks and Opportunities
Following the keynote dialogue, the audience listened to a fireside chat with two senior executives on managing today’s complex global risks.
Joe Amato (B’84), president and CIO of Neuberger Berman, and Bob Pragada, CEO of Jacobs, discussed strategies for addressing volatile economic trends, climate imperatives, and geopolitical pressures. Amato highlighted that while there is growing tension brought on by rising isolationism, the positive effects of globalization remain undeniable.
“The hundreds of millions of people that have emerged from absolute, abject poverty have been driven by globalization trends over the last 30 or 40 years,” he said, emphasizing the significant socioeconomic progress that globalization has facilitated.
Pragada agreed, saying that while recent years have spurred political divisions, companies like Jacobs continue to see the value of a globally connected workforce.
“We need each other more than we ever needed each other before,” said Pragada. “I don’t need to be across from you in a project team in order to be connected on delivering a solution locally…the world’s a little bit flatter than we thought.”
Pragada talked about Jacobs’ approach to resilience, explaining the firm’s recent restructuring, which allowed it to focus on its core sectors such as infrastructure and tech manufacturing while remaining adaptable in a volatile market. He also described Jacobs’ “matrix” structure, which balances regional specialization with access to global talent, enabling the company to respond quickly to local demands.
Amato mentioned Neuberger Berman’s approach to managing investments in this complex landscape, noting that companies must now consider not only economic outcomes but also the broader regulatory and political implications of their decisions.
“As an investor, you have to be brutally objective – it’s not what you want to happen, it’s what you think is going to happen,” said Amato. “If these are the rules, then you figure out how you maximize your investment opportunities within those rules whether it’s trade trends, tariffs, or laws changing.”
Reinventing Industries: The Future of Energy, Mobility, and Food
The panel on the transformation of the energy, mobility, and food industries explored how these sectors are innovating to address both technological advancements and sustainability demands.
Caroline Berson, vice president of global public policy and government affairs at PepsiCo, and Stephen Milam, executive vice president of DENSO International America, discussed their respective industries’ approaches to sustainability with moderator Sven Dharmani (MBA’99), principal and industry supply chain leader at EY.
Berson spoke about the PepsiCo Positive initiative, which is committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2040 by embedding sustainability and collaborating with local communities worldwide into core operations.
“One of the projects I’m particularly proud of is an initiative we have in Iraq with potato farmers, together with the World Food Programme, to not only help those farmers become stronger and more resilient in the face of climate change but also to improve conflict-driven instability and make sure their supply chain is as resilient as possible,” said Berson as she described the Positive initiative.
Milam highlighted DENSO’s advancements in electric vehicle (EV) technology as well as its broader mission to support green solutions, including improved safety systems in automotive engineering.
“We have two main missions: one is [being] green and one is peace of mind,” said Milam. “But peace of mind is really about bringing safety to the automotive sector in a way that has not been there before, and making a world of zero traffic accidents.”
Both speakers stressed the need for companies to focus on sustainable, adaptable practices to drive industry-wide resilience against geopolitical, environmental, and logistical disruptions.
Creating Shared Value: The Intersection of Profit and Purpose
The final panel explored how businesses can balance financial success while also driving positive social impact.
Ellen McClain, CEO and president of Year Up United, shared her organization’s collaboration with corporations to increase economic mobility for underserved young adults, citing Charlotte, North Carolina’s improvement in mobility rankings as an example of impact through local hiring.
Geof Rochester (B’81), founder of GRC Advising, discussed how businesses today integrate purpose into the fabric of their business — not as an add-on, but as part of their core mission. He highlighted a shift in C-suite conversations, noting sustainability and social responsibility are now central to strategic business discussions across industries.
“We have a marvelous opportunity globally to unleash the power of capitalism for social goods,” said Rochester.
Sherri Rossoff, managing director and chief operating officer of RockCreek, explained how the investment firm aligns financial performance with purpose-driven investing, especially in emerging markets.
The panel demonstrated how profitability and responsibility can co-exist, aligning with the Baratta Center’s mission to foster a globally responsible business ethos.
Global Impact Award Reception
The event concluded with a reception, at which Joe Baratta (B‘93) presented the inaugural Baratta Center Global Impact Award to five Georgetown alumni – all under 40 years old – to recognize their outstanding contributions to global business. The award winners were Vikram Agrawal (SFS’07), Caroline Cotto (NHS‘14), Agustin Porres (MPP‘16), Devi Sahny (C‘15), and Alexandra Scott (NHS‘10; G‘15).
These awardees were selected for their leadership and innovation in advancing a connected, inclusive global economy, and for their impact across the diverse areas of education, environment, technology, international development, and food.
“We are proud to recognize five exceptional alumni for this year’s inaugural Georgetown Baratta Center Global Impact awards, who are driving the future of global business through their professional, philanthropic, and educational endeavors here in Washington, D.C., and around the world,” said Anil Khurana, executive director of the Baratta Center, during the award announcement. “The Baratta Center looks forward to recognizing these outstanding Hoyas for their dedication to serving the common good at the Future of Global Business Conference this month.”
Watch the conference recordings on YouTube. To learn more about the Baratta Center, please visit globalbusiness.georgetown.edu.