Georgetown McDonough Dean Paul Almeida: “My resolution is that we embrace the inevitable disruptions and changes of the new year with the confidence of knowing our values and our ‘why,’ and guidance by our mission to build global good”
We have reached the end of another semester and another transformative year in business education. There were pivotal moments that defined the year from a range of political, economic, and technological perspectives, and many of those activities took place just a few blocks away from our campus here in Washington, D.C.
Our position in the nation’s capital affords us the opportunity to evaluate these changes and disruptions within a broader global context – we convened international leaders and policymakers, we took an interdisciplinary approach to issues, and we thought intentionally about our role in the future of business. As a result, we made significant progress in our efforts to lead across fields that will continue to impact the global business landscape in the years to come: AI, analytics, and the future of work; sustainable business; the interactions and dynamics between healthcare and business; and how collaborations across stakeholders, policymakers, and business leaders can lead us into the future.
It’s safe to assume that 2025 will be another year of change. As business educators, we believe it’s our responsibility to adapt and lead through change, yet there are areas that we firmly ground ourselves in during times of uncertainty – our global perspective, our care and compassion for others, and a deep sense of purpose and focus on the common good. Using our enduring values as a guidepost, we can ensure that any change we navigate is done through the lens of our Jesuit education with the support of our people and community at its center.
With greater scrutiny of the role of business in the world today, we have seen a strategic shift in how companies and institutions approach purpose-driven leadership. For us, these values have been entrenched in our university for over 200 years. Our values define who we are, what we do, and who we strive to be. While we cannot predict the changes that will come our way in 2025, I am confident that our school will be prepared for the challenge – and that we will continue to build a future where business is truly the greatest force for positive change in our world. My resolution is that we embrace the inevitable disruptions and changes of the new year with the confidence of knowing our values and our “why”, and guidance by our mission to build global good.
—Paul Almeida, Dean and William R. Berkley Chair, Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business
