04/29/13

NYU African Economic Forum 2013

NYU African Economic Forum

On April 6, the Stern in Africa club (SIA) hosted the 2013 NYU African Economic Forum in partnership with NYU Africa House, The Council of Young African Leaders and Vital Voices. The forum was themed “Africa in Motion: People, Ideas and Events Reshaping the African Continent”. It examined how the power of entrepreneurship and influx of capital into the continent has led to unprecedented business activity that is changing lives and entire economies each day. Speakers at the forum included renowned individuals in business, politics, banking, technology, fashion and entertainment.

 

I had the opportunity to attend this conference. I walked away with several new connections and a plethora of invaluable knowledge. During the conference, I sat in one of 4 panels. Topics included Finance, Technology, Development and Social Enterprise. I attended the development panel that was led by Harvard Professor, Emmanuel Akyeampong; NYU Professor  Yaw Nyarko; and Melissa T. Cook, CFA, Founder and Managing Director of African Sunrise Partners. The three panelists did a great job of tackling a question I have often wondered about myself, “Is China good for Africa?” The panelists also explored the future of Africa’s interaction with China through commerce.

 

There was also a “9 on 9” series which featured a new generation of leaders who are helping advance development in Africa and within the Diaspora. The series  provided a platform for nine young pioneers to share their experiences and ideas on the growing opportunities associated with Africa. My favorite featured young pioneer was Bozoma Saint John – the Director of Music and Entertainment Marketing at Pepsi-Cola North America, she spoke about the importance of branding ourselves as individuals! She is proud to be from Ghana and loves to share her heritage with others! The most inspiring line she said during her presentation was, “Its ok not to be a doctor, follow your passion.” As students we may have influence from our parents wanting us to be doctors, because this may look good for the family name, etc. There is nothing wrong with being a doctor but be a doctor if it is truly something you want to pursue.

 

I highly recommend this conference! Students get a discount on tickets. It’s an event filled with invaluable knowledge about the emerging African market, great networking opportunities and complimentary breakfast, lunch and wine, and hor d’oeuvres. For those interested in networking after the all-day conference, there is even an after party at the Empire State Building.

Harvard, MIT and Columbia also have similar conferences annually. Lookout for their 2014 conference dates on their respective websites!

        

Cameroonian Presidential Candidate Kah Walla (center)  with Baruch Students

 

04/27/13
Hong Kong Port | Image Credits: Stan Dalone via Creative Commons

Weekly Newsmakers – Hong Kong: Stalled Ships Underlie Larger Problems

Hong Kong Port | Image Credits: Stan Dalone via Creative Commons
Hong Kong – Containers Terminal Port | Image Credits: Stan Dalone via Creative Commons

We are all familiar with strikes. Sometimes a strike will take a few days to resolve – sometimes much longer. In Hong Kong’s Hongkong International Terminals port, a strike has stalled global business and commerce since March 28th of this year.

Due to the strike, some cargo ships face delays upwards of 60 hours (whereas a typical wait time might only take about three hours). The delays have a vast global impact in the supply chain as costs increase due to ships being forced to reroute to nearby ports (in Guangdong, China or Kaohsiung, Taiwan) or coerced into skipping subsequent destination ports.

Although immediate commerce has been affected by the strike, the mere presence of a strike in the Hong Kong port is bound to take a toll on the economy in the long run.  Hong Kong’s unions are historically not as effective at negotiations (in comparison to American labor unions for example), so resolution of a strike like this may take an exorbitant amount of time.

With that in mind, the perspective of the workers on strike is also understandable. The rising cost of living in Hong Kong and the widening income gap has led to unrest from the working class. Workers take to the streets and protest several times a year to raise awareness of this problem and to pursue a solution. The workers on strike at the port lament the long hours and low wages. Port workers make 55 HKD per hour (the equivalent of $7 USD) and are hoping to negotiate a wage increase of at least 20%.

What do you think about the strike situation in HK?  Voice your thoughts in the comments section below.

04/19/13
Flags of Australia and China - Creative Commons

Weekly Newsmakers – Australia Strengthens Ties with China

Flags of Australia and China - Creative Commons
Flags of Australia and China – Creative Commons

Julia Gillard, Australia’s Prime Minister, visited China last week to negotiate a currency conversion agreement with China and to reassure China that its expanding military ties with the U.S. should not pose a problem to China’s interests.

The agreement would help position the Chinese yuan on a more focused path towards full convertibility on global markets. At present, the U.S. dollar serves as the world’s reserve preferred currency for trade and serves as the intermediary between Chinese and Australian trades. Australia’s move to secure a conversion deal with China may dampen the reign of the U.S. dollar as currency of preference for trading matters.

Gillard’s visit also aims to alleviate any unrest China may have in regards to Australia’s new defense agreements with the United States these past few years. The Australian PM noted that there was no competition between the United States and China for Australia’s allegiance. However, political critics claim that Australia is in the “Asia Century” believing that Australia’s economic well-being is tied to China, which happens to be its leading trading partner.

How do you think Australia’s visit to China will affect U.S. interests? Weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section below.

04/15/13

Free Admission to the Rubin Museum!

Rubin Museum

Just because you’re a student at Baruch College, the Rubin Museum located in Chelsea, welcomes you to visit their museum free of charge simply by showing your Baruch ID. Offer is open to faculty and staff!

 

Rubin

The Rubin Museum of Art (RMA) is home to a comprehensive collection of art from the Himalayas and surrounding regions.

Click here for more information.

04/10/13
Source: Cristiano Betta via Flickr

Fun Corporate Companies with Unusual Employee Perks

Source: Cristiano Betta via Flickr
Source: Cristiano Betta via Flickr

Here are a few top companies with fun work environments and special perks! Be sure to attend some events listed at the end of this article to see how you can get your foot in the door!

 

1. Google Inc. – Widely known as a popular search engine, this internet corporation has five rounds of interviews and is known as one of the hardest jobs to land.
Some of the cool benefits they offer include: free gourmet food, an on-site medical center, travel insurance, a bowling alley, paid maternity leave and free concierge service for running errands.

 

2. Microsoft Corporation – This multinational software company is famous for tricky questions asked at interviews. It is also the largest software maker in the world based on revenue.
Great bonuses include: electric car charging stations, retail shop center, paid gym memberships, a sports field and an organic spa.

 

3. SAS Institute – The world’s largest private software company responsible of developing analytic software. Their software (also called SAS) is used by most Fortune 500 companies.
Some privileges they provide: unlimited sick days, on-site child care centers, discounts on local retailers, free fitness centers and college scholarship programs for children of SAS employees.

 

In order to land these openings, you must be able to stand out against other applicants. Because these roles are coveted, fixing up your resume and cover letter is not enough; the ability to network and have a presence plays an important role as well.

 

Here are some events going on around campus that can hopefully help you make the right network connections: Presenting You and Your Business, The Art of Networking, or How to Use Creativity to Move Your Career Forward

 

04/9/13

Interested in the UN and International Relations?

Baruch students interested in the UN and international relations can be part of the Model UN club on campus. Click here for more information. Students can also participate in “My World.”

“My World” is an interactive, easy and innovative global survey that enlists people around the world to participate in this global survey. In the survey individuals are asked to choose six out of sixteen possible issues they think would make the most difference in their lives.

Issues include phone and internet access; access to clean water; better health care and access to good education. The ultimate goal of this global survey is to encourage individuals to participate in a process that will end extreme poverty in all its forms in the context of sustainable development. People throughout the world can access MY World by clicking here and vote for the changes that are important for them. Results from MY World will be submitted to the Secretary General of the United Nations. Help set the agenda for 2015. VOTE!