Systems Leadership and Business Transformation: A MENA Lens

Catalog description

This course is designed to introduce Stanford students to systemic and business transformation using the lens of the MENA and GCC regions. Using the Systems Leadership framework, the course explores the move away from petro-economies in this part of the world to an area with emerging entrepreneurial, technological, and cultural hubs. The current fundamental changes in these countries create once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and challenges for the citizens of these countries and the rest of the world. How the countries in this region will evolve is a function of technological innovation, societal transformation, and evolving geopolitical alliances. This course will explore these dynamics through the lenses of business and government leaders who are at the forefront of these changes. Business leaders need to understand the complex dynamics that shape their opportunities and challenges, and systems thinking is a key tool for this skill. The class will cover the activities of large existing organizations, entrepreneurial companies, and investors, as well as the role of governments in supporting the region's transformation. The class is especially helpful for those who are seeking business and policy opportunities in these developing countries and exploring the partnerships and entrepreneurial circumstances created from these ground-breaking transitions. In addition, the region's role in global geopolitical conflict and dynamics will be extensively explored.