GIA Holds Inaugural Global Leadership Program At Harvard Business School

(IDEX Online News) � The GIA, in conjunction with the Harvard Business School (HBS), organized a global leadership program for 44 senior executives from gem and jewelry firms from 15 countries from April 28 to May 1 at the Harvard University campus.

The customized curriculum, based on the renowned HBS case study method, examined topics ranging from strategy to customer centricity to leading high performance teams.

�Developing innovative programs like this to meet the needs of our global industry directly supports our public benefit mission of protecting the gem- and jewelry-buying public,� said Susan Jacques, president and CEO of GIA.

�We are very pleased that so many senior executives found the curriculum compelling and the networking opportunities invaluable.�

GIA initiated the program with HBS to bring together leaders from around the world representing different sectors of the gem and jewelry industry to help further develop senior management expertise. During the four-day program, the participants examined issues faced by global businesses and how to apply the experiences of other sectors and industries to their own, as well as discussing challenges facing the industry. 

Given the success of the inaugural program, GIA will hold another global leadership program at HBS in June 2015.

Participants of the inaugural GIA Global Leadership Program included: Ruben Bindra, B & B Fine Gems; David Bouffard, Signet Jewelers Ltd; Jacques Brannelec, Jewelmer International Corporation; Victor Chan, Continental; Lawrence Chen, FERRI Jewelry Taiwan; Shreyas Cotha, C. Krishnai Chetty & Sons Pvt. Ltd; Amit Dhamani, Dhamani Jewels; Brijesh Dholakia, Hari Krishna Exports Pvt. Ltd; Shreyans Dholakia; Anan Fakhreddin, Damas Jewellery; Saul Goldberg, William Goldberg Diamond Company; John Green, Lux Bond & Green; Meyer Hoffman, Mikimoto; Susan Jacques, GIA; Andy Johnson, Johnson Family Diamond Cellar; Stephen Kahler, Swarovski; Nilesh Kothari, Jewelex India Pvt Ltd; Sheldon Kwiat, Kwiat, Inc.; Steve Lagos, LAGOS; Michael Liu, S. A. Vaal Star Diamonds; Lawrence Ma, Lee Heng Diamond Group; Stefan Mayer, Heinz Mayer; Anoop Mehta, Mohit Diamonds; Arnav Mehta, Blue Star Diamonds Pvt Ltd; Rihen Mehta, Rosy Blue (Dubai); Nirav Modi, Firestar Diamonds; Vinod More, The Jewel Box Pte Ltd; Rutang Moses, SAFDICO Botswana and Diamond Technology Park; Thomas M. Moses, GIA; Thomas H. Nyborg, Pandora Production Co., Ltd; Piyush Patel, Dharmanandan Diamonds Pvt. Ltd; Martin Rapaport, Rapaport Group; Marcelo Ribeiro, Belmont Mine; James Rosenheim, Tiny Jewel Box; Stuart Samuels, Premier Diamond Alliance; Pinal Savani, KARP; Pratik Shah, Star Rays; Hank Siegel, Hamilton Co. Jewelers; Bill Simms, Helzberg Diamonds; Santpal Sinchawla, Sant Enterprises; Elliot Tannenbaum, Leo Schachter Diamond Group; Mark Van Rijt, ABN AMRO Bank NV; David Ning Wang, Cheung Ning Co., Ltd and Shenzhen Sino-Africa Diamond Co., Ltd; Alan Zimmer, Reeds Jewelers.