Editor's Note: This is a summary of an HBS Business Summit presentation. View a full summary and video of the event on the HBS Centennial Web site linked below.
| Date of Event: | October 13, 2008 |
| Moderator: | David H. Thomas, HBS faculty |
| Speakers: | Ted Childs, Principal, Ted Childs LLC Ilene Lang, President, Catalyst Jack Shonkoff, Julius B. Richmond FAMRI Professor of Child Health and Development Director Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University Jide Zeitlin, President, The Keffi Group |
According to the panelists, globalization takes place through a foundation of human capital. Yet in many ways, the human capital needed for globalization is lacking. Progress is required in important areas such as elevating more women to leadership positions and having talent strategies that incorporate diversity.
Taking a longer-term view, early childhood interventions are needed to ensure development of tomorrow's workforce, they said. For companies that are global today, it is not effective to manage workers the same in all countries. Managers need to understand cultural differences and adjust their styles, communications, and rewards to fit within each culture.
Key concepts include:
- Investments in early childhood development are investments in a society's future human capital.
- The glass ceiling not only holds back women, it holds back business competitiveness.
- A sound diversity strategy is a talent strategy and a marketplace strategy.
For more coverage and video:
http://www.hbs.edu/centennial/businesssummit/global-business/managing-human-capital-global-trends-and-challenges.html