Research Board

Ellen Pearlman - Expert

Ellen Pearlman is known in publishing for her ability to launch and run high-quality publications and web sites -- she launched four award-winning publications (CIO Insight, HomePC, Managed Healthcare News and VARBusiness), three online sites (cioinsight.com, miaviata.com, homepc.com) and is the co-author of Fast Forward, a book about the impact of the Internet published in 2000 by William Morrow. She received the distinguished Albert Einstein Award for achievements in the high-tech industry in 2005, was inducted into the YWCA's Academy of Women Achievers in 1997 and was named to Marketing Computers' Most Influential Computer Journalists in 1996. Most recently, she was Vice President and Editor in Chief of CIO Insight, a Ziff Davis Media publication.
(Expertise: media, content creation, publishing, book author)

Huib Wursten - Expert

Huib Wursten specializes in advising companies and multinational organizations on how to manage global teams. He is experienced in translating global strategies and policies into practical consequences for management. Since 1989 he has been working in this field with a variety of top Fortune 1000 companies. Huib has worked in and with public and private organizations in 85 countries. His main clients in the business sector are IBM, 3M, Vodafone, McCain, JP Morgan Chase, Texaco, and Unilever. From 1994 on he conducted courses at and provided advise to the IMF in Washington, and starting in 2000 he did the same thing for the European Central Bank in Frankfurt. He has also been involved with Europol, the World Bank, UNDP, the Council of Europe and the Dutch peacekeeping forces. He has advised the Russian administration on the influence of culture on political and economic behavior. He has written an award-winning paper which was published for "Nyfer", a Research Institute related to Nijenrode University: Mental Images.
(Expertise: culture, change, international workshops)

Ytzik Aranov - Investment Expert Advisor - M&A/Capital Markets

Ytzik Aranov's business career spans over twenty years in Mergers & Acquisitions, international strategic planning/risk management, Information Technology & E-Commerce, globalization, corporate finance/restructuring, global Merchant/Investment Banking, venture financing and creating shareholder value for public and private companies.

He is currently leading the E-Commerce & Web division for the world's largest pro-audio/video electronics retailer and is responsible for its online business presence. He has held senior positions at leading firms such as Officer, Director and SVP for publicly-traded CRSI, Inc. (OTC:CRSX), a global nurse recruiting & placement firm; Motorola, Inc., where he led the technology group for the US Southwest region; Coopers & Lybrand, where he led management consulting engagements and developed a technology venture incubator group; and A.T. Kearney, Inc., where as Principal, he led Fortune 100 restructuring efforts and M&A Integration.

As Managing Director - Corporate Finance at Eisner & Co., he developed M&A and Investment Banking and as Managing Director - Capital Markets at both ITF Global Partners and at Wellfleet Partners he developed Capital Markets/Merchant Banking groups. As an entrepreneur, he founded numerous startups in technology, healthcare, logistics, consulting, investment banking as well as Internet startups. He has been past co-director of New York Polytechnic University's executive MBA programs; past Member of the Board of the New York Software Industry Association (NYSIA); past Member of the Board of Directors of ITAC (Industrial & Technology Assistance Corporation of New York) where he chaired the committee developing the Technology Policy for the City Council of the City of New York. He has been an Advisor to leading Strategy firms, the CEO & Director of a prominent, national Not-for-Profit organization and a principal in a private equity company.

Mr. Aranov holds degrees in Computer Sciences, Systems Analysis and Engineering from University of California at Los Angeles ("UCLA"), Israeli technology academic institutions and Motorola, Inc.
(Expertise: M&A, investment banking, corporate finance)

Roger Green - Expert

Roger Green is a technology veteran, entrepreneur and thought leader with over twenty-five years of industry experience working with software companies, large multi-national enterprises and outsourcing providers. He has held C-level positions both in the U.S. and Europe in strategic planning, knowledge management, software engineering, customer support, sales, marketing, and business process re-engineering. His job titles have included Chief Operating Officer, Chief Information Officer, Chief Technology Officer and Senior VP for Business Strategy. Green's deep knowledge of technology and keen business acumen have provided numerous opportunities to innovate. Green is also considered an expert on business development and new media and is co-host of the popular business podcast, the Cullinane & Green Report. He holds several patents in data warehousing and complex system management and graduated with honors from Philadelphia University with a Bachelor of Science degree in business.
(Expertise – technology management, CTO/CIO, Second Life, social networking/Web 2.0, knowledge management, offshoring/outsourcing)

Stefan Inzelstein - Expert

Stefan is a thought leader in holistic (or integrative) change. His career spans 4 decades as a Fortune 100 executive and an international management consultant.
He spent 21 years with IBM, imagined, designed and implemented ISM, IBM’s first and highly successful management consulting program for which he got an Outstanding Innovation Award. This led to the creation of IBM Global Services.
Stefan has created what is possibly the first fully integrative approach to the initiation and management of sustainable change. Its basis is the recognition that, in today’s global networked innovation-driven world, sustainable success is more than ever dependent on the simultaneous recognition of the interests of core stakeholders, i.e. employees, customers, partners and investors. His approach includes the creation and enhancement of an effective Community Dialogue, a unique, simple integrative framework or architecture in which any initiative, project, program or process can be clearly positioned, resourced and measured and a low risk approach for rapidly translating a set of shared Core Values, common Purpose and shared Vision into the organizations day-to-day business, i.e. its projects, processes and measurement systems.
Stefan speaks eight languages and has a deep understanding of American and European business cultures.
(Expertise: VBO, community dialogue, leadership strategic consulting, sustainable change)

Ms. Evie Evangelou - Expert Principal, Business Development and Communication

Ms. Evangelou is an independent consultant and special advisor in the areas of International Relations and Trade Development. She specializes in international relations through cross-cultural communications and the development of public-private partnerships within the private sector, governments and non-governmental organizations. Areas of expertise include developing international market value through research and analysis, branding, distribution and strategic programs and new product rollout in arts&entertainment, fashion, beauty, corporate trade and non-profit cultural and humanitarian causes.

Ms.Evangelou's most recent creation is the multi-million dollar project "GateWay to the World", an entertainment and amusement destination featuring the culture of countries from around the globe. "GateWay to the World" is scheduled to premiere in New York City in the spring of 2007. GateWay to the World is a platform for the ministries of tourism, trade and culture within each country to showcase their services and products in a an innovative and entertaining way to consumers worldwide.

Ms. Evangelou has extensive experience working with the United Nations. Most recently, Ms. Evangelou served as interim Deputy Secretary General for the World Federation of the United Nations at UN headquarters in NYC. She worked with more than 100 UN Member States/Countries and Missions, as well as a long list of non-governmental bodies focused in education, cultural affairs and humanitarian causes. She received appointment by Kensaku Hogen, the former Under Secretary-General of the United Nations Department of Public Information as a special consultant for cultural and educational affairs and programs within UNDPI, one of the nine departments that form the United Nations Secretariat. She was also appointed as a special consultant to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the UN theme "Dialogue Among Civilizations" to co-produce and co-sponsor with United Nations the UN Day Concert, and other smaller culturally related projects to accompany the theme of creating a better human understanding among cultures.

As founder and President of NUbreed Synergy of the Arts, a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization that has spearheaded the careers of artists, fashion designers, and performers in music and dance and EV Productions, her consulting arm, Ms. Evangelou has partnered and collaborated with an extensive roster of institutions on new and existing programs such as: the United Nations, the World Trade Center's Association, the Diplomatic World Observer, the President's Committee for the Arts and Humanities, NY State Convention and Visitors Bureau, Empire State Development, British Information Services, International Child Art Foundation, the New York State Hellenic American Republican Association, NYC Cultural Millennium Council, NYC Board of Education, Symphonicum Europae, foreign ministries, consulates, more than 100 UN Member States and Missions, as well as a long list of non-governmental bodies focused in education, cultural affairs and humanitarian causes. Ms. Evangelou also partnered with the U.S. President's Committee for the Arts and Humanities to bring new perspectives and advisement to enhance educational systems nationwide through the arts, and to create new collaborations with educational systems around the world through innovative formulas of cultural exchange. Her commercial ventures included partnerships and collaborations with companies such as Apple Computer, AT&T, Conde Nast Publications, Evian, Gucci, L'Oreal, MTV, Saks Fifth Avenue, Sony Corporation, Time Warner, Univision, NBC, Parsons Brinckerhoff, etc. She has raised more than $20MM in sponsorships, grants and contributions to fund and launch over 30 programs.

Ms.Evangelou was a consultant in preparations for the World Cup Soccer Korea/Japan in 2002. Ms.Evangelou has worked extensively within Asia and has been a key note speaker in Japan and Korea on several occasions. She was honored by Governor Eui Lee of Gyeongsangbuk-do Province in South Korea for her successful roll-out of the U.S. tour promotion of the World Cultural Expo and other events to promote investments in South Korea from the United States.

Other honors and achievements include Chairing the New York City Millennium Committee for Culture in 2001, honored by the New York State Senate in 1996 for sustained commitment to the preservation and enhancement of human dignity, commended by former NYC Mayor Guiliani for cultural and educational contributions to NYC, and endorsed by Charles A. Gargano, Chairman and Commissioner of Empire State Development for participating and enhancing the famous "I LOVE NY" campaign.

Eugene Goland - Expert Principal, Technology and Eastern Europe

Eugene Goland is a founder and currently President of DataArt, a high-end software development company with industry-specific expertise in financial technology, telecom and media sectors based in New York with offshore offices in St.Petersburg Russia. Among DataArt's clients are Standard & Poor's, BNP Paribas, ValueLine, Spirent Communications. BusinessWeek named DataArt one of the top emerging outsourcing providers worldwide and DataArt was voted Top 4 Emerging Global Service Provider and Top 4 Emerging European Service provider by CMP's Global Services 100. International Association of Outsourcing Professionals selected DataArt to the Rising Star category in Global Sourcing 100 for two years in a row.Goland is also a co-founder of Russia's premiere web-based portal, Mail.ru, the second largest portal in Eastern Europe with 20 million users, which was sold for $120 million in 2005, and evaluated at $500 million in 2007.

He is a Founder of the Offshore Outsourcing Best Practices association and Chairman of the SME Global Sourcing chapter at the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP). Goland holds MBA from University of Maryland, and BS in Computer Science from NYU.

Dr. Art Murray - Fellow

Dr. Art Murray is Chief Fellow of the George Washington University Institute for Knowledge and Innovation, where he is also the co-Founding Director of The Enterprise of the Future Program. Through his many seminars and workshops, he has shown hundreds of executives how to transform their organizations to compete in a flat world. He sits on the advisory boards of international organizations in the fields of science, medicine and organizational learning. He is a keynote speaker, an editorial board member and reviewer for several scientific journals, and has been featured in trade publications and radio programs.
(Expertise: knowledge, organizational learning, enterprise of the future, workshops, faculty)

Dr. Hamsa Thota - Fellow

Dr. Hamsa Thota is Chairman of the Product Development Management Association (PDMA). He is a resultant inventor and entrepreneur with over twenty years leadership experience in new product development and innovation management. He founded Innovation Business Development in 2000 to assist clients in the manufacture and sale of innovative products made with advanced production methods after his retirement as VP of Research, Development and Commercialization for Rich-SeaPak Corp. To advance the profession of product development and innovation management, he has served on the Board of PDMA since 2000 and as its President in 2006. He successfully championed the formation of PDMA-China and PDMA-India. He represents PDMA as a member of the National Innovation Initiative Strategy Council and contributes to the Council on Competitiveness dialogue on "innovation metrics" and "the future of U.S. manufacturing." He is a guest lecturer on product development and innovation management at the University of Georgia and the Georgia Institute of Technology, a member of the adjunct faculty at the Federal Executive Institute and a Senior Fellow at the Kellogg Innovation Network, Northwestern University.
(Expertise: innovation, product development/management, faculty)

Dr. Lou Marinoff - Fellow

Dr. Lou Marinoff is the author of the international hit Plato, Not Prozac!, which has been published in twenty languages and sold in 75 countries, and Therapy for the Sane (formerly Big Questions). A professor of philosophy at the City College of New York, Marinoff is also the founding president of the American Philosophical Practitioners Association. Lou has been a philosophical practitioner for ten years. His clients include individuals, groups and organizations. He is a Fellow of the Institute for Local Government at the University of Arizona, and a Fellow of the World Economic Forum (Davos). He publishes regularly in decision theory, ethics, philosophical practice, and other scholarly fields. His textbook, Philosophical Practice provides a technical "insider's view" of the profession. Lou's philosophical practice and pioneering endeavors have received national and international media attention. He is currently writing a new book, Life is Not a Disease, to be published worldwide.
(Expertise: philosophy, book author, faculty, WEF/Davos member)

Dr. Jean-Pierre Lehmann - Fellow

Dr. Jean-Pierre Lehmann, founding director of the Evian Group, has been Professor of International Political Economy at IMD International Institute for Management Development His main areas of expertise are the socio-economic and business dynamics of East Asia, the impact of globalization on developing countries and the government - business interface, especially in respect to the global trade and investment policy process. He acts in various leading capacities in several public policy forums and organizations.
In 1995 he launched the Evian Group, which consists of high ranking officials, business executives, independent experts and opinion leaders from Europe, Asia and the Americas. The Evian Group's focus is on the international economic order in the global era, specifically the reciprocal impact and influence of international business and the WTO agenda.
Prior to joining IMD, Jean-Pierre has had both an academic and a business career which has encompassed activities in virtually all East Asian and Western European countries, as well as North America. He was (from 1992) the founding director of the European Institute of Japanese Studies (EIJS) at the Stockholm School of Economics and Professor of East Asian Political Economy and Business. From 1986 to 1992 he established and directed the East Asian operations of InterMatrix, a London-based business strategy, research and consulting organization. During that time he was operating primarily from Tokyo, with offices in Seoul, Taipei, Bangkok and Jakarta and was concurrently Affiliated Professor of International Business at the London Business School. Other previous positions include: Associate Professor of International Business at INSEAD (European Institute of Business Administration) in Fontainebleau, France, Visiting Professor at the Bologna Center (Italy) of the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, twice in the 70s Visiting Professor and Japan Foundation Fellow at the University of Tohoku, Sendai (Japan), and Founding Director of the Center for Japanese Studies at the University of Stirling (Scotland), where he also taught East Asian history in the University's History Department. He is the author of several books and numerous articles and papers primarily dealing with modern East Asian history and East Asia and the international political economy.
(Expertise: international trade, global economy, political economy, East Asian socio-economic and business dynamics, globalization)

Dr. Michel S. Laguerre - Fellow

Dr. Michel S. Laguerre is Professor and Director of the Berkeley Center for Globalization and Information Technology at the University of California at Berkeley. He has published "American Odyssey" (Cornell University Press, 1984), "Urban Poverty in the Caribbean" (Macmillan Press, 1990), "The Military and Society in Haiti" (University of Tennessee Press, 1993), "The Informal City" (Macmillan Press, 1994), "Diasporic Citizenship" (Macmillan Press, 1998), "Minoritized Space: An Inquiry into the Spatial Order of Things" (University of California's Institute of Governmental Studies Press, 1999), "The Global Ethnopolis: Chinatown, Japantown and Manilatown in American Society" (Macmillan Press, 2000), "An Urban Multiculturalism and Globalization in New York City" (Palgrave Macmillan Press, 2003). His essays have appeared in California Management Review, Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship, Millennium: Journal of International Studies, The Harvard Encyclopedia of American Ethnic Groups and Information, Communication and Society. He was a visiting professor at Harvard in 1991-2, and in the Program in Science, Technology, and Society at MIT in 2001-2002. He held in 1994-5 at UC Berkeley the Barbara Weinstock lectureship on the Morals of Trade. He is completing two new volumes entitled "The American Metropolis a nd the Internet: The Rise of the Digital City." and "Diasporic Politics: Hostland and Homeland."
(Expertise: Technology and communications, Globalization, knowledge clusters)

Dr. Kenneth Preiss - Fellow

Kenneth Preiss, Professor Emeritus, is an authority on international industrial competitiveness. Over a 35-year career, he has led projects in Israel and the U.S. from enterprise strategy and transformation to technical development. He has held leadership roles to improve operational effectiveness in defense and industrial projects. For his contributions to engineering research and teaching, he was awarded an honorary membership of the American Society for Mechanical Engineers in 1980. For 25 years he held the Sir Leon Bagrit chair at Ben Gurion University in Beer Sheva, Israel, dealing with Technology and Global Competitiveness. In 1991 Dr. Preiss was selected by the Iacocca Institute of Lehigh University to analyze the U.S. role in the changing structure of worldwide industry. He was one of the facilitators and a co-editor of the resulting report, 21st Century Manufacturing Enterprise Study: An Industry-Led View. This widely-accepted report identified and analyzed in detail the new emerging, system-wide, dynamic and agile, global competitive environment. Professor Preiss has authored or coauthored over 200 original research papers and reports, and a number of books.
(Expertise: technology and global competitiveness, Innovation, operational effectiveness)