Israel Biz at 60: Lessons and Directions in Israel’s Business and Economy
American University Conference, March 3-4, 2008
Presented by the Kogod School of Business, the Center for Israel Studies, and the College of Arts and Sciences
Schedule of Events
Monday, March 3, 2008
University Club, 1135 Sixteenth Street, NW, Washington, DC
7:00 p.m. Reception, Dinner, and Keynote Address
Welcome Reception Special Guest: Robert Kogod, BSBA’62, former C-Chairman & Co-CEO Charles E. Smith Commercial Realty, Inc. and Charles E. Smith Residential Realty, Inc.
Keynote Address: Raya Strauss Bendror, President, Strauss Investment Company, co-founder of billion-dollar food conglomerate Strauss-Elite Group and leader in Israeli corporate social responsibility will speak on Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethical Leadership for Today’s Business World
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
American University, Mary Graydon Center, Butler Boardroom, 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC
8:45 a.m. Opening Remarks by conference co-chairs: Russell Stone, Director, Center for Israel Studies, Erran Carmel, Professor, Kogod School of Business, and Richard Linowes, Professor, Kogod School of Business
9:00-9:30 a.m. Keynote Address: Binyamin (Fouad) Ben-Eliezer, Minister of National Infrastructure, Cabinet Level Insight into Israel’s Business Sector
9:30-10-45 a.m. The Israeli Economy and Financial Markets
An overview of the evolution of the Israeli economy, recent changes in the stock and bond markets fostering corporate growth and mergers, and overall prospects for growth in the future
Avishay Braverman, Member of Knesset, past president of Ben Gurion University and former senior economist, World Bank
Providing an insider’s view of Israel’s economic life
Gil Mehrez, International Monetary Fund
Presenting an assessment of Israel’s economic growth
Vered Dar, Chief Economist, Psagot Ofek, Israel’s largest Israeli investment house, and former official at The Bank of Israel
Discussing the revitalized Israeli financial markets
Ohad Cohen, Commercial Attaché, Embassy of Israel
Speaking on the impact of trade on Israel’s economic success
Chair: Howard Wachtel, AU Professor Emeritus of Economics and founding Director of the Center for Israel Studies.
11:00a.m.-12:15p.m. Technology, Innovation and Start-ups
An overview of the dynamic high tech sectors of Israel that introduce important innovations in key industries
Guy Levy-Yurista, Director, AOL, and former director Tamir Fishman Ventures.
Presenting insight into Israeli “brain drain” and “brain circulation”
Amir Orad, EVP, Actimize, former VP of RSA Security, and co-founder of Cyota Inc.
Delivering insiders view of what makes Israeli start-ups different
Orey Gilliam, CEO, ICQ, and head of AOL Messaging
Sharing his experience with Israel’s first start-up acquired in a high profile, multi-million dollar acquisition
Chair: Erran Carmel, Professor of Information Technology, Kogod School of Business
12:30-2:00 p.m. Luncheon
American University, Mary Gradon Center, Faculty Dining Room, 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC
Introduction: Neil Kerwin, President, American University
Keynote Address: Avishay Braverman, Member of Knesset, past president of Ben Gurion University and former senior economist, World Bank will speak on Israel’s Economy at 60
2:15-3:30 p.m. Israeli Family-owned Mega-Enterprises
A portrait of key family-controlled businesses and how they expand, groom talent and weather conflicts
Raya Strauss Bendror, President, Strauss Investment Company, co-founder of billion-dollar food conglomerate Strauss-Elite Group and leader in Israeli corporate social responsibility
Speaking on the opportunities for business growth and making a difference
Nava Michael Tsabari, doctoral candidate on family business
Speaking on the challenges of family-controlled businesses
Chair: Richard Linowes, Professor, Kogod School of Business
3:45-5:00 p.m. Social Responsibility, Ethics, and Green Business
An exploration of recent trends in improving the social benefit of business and applying Jewish ethics to business
Momo Mahadav, Vice President, Maala- The Israeli Association for Social Responsibility
Presenting changes in the Israeli landscape of corporate social activism
Noam Gressel, former Science Director, Israel Union for Environmental Defense
Assessing urban ecosystems and environmental management
David Weitzner, AU Professor of Business Ethics
Speaking on the ethics of Israeli business through a Jewish lens
For conference sponsorship opportunities, phone registration or more information contact:
Adina Kanefield, Deputy Director, Center for Israel Studies at 202-885-3780 or adina.kanefield@american.edu. Register on-line www.american.edu/israelstudies/businessconf/register.
