Macroeconomics for Executives (Online): Navigating Global Risks and Trends
- Requirements
- This program is suitable for attendees at all executive levels who seek to deepen their knowledge of global markets and macroeconomics.
Macroeconomics for Executives (Online): Navigating Global Risks and Trends
Overview
No business operates in a vacuum. Exchange rate volatility, fiscal and monetary policy, geopolitical uncertainty, trade conflicts: these represent just a sliver of the broad web of macroeconomic forces that can shape the future of your organization.
The wide-ranging consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic have reinforced the interconnectedness of our world. Citing lingering uncertainties about the progression of the pandemic, the United Nations said in a 2020 report that "the possibility of a slow recovery and prolonged economic slump — with rising poverty and inequality — looms large."
Now more than ever, positioning global organizations for sustained success requires the ability to detect and skillfully navigate key macroeconomic influences. The better executives and strategists can understand the interdependencies of these forces, the better the decisions they can make for their organizations.
Nurturing this critical skill is the focus of Macroeconomics for Executives (Online): Navigating Global Risks and Trends, a ten-week online program from Columbia Business School Executive Education. Its foundation is the three-step Macro Scenario Playbook, which provides a framework to help make these big-picture concepts applicable for your business situation.
Through the successful completion of this program, you will learn how to improve your strategic decision making in today's global economy and steer your organization toward a brighter future.
“As recent events have demonstrated, the world can change in extraordinary ways quite quickly. Now more than ever, executives and professionals — both new and experienced — must be equipped with advanced skills and knowledge to effectively seize new opportunities, navigate through uncertainty, and thrive in any environment.”
Pierre Yared
The program's faculty director
Impact
By joining this program, you will learn how to:
- Apply the Macro Scenario Playbook to gauge the impact of changes in the global economy on your business
- Assess the impact of recessions and the ensuing monetary and fiscal responses on your business
- Forecast exchange rates, bond prices, and equity prices in response to macroeconomic shocks
- Identify economic growth opportunities and risks across the world
- Evaluate the impact of trade and financial globalization — and the risk of deglobalization — on your business
- Determine potential short- and long-term pandemic scenarios and their impact on your business
About the Macro Scenario Playbook
The Global Strategy program features the Macro Scenario Playbook, a framework for strategic decision making, which includes three steps:
- Step 1: We examine what a particular scenario means for your business, including your customers, employees, suppliers, investors, and creditors.
- Step 2: We consider what the scenario implies for the overall economy, which comprises the real economy and the financial market. (By real economy, we mean the non-financial side of the economy.) What does a scenario mean for consumers, workers, and firms, including your direct competitors? And what does a scenario mean for financial markets? This step is the primary focus of the program.
- Step 3: We discuss how the implications uncovered in step 2 affect your business—and can help inform your business strategy.
The playbook helps you connect the program directly to your business, allowing you to put the learnings into play.
Upon completion of this program, you will earn two credits towards a Certificate with select alumni and tuition benefits. Learn more.
Program Structure
Macroeconomics for Executives (Online): Navigating Global Risks and Trends, a ten-week online program, includes a mix of live and recorded sessions. In addition, program leaders hold weekly, live, and virtual office hours where you can get answers to your questions in a small-group setting.
Orientation
The first week is orientation week. You will have the opportunity to familiarize yourself with the learning platform and prepare for the program ahead.
For complete details of the curriculum please download the program brochure.
Participant Profile
Global economic trends impact all businesses that operate internationally—and even many businesses that do not. Staying competitive in a rapidly changing economic environment requires organizations to anticipate emerging and future threats and to respond proactively and intelligently.
In Macroeconomics for Executives (Online): Navigating Global Risks and Trends, you will explore how to make better strategic decisions to help your company thrive. The program cohort will include participants representing a breadth of geographies, industries, and professional experiences as well as job functions such as:
- CXOs seeking to deepen their knowledge of global markets and macroeconomics to safeguard their business against crises and sudden market fluctuations and find opportunities of investment and growth across geographies and sectors
- Corporate strategists, functional business heads, and finance professionals seeking to better assess their organization's financial risk appetite based on global economic trends and plan accordingly and predict and prepare for business cycles and their outcomes
Faculty
Pierre Yared
MUTB Professor of International Business
Vice Dean for Executive Education
Columbia Business School
FAQ
General
What is the educational approach of your online programs?
You can expect a robust, multi-layered learning experience that emphasizes the development of the higher order thinking skills which were proposed by educational psychologist Dr. Benjamin Bloom in “Bloom’s Taxonomy of Learning.” According to Bloom, the development of higher order thinking skills requires guiding the learner from just knowledge recall to comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation. Bloom’s Taxonomy was later revised and expressed in more action-orientated terms as 1) remembering, 2) understanding, 3) applying, 4) analyzing, 5) evaluating and 6) creating. In online learning at Columbia Business School Executive Education, you will have an opportunity to progress through these key phases of learning so that by the end each program, your return on learning will be clearly measurable.
What is the difference between live online and online programs?
Compare our two formats for distance learning here.
Format
How long do your online programs run for?
Our online programs range between 3 to 18 weeks in length.
Are your online programs synchronous or asynchronous?
Our online programs are mostly asynchronous, meaning that there is generally no live contact with faculty. Unless otherwise specified in the program description, all lectures are delivered through recorded media. Interactions between learners, facilitators, and faculty are conducted via discussion boards, email, and announcements, and all program material is posted on a course site.
Each online program is divided into time-sequenced modules with new modules released each week. This is to allow you to move through the course with a cohort of fellow learners to ask questions and share your learnings and experiences. We encourage you to take advantage of the opportunities you will have to connect with fellow learners in each particular online program.
Are assignments graded and if so, how?
An assignment is marked as either complete or incomplete based on whether or not it meets the assignment requirements. If an assignment is submitted without meeting the essential requirements, it will be marked as incomplete, however, you will be able to resubmit the assignment for further review.
Will there be any pre-program work?
No. There is no pre-program work in our online programs.
Learning Experience
Who will be my main point of contact?
Each online program is managed by a dedicated Online Facilitator who will be available to answer any questions, provide feedback, and send reminders as needed. Your Online Facilitator will contact you shortly before the program begins.
How will I access the program materials?
Each program has a dedicated course site to which you will have a login and password. The course site will contain all program materials — syllabus, video content, readings, and assignments.
Will I be able to interact with the faculty?
This varies from program to program. Questions raised in discussion boards and assignments will be curated by your Online Facilitator/Learning Coach. At a minimum, the faculty will post weekly or bi-weekly announcements addressing those themes. Some programs may feature periodic live online sessions to provide an opportunity to engage with the faculty live.
What is the role of the Online Facilitator/Learning Coach?
In online learning at Columbia Business School Executive Education, we emphasize facilitated cohort learning and development. Our online programs are guided by a dedicated Online Facilitator/Learning Coach who provides feedback on your learning to help you re-examine your assumptions in order to expand your understanding of the program’s concepts and achieve your learning objectives.
How will I interact with my cohort of online learners?
Connecting with other learners in an asynchronous online learning environment takes place through weekly discussion boards as well as peer or small group sessions.
What is the online student code of conduct?
Whether attending an online or in-person program, every participant at Columbia Business School Executive Education is expected to adhere to the student code of conduct which requires the following:
- Respect the privacy of other students. Do not share or disclose personal or proprietary company information on public forums.
- Respect the diversity of opinions and cultures that will be present in your program. The use of language that is harassing or denigrating will not be tolerated.
- Your program login credentials are for your personal use only. Do not allow anyone else to access the course site using your login.
- Do not reproduce content from any online program unless allowed by the copyright terms laid out by the course administrator.
- Do not submit the work of others as your own work.
- Violation of this code of conduct may result in disciplinary action including cancellation of program enrollment with no reimbursement of fees.
Learning Environment
How will I access the program materials?
Each program has a dedicated course site to which you will have a login and password. The course site will contain all program materials — syllabus, video content, readings, and assignments.
When will I receive access to the course site?
You will receive access to the course site generally within one to five business days of the course start date.
Can I access the course site on a mobile device?
Yes, the course sites are accessible on mobile devices via the course website log-in page at https://courseworks2.columbia.edu/ or via the Canvas app:
» Download Canvas app for Android
» Download Canvas app for iOS
To find Columbia Business School Executive Education on the Canvas app, you may need to type our URL in the "Find your school or district" box. The URL is courseworks2.columbia.edu.
Please note that there will be differences in how the course site is displayed in the app versus on desktop. We recommend that you experiment with accessing the course site on a mobile device and laptop or computer to see which works best for you.
How long will I have access to the course site after the program concludes?
You will have access to the course site for an additional three months after the program concludes.
Certification for Online Programs
Do your online programs provide any university credits?
No. All of our Executive Education programs, both online and in person, are non-degree courses and as such, do not provide accreditation or lead to an accredited diploma or a degree. Upon successful completion of the program, participants receive a certificate of participation.
Do online programs count towards earning the Certificate in Business Excellence (CIBE)?
Online programs provide credits towards the Certificate in Business Excellence (CIBE)*. Please visit the program page for the exact number of credits each online program earns toward this certificate.
*Except Professional Certificate in Corporate Finance (with edX), Alumni Edge programs, and TIME for Learning classes, which do not earn credits toward the Certificate in Business Excellence.
Cohort
Who typically attends your online programs?
The executive cohort for each online program consists of a global audience at various stages of their careers, from mid- to senior-level leaders and managers with an average of 10-15 years of management experience. Participants come from a range of functional areas including general management, IT, finance/accounting, sales, operations, marketing, human resources, customer service, engineering, and strategy. The top 10 industries represented include financial services, energy/natural resources, retail, technology, education, consulting, manufacturing, consumer products, and non-profit industries.
How large are the online program cohorts?
We limit the enrollment levels of our online programs to ensure every participant receives consistent feedback from the Online Facilitators. This makes it possible for us to provide you with a level of attention and feedback not typical in other online programs.
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