How Does Education Prepare Tomorrow’s Leaders for This Fast-Paced Interconnected Business World?

NEW YORK – March 18, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – Coming out of the recent recession, problems are more complex, markets are more volatile and change is more rapid. Education must keep pace. So how can educators prepare students to lead in today’s interconnected world?

Today, Steelcase is bringing together three of the most influential thinkers on management and education to discuss this topic in its live, virtual panel discussion: Educating the Creative Leaders of Tomorrow.

Moderated by Reena Jana, an innovation expert and journalist, the Steelcase 360 Discussion will explore how we can redefine education to better prepare tomorrow’s creative leaders. Moreover, the panel will seek to identify the critical skills needed to achieve success as a business leader and how education will need to adapt. Joining the discussion are Roger Martin, dean of the Rotman School of Management, Daniel Pink, bestselling author on the changing world of work and Jim Keane, president of Steelcase.

“Given the recent recession, the rapid pace of change, and the complexity of an interconnected world, the skills that today’s students need to lead are far different from what we are used to,” said Keane.

“Educators must keep pace with these global business changes to prepare students.”
While Jana will join Keane in the Steelcase showroom in New York City to host the panel, Martin and Pink will participate via high-definition videoconferencing from Toronto and Washington D.C., respectively, using Steelcase’s media:scape with HD videoconferencing technology. With media:scape with HD Videoconferencing, panelists can view each other, present and share content seamlessly during the discussion.

The Steelcase 360 Discussion begins at 10:30 a.m. EDT today, followed by a Q&A session. To watch this live panel log on to 360.steelcase.com or go to the Steelcase Facebook page at www.facebook.com/steelcase. You can also follow on Twitter, @steelcase or #360discussion.

About the Panelists
Roger Martin is dean of University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, as well as a professor of strategic management as well as the author of The Design of Business. A Canadian from Wallenstein, Ontario, Roger was formerly a director of Monitor Company, a global strategy consulting firm based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Daniel H. Pink is the author of four provocative books about the changing world of work — including the New York Times bestsellers, A Whole New Mind and Drive. His articles on business and technology appear in many publications, including the New York Times, Harvard Business Review, Fast Company and Wired, where he is a contributing editor.

Jim Keane is president of the Steelcase brand of Steelcase Inc. Named to this role in October 2006, Jim oversees the sales, marketing and product development activities of the Steelcase, Turnstone, PolyVision and Details brands.

Reena Jana is the former Innovation Department editor for BusinessWeek. Currently, Reena is a freelance writer for national publications (including the New York Times, Harvard Business Review and Wired) specializing in the intersection of emerging technologies and culture.

About Steelcase Inc.
Steelcase Inc. helps create great experiences — wherever work happens. Our brands offer a comprehensive portfolio of workplace furnishings, products and services, inspired by nearly 100 years of insight gained serving the world’s leading organizations. We are globally accessible through a network of channels, including over 650 dealers. We design for social, economic, and environmental sustainability. Steelcase is a global, publicly traded company leading our industry with fiscal 2010 revenue of approximately $2.3 billion.

The Steelcase Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=4484

Contact
Sara Whitman
212.931.6121
swhitman@peppercom.com