Guest blogger Bill Kramer is principal of The Global Challenge Network, LLC, an executive education and training company. From 2001 through mid-2007, he worked on pro-poor business strategies with WRI. Previously, Bill founded a non-profit focusing on the relationship of knowledge to economic development and enjoyed a long career in the private sector, founding a dozen companies, most of which were in the book business.

By Bill Kramer

Nobody should make light of the terrible toll that the current global financial crisis; it will cause human hardship domestically and across the world, and hit vulnerable populations with particular vengeance. But an article in The New York Times from Thursday, October 16, 2008 ("Asia Looks to Its Own Consumers To Bolster the Region's Economies"), points out that there are two sides to this firestorm: export sales are weak, but in a number of sectors, in a number of countries, domestic sales are actually on the rise.

NextBillion readers will know our bias: both the public and private sectors ought to pay more attention to local consumers as sustainable economic growth comes only through development of local economies (if such development is guided by meaningful care inclusiveness, equity and the environment; governance counts).

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The William Davidson Institute at The University of Michigan recently launched an exciting new tool for educators and others in the emerging markets and international business spaces. A remarkably transparent resource, GlobaLens offers cases, courses and community through a user-friendly database and discussion platform.

The site's course and syllabi-sharing section is a particularly unique opportunity for faculty members to identify innovative teaching strategies and approaches to learning.   Beyond encouraging collaboration domestically, GlobaLens has great potential to leverage international partnerships and break down geographic barriers.  If effectively utilized, universities could enhance a their course offerings to include a more comprehensive diversity of perspectives.  At a fundamental level, they can simply talk to each other about what works and what does not work in teaching international business across a multitude of disciplines.
For readers interested in social enterprise and businesses serving the base of the pyramid, the site offers access and easy navigation of great case studies. 

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