1. Victoria Business School - Orauariki
VICTORIA UNIVERSITY OF WELLINGTON, PO Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
Phone + 64-4-463 5397 Fax +64-4-463 5084 Web www.victoria.ac.nz/vms
VICTORIA BUSINESS SCHOOL - Orauariki
P.O. Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand
64 (4) 463-5382, Facsimile +64 (4) 463-5253, E-mail john.davies@vuw.ac.nz
16 June 2015
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
Alana Mary Mills of University of Otago, New Zealand, successfully competed in the 2015 Global Enterprise
Experience. Alana was a member of her global team with eight participants from nations that are big and small,
rich and poor, and with world views that are worlds apart.
Over a designated three week period, Alana’s cross-national student colleagues connected virtually, formed a
cohesive team, ran a creative process to generate ideas for a profitable venture that addresses the needs of the
vulnerable in society, selected their project, researched it, and collectively wrote a business concept proposal.
More information on this challenge is on www.geebiz.org.
The Victoria Business School has been the home of this experiential global contest since its inception 11 years
ago. Over the years, 6000 students from 85 countries have participated. I have noted rising standards in
leadership, creative problem solving, social entrepreneurship, cross cultural understanding, business ‘nous’, and
management of virtual global teams. These are core capabilities that we aim to instil in our graduates. And
through this global contest we provide the opportunity to make this experiential, student-led learning available
to other students around the world.
Alana’s team successfully managed the real world challenges of pulling together the creativity, insights, work
ethic and knowledge of team members located in various corners of the globe. They completed a business
concept proposal including the financials, strategy, and marketing for their business project entitled
“Medicycle”.
We believe that the Global Enterprise Experience provides opportunity for experiential learning in international
business and social entrepreneurship that will help Alana and her team to recognise business as an ethical tool to
enhance society. Indeed, the capability to undertake a challenge with full commitment, to set up a team in
cyberspace, learn about each other, and develop a quality proposal under time pressure, are the kind of qualities
we value.
My congratulations to Alana Mary Mills for her contribution to an effective Global Enterprise Experience team
– and my hope that it will prove fruitful in terms of a successful career and meaningful contribution to society.
Kind regards
Professor John Davies
Associate Dean (International & Executive Education)
Director, Academic Programmes Accreditation
Academic Director, Global Enterprise Experience
Victoria Business School Orauariki
Professor of Management Studies, School of Management
Victoria University of Wellington, 23 Lambton Quay, Pipitea Campus
PO Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
www.victoria.ac.nz/vbs | 0800 VICTORIA
email: john.davies@vuw.ac.nz; Tel: + 64 4 463 5382; Fax: + 64 4 463 5084