This year marked the third year of a partnership between the Viessmann Group and the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh for an international business “Leadership Development Program,” which was developed by B.S. Sridhar, a professor in the UW Oshkosh College of Business.
The program was launched in summer 2013 as a result of the Viessmann Group partnership with UW Oshkosh through BIOFerm Energy Systems, a Wisconsin-based anaerobic digestion company that provides renewable energy and waste management solutions to North American operations. The program demonstrates UW Oshkosh’s commitment to sustainability through a prosperous, international, public-private partnership that is propelling cross-cultural academic programs and internship experiences.
During the past three years, 60 employees of the Viessmann Group from Germany, Finland, Turkey, Poland and France have participated in the program that Sridhar describes as “a gratifying and unqualified success.”
“Personally, it was very satisfying to be able to meld individuals from five countries into a cohesive group who, together, are embarking upon a journey of personal and professional development,” Sridhar said.
On June 16, program participants earned certificates of completion after executive teams presented their final, “Smart Globalization: The Viessmann Challenge” projects to peers, Viessman executives, and UW Oshkosh academic and institutional leaders. Present from Viessmann Group out of Germany were Walter Bornscheuer, senior vice president for technology and Manfred Greis, chief representative. The final Leadership Development Program presentations by the Viessmann Group students gave emergent company executives the opportunity present innovative ideas on how the company could grow business and leverage the BOP (bottom of the pyramid) market in impoverished, developing countries while maintaining the “people, planet and profit” philosophy.
The College of Business designs and annually delivers the high quality development program “that can be an envy for any business school,” Sridhar said.
“Personally, it was very satisfying to be able to meld twenty individuals from five countries into a cohesive group who, together, are embarking upon a journey of personal and professional development,” Sridhar said. “… Participants were enthusiastic and open minded throughout the four weeks, and it was a pleasure for presenters and facilitators to work with such a highly talented and motivated group of high-potential managers.”
Following the presentations, participants received a certificate of completion from Chancellor Andrew Leavitt and attended a final luncheon prior to their departure. The day concluded four weeks of business-focused classes at UW Oshkosh and off-campus, involving experiences in team building, professional development, creative thinking techniques, strategic planning and cultural understanding.
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