Dive into an insightful interview with Dr. Gary John Stockport, Dean and Professor of Strategy at SP Jain. Discover how the EMBA programme integrates global perspectives, cutting-edge technology, and AI to enhance leadership skills and career growth. Learn about the programme’s flexibility, technological advancements, and students’ transformative experiences. Explore how SP Jain’s EMBA programme prepares leaders for a dynamic global landscape.
As our world becomes more interconnected, global exposure is increasingly vital. But what does global exposure really mean, and why is it so crucial today?
At its core, global exposure involves how individuals or organisations engage with diverse cultures, languages, and ways of life around the world. This exposure is key to both personal growth and business success in our interconnected society. But what does it mean to be truly global? To explore this, we delved into the dynamic world of management education with Dr. Gary John Stockport, examining the significant impact of a global degree; in an era where continuous learning is essential, the importance of a management degree cannot be overstated. It gives individuals the critical thinking, strategic insights, and leadership capabilities needed to thrive in complex business environments. However, as professionals face increasing demands on their time and resources, the Executive MBA has emerged as a rigorous yet flexible option, enabling them to balance professional commitments with academic goals.
Dr. Gary’s journey exemplifies the fusion of expertise and managerial acumen, demonstrating how global programmes can shape diverse careers and cultivate leadership in today’s competitive business landscape. As a respected faculty member at SP Jain, Dr. Gary’s deep understanding of the global business environment and the Executive MBA (EMBA) programme at SP Jain School of Global Management further enhances our exploration of the relevance of management degrees imbued with global values and practices. His contributions offer students a distinctive blend of theoretical knowledge and practical application.
Here are the key highlights from our conversation:
The Start of an Educator’s Journey – A Global Perspective
My educational journey has been truly global. I’ve studied at institutions like Leeds, Nottingham, Warwick, Cranfield, London Business School, and Harvard Business School, each time expanding my geographic horizons. Coming from a family where I was the first to pursue college and management education—breaking the mould as the son of a coal miner—makes this journey especially meaningful.
As an educator, my academic role has taken me across five countries, where I’ve advanced through various academic positions—from assistant teacher to lecturer, senior lecturer, and associate professor—eventually securing two chaired positions. I served as the Alan Gray Chair in Strategic Management at the University of Cape Town and held the Winthrop Professor position in Strategic Management at the University of Western Australia.
What many people may not know is that I’ve also been running my own strategy consulting company for the past 25 years. During this time, I’ve worked with over 200 companies worldwide, providing strategic advice, facilitating strategy sessions, and offering one-on-one coaching. Over the last two years, I’ve conducted several executive development programmes for Indian companies travelling to different parts of the world. This unique blend of academic and practical experience has enabled me to integrate my roles as a strategic leader seamlessly.
Currently, I serve as the Dean and Professor of Strategy at SPJSGM, a role that reflects my extensive academic career. I oversee the global EMBA programmes across four major cities and our online platforms. When I talk about having a global perspective, I truly mean it, as SP Jain is committed to being genuinely global in every aspect. After building a global career, I joined SP Jain, where my role aligns with the global nature of our work. Our EMBA programme mirrors this global focus, offering online courses for students worldwide on weekends and specialised courses on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Students in India can choose between the global online and our specialised Middle East courses.
SP Jain: Leveraging Technology to Expand Global Reach and Enrich the Learning Experience
At SPJSGM, I work with the Engaged Learning Online (ELO) studio, which is at the cutting edge of technology. The ELO replicates the experience of a physical classroom, allowing me to see my 40 students up close—sometimes even better than in a traditional setting. This technology enables interactive sessions where students and faculty can engage in discussions and use breakout rooms. Since we introduced this technology with our first batch in March 2019, we’ve continually reinvested in it, thanks to the visionary leadership of our president, Professor Nitish Jain. We’ve upgraded and enhanced the student experience, and now we have 14 ELO studios across our four campuses.
Our students benefit from being taught by faculty worldwide, enriching their learning experience. For example, a student in Mumbai might start with a course taught by a faculty member in Mumbai, then move on to courses led by faculty in Sydney, Singapore, and finally, myself in Dubai. No other business school offers this level of global faculty interaction. Our curriculum, faculty, case studies, and simulations all have a global focus. We emphasize this global mindset to our students, who come from 15+ different countries, studying together and gaining insights into international business practices.
SP Jain: Integrating Technology and AI into the EMBA Programme
Leadership has evolved significantly over time. In our EMBA programme, my goal is twofold: to develop our managers into well-rounded generalists and to enhance their leadership capabilities. We start with the fundamentals of management, such as management accounting, financial accounting, marketing management, corporate finance, and HRM. As students progress, they gain a strategic perspective through courses in strategic finance, strategic marketing, and strategic management. I also incorporate leadership courses like cross-cultural management, ESG, and ethics for leaders into the curriculum. Additionally, we offer specialised courses and a major applied strategy project where students address a strategic issue within their own companies.
We’ve been proactive in integrating technology and AI into our programme. I’ve chaired the ChatGPT working party across SP Jain campuses, focusing on how we integrate AI into learning and assessment strategies. We offer courses that develop AI capabilities, such as using prompts to solve and brainstorm at work. Soon, we’ll introduce a course on integrating AI within companies – connected to change management theory. My goal is to prepare leaders for the future, capable of navigating environmental turbulence, including political instability and technological advancements like AI.
Core Qualities for Global Success
Commitment is crucial. Pursuing our EMBA is a significant investment of time, energy & money. Our students balance their studies with work and family responsibilities. They are self-sponsored and deeply invested in their career development. Approximately one-third of our students change jobs during the EMBA, and many more do so after completing the programme. They often advance within their current companies, switch organisations, change sectors, start their own businesses, or even relocate to different countries. Career growth and transformation are central to our EMBA programme. For instance, Shraddha, a student from our Dubai cohort, moved from a role at Salesforce to an executive vice president position at a bank in the UAE and later advanced to a C-suite role in Germany.
Advice for Evaluating EMBA Programmes
When choosing a programme, having a schedule that fits your work pattern is critical. The programme’s brand and its success are also key factors. I advise students to consider the programme’s track record, completion rates, and the level of support provided. At SP Jain, we offer a flexible schedule, strong branding, and a proven track record. We also provide comprehensive support through our ECAP (Executive Career Acceleration Programme), networking events, masterclass sessions, and soft skills development. Our EMBA programme is designed to be flexible, fast-moving, and student-centric, ensuring that students maximise their investment.
