March 25, 2008
March, 2008—Tobin College of Business Professor of Management,
Dr. Jay Nathan, spent three weeks in Mongolia giving workshops,
seminars and lectures on management to students, faculty and
administrators as part of a Fulbright Scholarship. “It was really a
dream come true for me,” said Nathan.
The topics of these lectures and seminars included International
Business and Development, a workshop on Business Operations and
Project Development and lectures on Cross Cultural Issues and
Management Issues in Mongolia. Due to the language barriers, a
translator was used for student lectures; however the more senior
Mongolian faculty had a greater understanding of the English
language and did not need a translator.
During his stay in this developing country, which was formerly
part of the Soviet Union, Nathan learned a great deal about
Mongolia’s history, culture and religion—which is Tibetan Buddhism.
“Since gaining their independence in 1990, Mongolia has adopted a
cosmopolitan outlook and practice,” said Nathan. “The Mongolians
have a strong belief in globalization and love Americans and the
American culture.”
Located approximately 3000 feet above sea level, Mongolia is
known as the “Land of clear blue sky” and Nathan said he had never
seen a sky as blue in his life. Mongolia is a large, landlocked
country, and is twice the size of Texas. More than half of
all Mongolians live on the countryside in houses known as
gher—which is a one-room round felt tent. The Mongolian gher
plays an important role in shaping both the Mongolian character and
family life—because they are small, families are forced to interact
with one another, to share everything and to work together.
The nomadic life has made Mongolians humble, adaptable, and yet
brave.
Under the emperor Chinggis Khan and his descendents, the
Mongolian Empire lasted for over 150 years. The enlightened Khan
was tolerant towards other religious practices and he introduced a
written script for the Mongolian language. Emperor Khan was
an inspirational leader and an effective manager. He
introduced Mongolian legal code and promoted arts and
craftsmanship. At the zenith of the Mongolian Empire, the
Mongols ruled most of China, all of Central Asia, part of
Russia--up to Moscow, and Turkey. It was one of the largest and
most famous empires in history. When the Chinese expanded, they
waged war against Mongolia. In order to fight back, the Mongolian
elite sought help from Russia and soon found themselves oppressed
by the Russians. That is when Khan’s empire fell.
“Khan Management fostered religious tolerance, freedom of
commerce, international law, and shared knowledge,” says Nathan.
Khan Management is used by many big businesses today, although very
few tend to give Khan the credit for its
effectiveness.
The Peter J. Tobin College of Business has provided the highest
quality business education for over eighty years. Many alumni
have risen to senior executive positions in the financial services
community in New York and around the world. Degrees offered
include the Bachelor of Science, Master of Business Administration
and Master of Science. The College encompasses the School of
Risk Management, Insurance and Actuarial Science, which is housed
at the University’s Manhattan location in the heart of the New York
financial district. Recent recognitions for the Tobin College
include a listing by The Aspen Institute among the top ninety
business schools in the United States whose graduate curricula
reflect a commitment to social responsibility and sustainability.
For further information, please contact Jennifer Maizel at (718)
990-6218 or email Maizelj@stjohns.edu.
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