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Update from the SIMI Alumni Chairman
by Bo Høifeldt(MSDS2004, E*MBA15), 19 August 2010
 Even though we had time for summer vacation a few things have been moving since my last update to you.
Late June, Torben Klein, Jesper Christiansen and I met to have a first informal discussion about the future cooperation between CBS-SIMI Executive and the Alumni Association. The main core was mutual expectations, future division of tasks and funding of the Alumni Association. Based on our meeting, I have made a summary with suggestions for the future setup. The plan is that we are going to meet about this within a few weeks. I have at the same time suggested that we take CBS MBA Alumni Society onboard so they can participate in the building of the future setup. The activity is closely aligned with the SIMI Alumni Board and discussed at our board meetings.
Mid July the Chairman of CBS MBA Alumni Society Jacob Therkelsen and I met for an informal discussion about the future expected merger. The short version is that the two alumni organizations agree in almost every aspect about the practicalities of the expected merger. We still have an issue about which graduates/alumni we see as future members, but I strongly believe we will solve this issue as part of the upcoming practical preparation for the merger where we will get deeper into our future common values, purpose, vision, mission and so on…….you know the drill. Right now we are trying to set up a joint board strategy seminar to get aligned on both strategy and operations. Of cause this work will have a very close relation to the cooperation with CBS-SIMI Executive as mentioned above.
Mid August we had a board meeting where we agreed to focus the board activities towards our existing members – preparing great events and trying to put even more value into our Association. The effect of this will be that I together with our Vice Chairman Jesper Steeenbuch Pedersen (MSDS2001, E*MBA16) will focus on the already mentioned structural business related to the school and our fellow alumni from CBS MBA, while the rest of the board will focus on member facing activities. And we will then use the board meetings to coordinate and take the formal decisions.
You might miss the annual “planning seminar” (Kick-Off) this August, as we normally each August set up work groups to develop the alumni activities for the coming season. We have decided to drop the seminar this year due to the fact that SIMI Alumni Association, as we know it now, will cease to exist after the merger. This merger is still planned beginning of 2011. Of cause we need activities also in 2011, but we are sure that the existing SIMI Alumni Board together with our secretariat are able to ensure the needed activities until the board of the new alumni organization can take over.
And in regard to activities we have a lot scheduled over the next couple of months. So use the possibility to continue to learn. Get all the good input from the masters and drop by and use the possibilities in your network!
If you have any questions or input, please get back to me!
Best regards
Bo Høifeldt
phone +45 2367 7129
mail bo.hoeifeldt@post.dk
Interview with the chairman from CBS Alumni Jacob Therkelsen
First statement as new Chairman of the SIMI Alumni Board, Bo Høifeldt - July 2010
The SIMI Alumni Gran Reunion Day Seminar and Evening Party
The Day Seminar:
 The SIMI Alumni Grand Reunion Day Seminar was a spectacular one this year. The theme of the day was diversity and the 4 speakers of the day did a great job explaining the potential problems which may arise when different cultures meet, and gave some different solutions on how to turn cultural differences into strengths.
Charlotte Mark, Managing Director & Site Leader of Microsoft Development Center Copenhagen explained that the need to embrace diversity comes from the need for talent. Attracting talent is a key ability as there is a lack of skilled workforce in Denmark, and after attracting this talent, embracing cultural differences and making sure the new expats thrive in their new environment is key to then keeping the expats here. An example of how Microsoft Development Center Copenhagen embraces the diversity in their staff is the “Cake and Culture” meetings they have, where the employees make presentations on their culture to promote mutual understanding. It is also important according to Charlotte Mark that the company has a strong R&D brand, and that the city where the new expats are going to live is attractive to them. 
Craig Till, Head of Secretariat for Expat in Denmark explained that for expats coming to this country the Danish society can seem very closed, and different. The Danish workplace is unique in many ways, such as the flat management structures, informality in the workplace and teamwork mindset. He mentioned that the primary reason that expats leave Denmark is the cost of living and taxation, and although he stressed the fact that expats are not a cohesive group, some of the most important factors for the expats choosing to stay in Denmark are the work/life balance and the level of flexibility on the job.
 Ending the day seminar was Lucas Vos, Chief Process Officer at Maersk Line A/S who gave an excellent presentation on the strengths and challenges of the Danish society seen through the eyes of an expat. Among the strengths of the Danish society he mentioned that the Danes have an implicit high level of quality, they are very pragmatic and consensus builders. The Challenges of the Danes are that they are impersonal, very rule abiding, nationalistic and that there is such a big difference between the mindset of the “winther-dane” and the “summer-dane”.
The Evening Party:
 The Evening Party of the 2010 SIMI Alumni Association Grand Reunion was, like the day seminar, held in the spirit of diversity. It was held at Ovnhallen, which is right next to the beautiful new building of the CBS/SIMI Executive, which the guests had the opportunity to see before the party began. The theme of the party was Studio 54 and almost everyone had dressed to impress in real 70’s and 80’s disco outfits. The entertainment of the evening was a “consultant” which came to give some humorous advice on mergers. Check out the many great pictures from the evening here.
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