{"id":6694,"date":"2010-02-18T10:20:38","date_gmt":"2010-02-18T14:20:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/biznews.fiu.edu\/?p=6694"},"modified":"2017-11-20T10:10:02","modified_gmt":"2017-11-20T15:10:02","slug":"wertheim-lecture-looks-at-poverty-and-ways-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/biznews.fiu.edu\/2010\/02\/wertheim-lecture-looks-at-poverty-and-ways-out\/","title":{"rendered":"Wertheim Lecture looks at poverty and ways out."},"content":{"rendered":"

Does the value of education really need to be pitched on a college campus?<\/p>\n

Yes, when the person doing the pitch is Gustavo A. Cisneros<\/strong>, chairman, Cisneros Group of Companies\u2014one of the largest privately held media, entertainment, telecommunications and consumer products organizations in the world. And yes, again, when he speaks about education in the context of addressing poverty and as an example of corporate social responsibility.<\/p>\n

\"Gustavo
Gustavo A. Cisneros<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In a Wertheim Lecture titled \u201cThe Role Private Enterprise Can Play in Alleviating Poverty in Our Hemisphere,\u201d Cisneros explained that his foundation \u201cfocuses most of its work on improving the quality of teaching and learning in the thousands of schools served by our programs, while recognizing they are not the sole solution to such gigantic and complex problems.\u201d He also emphasized that he wanted to \u201creveal them as examples of a successful corporate social responsibility strategy at work and an illustration of the private sector\u2019s ability to make a significant contribution to economic development.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Joyce
Joyce J. Elam<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cisneros\u2019s words and deeds resonate.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was interesting to hear from a very successful business leader in Latin America regarding the company\u2019s support of social programs in the region,\u201d said Jose M. Aldrich<\/strong>, area managing partner Latin America \u2013 Tax, KPMG LLP, who sits on the College of Business Administration\u2019s Dean\u2019s Council. \u201cEducation is critical to continued development in the region. Every business needs to find the proper balance between financial success and social commitment to the community. Cisneros and the Cisneros Group set the standard by which all businesses should measure their contribution to the development of the region.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"A
A large and enthusiastic group heard Gustavo A. Cisneros’s Wertheim Lecture.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

His comments also inspired Gloria Romero Roses<\/strong> (BBA ’92), Nexus_Consulting, LLC, a member of the Dean\u2019s Alumni Council.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen asked why he invests so heavily in the public education system, despite the differences in ideology or the allegations of corruption, he matter-of-factly acknowledged these differences while reiterating that his is a partnership mandated by a higher calling to lift the economic opportunities of a country and its people,\u201d she said. \u201cThe wisdom he shared has made me question all who would stand in judgment and choose not to invest as partners\u2014whose interest are they really serving and to what end?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"FIU
FIU President Rosenberg and Gustavo A. Cisneros<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The lecture, which drew 187 students, faculty, staff and community partners, took place on February 3, 2010 in the college\u2019s Special Events Center. The Herbert A. Wertheim Lecture Series has brought distinguished speakers and experts in business leadership and entrepreneurship to Florida International University (FIU) since 1993.<\/p>\n

\n