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Industry Executives Convene for GIA's Global Leadership
Program at Harvard Business School
Program focuses on innovation and solutions

GIA's Global Leadership Program at Harvard Business School (HBS), held June 24 to 27, brought together senior gem and jewelry executives for a custom four-day curriculum led by world class professors and based on the renowned HBS case study method. This year's class, the largest in the six-year history of the program, explored exciting case studies focused on innovation and discussed how to apply the lessons from those cases to the challenges facing the global gem and jewelry industry. The exceptional group of leaders represented the broad scope and diversity of the industry.

"This unique program creates an opportunity for thought-leaders to candidly discuss new ideas and approaches to their day-to-day work and long-term goals," said Susan Jacques, GIA president and CEO. "This program, now in its sixth year, is a direct extension of our renowned education heritage."

The GIA Global Leadership Program focuses on new research and best practices to deliver actionable insights. Upon successful completion of the program, participants were awarded a certificate from the Harvard Business School.

GIA, in conjunction with HBS, initiated the program in 2014. The goal of the four-day residential program is to bring together global leaders from different sectors of the gem and jewelry industry to examine issues faced by international businesses, and apply the lessons learned in other industries to their own businesses. The program also provides an unparalleled networking opportunity for senior executives, building bridges between different sectors of the global gem and jewelry supply chain.

GIA will hold its next Global Leadership Program at Harvard from June 22-25, 2020. Participation is limited and by invitation only.

Participants of the 2019 GIA Global Leadership Program (alphabetical order): Nikolay Afanasiev, Kristall Production Corporation; Natalie Barzilay, LakeDiamond; Sanat Bhindi, Bhindi Jewelers; Dave Bindra, B & B Fine Gems; Macy Man Sze Chong, Tonghorn Trading Limited; Manish Dhamani, Dhamani Jewels; Hasu Dholakia, HK Designs Inc.; Akshay Dholakia, Shree Ramkrishna Exports Private Limited; Lijun Geng, Huabi (HB) Diamond (China) Company Ltd.; Melanie Goldfiner, Rahaminov Diamonds; Jonathan Goldman, Frederick Goldman, Inc.; Alix Gonsoulin, Stuller, Inc.; Leslie Gordon, Orr's Jewelers; Hisako Hankinson, PGI Japan; Susan Jacques, GIA; Jesse Johnson, Store 5a; Stephen Kahler, Swarovski North America Ltd.; Parth Kakadia, Sheetal Manufacturing Co Pvt Ltd.; Afshan Pankaj Kala, Jewelex India Pvt. Ltd. (Affiliate: Jewelex NY Ltd.); Leanne Kemp, Everledger; Karen Li, Universal Jewellery Co. Ltd.; Bobby Liu, Chow Tai Fook Jewellery; Calvin Ma, Lee Heng Diamond Group; Glenn Markman, Fire Polish Diamonds; Antoine Massé, Mouawad MENA DMCC; Tim Matthews, Jewelry Television; Frank Heinz Mayer, Heinz Mayer OHG; Kevin Mays, John Mays Jewelers; Punit Mehta, D. Navinchandra; Tom Moses, GIA; Niveet Nagpal, Omi Gems, Inc.; Alexis Padis, Padis Jewelry; Armaan Parikh, Diarough Manufacturing India LLP; Duncan Pay, GIA; Mike Pelto, Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company; Penina Rapaport, The Rapaport Group; Samantha Ravich, Transformative Cyber Innovation Lab; David Rotenberg, David Craig Jewelers; Stuart Samuels, Premier Gem Corporation; Lee Senderov, Richline Digital; Andrew Siegel, Hamilton Co. Jewelers; Anurak Sinchawla, Sant Enterprises; Greg Stephenson, Petra Diamonds; Vipul Sutariya, DDPL (Dharmanandan Diamonds Pvt. Ltd.); Elliot Tannenbaum, Leo Schachter Diamond Group; Minarni Tanu, PT Central Mega Kencana; Ichiro Uchihara, Uchihara Group; Jennifer Wilson, GIA; Terence Wu, Foo Hang Jewellery Ltd.