Panel Speakers - IESE Blog Community - IESE Business School

Panel Speakers
Michael Skapinker – Assistant Editor, Financial Times
Michael Skapinker is an assistant editor of the Financial Times, a columnist and
the editor of the FT’s special reports. He was born in South Africa in 1955 and was
educated at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg and Cambridge
University.
He began his journalistic career in Greece, where he worked as a correspondent for CBS Radio News and
Independent Radio News. He joined the FT in London in 1986 and has reported on many industries, including
aerospace, electronics and tourism. From 2000 to 2005, he was the FT’s Management Editor. He
was the editor of the Weekend FT from 2005 to 2007.
He was a consultant on the BBC series The Secrets of Leadership, which was broadcast in 2003, and has
addressed audiences on business topics in the US, Japan and Europe.
In 2003, he received the Work Foundation Members’ Award for his contribution to the understanding of
working life. He was named Columnist of the Year in the 2008 WorkWorld Media Awards.
His column, on business and society, appears in the FT on Tuesdays.
Dana Brice Smith - Co-Founder and Managing Director, Trestle Group Foundation
Dana Brice Smith is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Trestle Group Foundation
(TGF). Guided by the belief that entrepreneurship fuels the engine that
drives economic opportunity, growth and social progress, TGF works to empower
women entrepreneurs in emerging economies. Created by a dynamic team of entrepreneurs and international
business professionals, and based upon a new model of philanthropy, TGF bridges the gap between
emerging and developed economies by providing vital “human capital” support to high potential women-led
SMEs.
Prior to joining Trestle Group, Mr. Smith served as a strategic communications professional with 18 years of
experience in political advocacy, public relations/awareness campaigns, governmental and media relations.
Dana has served and worked with government and corporate leaders at the highest levels. He has developed
and implemented award-winning corporate responsibility/citizenship and cause-related marketing
initiatives. Dana has worked on behalf of a broad range of clients including nonprofit organizations, Fortune
100 companies, and industry trade groups. As a Director within the overall Trestle Group, Dana supports
corporate clients in the development and implementation of strategic communication and change management
strategies.
2011 Doing Good and Doing Well
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