GIA's Global Leadership Program unfolded at Harvard Business School (HBS) in Cambridge, MA, with a line-up of leading speakers from the gem and jewelry industry, much similar to the agendas of the program as has been in the past two years. The leaders included 45 top executives from 14 countries and 15 industry sectors including retail, manufacturing, mining and cutting, gathering for a custom four-day curriculum based on the renowned HBS case study method. The 2016 theme “Disruptive Innovation” honed in on innovation in a rapidly evolving world. GIA, in conjunction with HBS, initiated the program in 2014 to bring together global leaders representing different sectors of the gem and jewelry industry to examine issues faced by international businesses and apply the learnings of other industries to their own.

This year, the program took place from June 20-23.

“This extraordinary educational program creates a unique platform for thought-leaders in the gem and jewelry industry to exchange ideas, examine opportunities and debate solutions for the challenges that lie ahead,” said Susan Jacques, president and CEO of GIA.

Among the case studies covered during this year’s program were the evolution of the Dove brand, how Uber has changed the way the world moves and Amazon’s innovation in a digital economy.