28/02/2012
Beth Comstock was invited by the Sabancı University MBA Club for the club’s Executive Talks event. Beth Comstock spoke on Innovation and Cooperation, and made remarks about Turkey.
Beth Comstock, GE’s (General Electric) Vice-President of Marketing was the first guest of the Sabancı University MBA Club’s “Executive Talks” series of events in 2012. Beth Comstock spoke on “Innovation and Cooperation” on Thursday, February 23rd, at the Sabancı Center Hacı Ömer Sabancı Conference Hall to an audience of 250 listeners.
Beth Comstock began by telling about GE’s global fields of operation, and said that Turkey was an important market to the company. Giving information about the innovation and cooperation policies of the company, Beth Comstock emphasized that they support the startups within the company. Comstock said that by investing in entrepreneurs and startups with innovative and creative business ideas, they supported them on the one hand, and boosted the innovative approach of the company on the other. Comstock explained the difficulties of establishing a startup within a vast company like GE, meanwhile noting that it was not easy either to cooperate with independent entrepreneurs and startups.
Beth Comstock said that large enterprises should collaborate with smaller businesses, and that creative people were an asset to every company. Comstock emphasized the importance of profitability against a joint commitment in business mergers, and argued that local needs should be observed in new business ideas and cooperative efforts.
Reflecting on Turkey’s third place among the most optimistic countries, Beth Comstock said, “If Turkey wants to be among the most innovative countries, it must invest in technology and entrepreneurship.” Beth Comstock explained the importance of MBA education for GE, saying that the company provided employment to 150 MBA students every year in various projects.
Giving advice to MBA students, Beth Comstock said, “Read different books, renew yourselves and keep up to date.” Following her speech, Beth Comstock answered questions from the floor.
At the end of the conference, Sabancı University Director of Executive MBA Mahmut Beyazıt presented a commemorative brick to Beth Comstock.
