'China 2024: A New Generation of Leaders,' Longitudinal Study of 110 Chinese MBAs Launched in New York and Shanghai
Media Dinner to be held July 19, 2004 in New York

NEW YORK, Jul 13, 2004 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- 110 Chinese MBAs have been selected to participate in a landmark longitudinal study, spanning 20 years, that will track the growth and maturation of China's next generation of economic leaders. Katzenbach Partners LLC (KPL), a New York City-based consulting firm, is sponsoring this unique initiative.

KPL intends to track the evolution of each participant's professional and personal lives over the next 20 years to examine attitudes about each participant's progress and opportunities. A yearly survey of participants will yield exclusive insights into the opinions and trends of the next generation of China's leadership. At five-year intervals, KPL will conduct in-depth interviews that will take stock of the students' lives, focusing on the successes and challenges, the joys and regrets, as well as the leadership development of each participant. KPL intends to write a series of articles sharing insights from their research, and eventually publish a book at the completion of the 20-year research project. The firm is also planning to produce a documentary film.

"The next 20 years will see the emergence of China into an economic superpower," said Niko Canner, a founding partner of KPL. "We have a remarkable opportunity to identify the country's 'best and brightest' and to follow their maturation into positions of business leadership. We hope to gain an incredibly rich inside-out perspective on what we believe will be a defining epoch in Chinese history."

China 2024 members were selected after an extensive application and review process. All of the members are graduates of the top business schools in China: Beijing International MBA, China European International Business School, Fudan University, Peking University, and Tsinghua University, and in the United States: Columbia University's Business School, Harvard Business School, Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and The Wharton School of University of Pennsylvania.

In order to qualify for membership, the MBAs are required to be 2004 graduates, Chinese citizens, and fluent in English. They now work in a variety of industries, including: consulting, banking, marketing, media, retail, healthcare, government, transportation, internet, real estate and natural resources.

"The opportunity to capture the stories of a group of people who will come of age and effect change during this remarkable time of transition is incredible," said Stacy Palestrant, the Executive Director of KPL's China 2024. "We will learn a tremendous amount about China's culture, economy, and business practices from them."

"I am thrilled to be part of China 2024," says Chen Li a 2004 graduate of Columbia Business School and member of China 2024. "The next 20 years will be an exciting period for Chinese MBAs. The opportunity to reflect and evaluate our progress every year will be valuable. Also, China 2024 will allow us to create a close community, exchange ideas, and leverage an important network in our career and life."

In addition, KPL will be sponsoring the Inaugural Leadership Conference in Shanghai on September 18 - 19 for all of the China 2024 members in China. This conference will enable members to learn from one another, inspire one another, and think critically about their future. The conference will include team-building activities, a gala dinner, and panel discussions with successful business professionals.

The conference will be an historic event as members from the 10 selected business schools will meet each other for the first time and begin to build a network and community that will assist them in years to come. It will also be an opportunity to compare the different perspectives of Chinese MBAs who obtained their degrees in the U.S. versus in China.

On July 19, 2004 KPL will be hosting a welcome dinner for the members in the New York City area. Eleven MBA graduates from the five U.S. business schools will be attending. During the course of the dinner, Stacy Palestrant will facilitate a panel discussion in which the members reflect on their aspirations and expectations for their future. The discussion will also examine their sense of China's growing role in the world economy. Media is invited to attend this event. Apart from this event, exclusive interviews with China 2024 program leaders and member will be made available to interested journalists. For more information regarding how journalists can secure an invitation please contact Elyse Blazey.

Katzenbach Partners LLC was founded in 1998 as a consulting firm that works at the intersection of strategy and organization. Its partners have collectively served over 100 institutions in most major sectors of the economy and possess extensive experience in all aspects of strategy, organizational architecture and change, and workforce performance. For more information, visit Katzenbach's Web site at http://www.katzenbach.com. For more information regarding China 2024, visit http://www.china2024.com.

SOURCE Katzenbach Partners LLC

Stacy Palestrant of Katzenbach Partners LLC, +1-773-627-7306,
stacypalestrant@yahoo.com; or Elyse Blazey of Makovsky & Co., +1-212-508-9619,
eblazey@makovsky.com


http://www.katzenbach.com