Bauer College was given a platform on an international stage to talk about the future of entrepreneurship, enterprises and ecosystems at the 2025 Global Business School Network (GBSN) Beyond conference, held in Accra, Ghana, and hosted by CEIBS Africa and Ashesi University.

Representing Bauer at the conference were Assistant Dean of Strategic and Global Initiatives Nikhil Celly and Undergraduate Business Programs Assistant Dean Andra Olivia Miljanic.

The Office of Global Initiatives has been a member of GBSN since 2019. Business schools are uniquely positioned to educate the future leaders of tomorrow, and Bauer's membership facilitates connections with leaders in business, industry and education from across the globe, said Celly.

“It’s about creating businesses, creating jobs and creating leaders.”

Nikhil Celly, Assistant Dean of Strategic and Global Initiatives

He also had the opportunity to speak on a panel with international experts on the topic of entrepreneurship, enterprises and ecosystems.

From left to right: Nikhil Celly, Viviane Barreto, Raphael Dennett and Keren Arthur.

From left to right: Nikhil Celly, Viviane Barreto, Raphael Dennett and Keren Arthur.

The panel “Human-Centered and Regenerative Entrepreneurship: Educating Changemakers” brought representatives from four different business schools to showcase the way they have empowered students and entrepreneurs through experiential models of teaching. Leading the discussion was Celly, along with Keren Arthur (Asheshi University), Viviane Barreto (Fundação Dom Cabral, Brazil) and Raphael Dennett (The University of Exeter).

“The world has witnessed rapid economic growth over the last several years,” Celly said. “But some growth has also resulted in degenerative consequences for people and the planet.”

“Regenerative entrepreneurship brings societal impact to the forefront,” he continued. “It also equips students, future business leaders and change makers with human-centric skills such as empathy, compassion and trust so they have a more holistic mindset to business.”

Celly talked about how Bauer’s Stimulating Urban Renewal through Entrepreneurship (SURE) Program is an excellent example of regenerative entrepreneurship.

“It helps to create,” he said. “It’s about creating businesses, creating jobs and creating leaders.”

Celly described SURE as a virtuous cycle, one that feeds into the Houston business economy by teaching the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs to lead with compassion and human-centric ideals, while also nurturing the business owners of today in helping them achieve their full potential.

Miljanic said that it is important to attend conferences like these to establish Bauer’s global prominence, to plant the seed for future collaborations and to open the door to new possibilities for students.

“Establishing exchange programs with international institutions would enable our students to study abroad and welcome students from those respective schools to come to our campus. That would be really enriching for our students here, who may not be able to travel, but can develop friendships and collaborations with these exchange students.”
Andra Olivia Miljanic, Undergraduate Business Programs Assistant Dean

Miljanic added that the college’s global impact is in more than attending conferences like these. A large part of it is also thanks to the efforts of the students who represent Bauer positively when they visit other countries, engage with guest speakers and develop bonds with international students.

“A big part of making ourselves known is by letting people know who we are,” she said. “Letting them know that we’re here, we’re present and we’re engaged, as well as letting people know what Bauer is about and all we have to offer.”