The Lucas Graduate School of Business at San Jose State University

The International Module at SJSU Lucas Graduate School of Business will expose you to a “Silicon Valley Experience for International Executives”. Being in the Capital of the Silicon Valley, the geographic focus of the program will be: Culture, Enterprises, and Businesses of the Silicon Valley. The thematic focus of the program, Entrepreneurship, Global Leadership, and Innovation, is a reflection of our faculty’s experience working with many of the innovative enterprises in the Silicon Valley.
During your week in San José you will hear from global experts and leading company executives about:
- The culture and the history of the Silicon Valley as a center for global innovation,
- How local venture capitalists fuel new venture creation and explore various proven methods for promoting innovation,
- New business models that incorporate state-of-the-art technological change, and
- The fundamental skills required to lead global corporations in a multicultural environment.
Program at Glance
- Program
- Schedule
- Program at a Glance
- Faculty
- Accommodations
- Calendar of Events for International Week
Saturday, September 14, 2019
Evening: Welcome Dinner and Icebreaking Activities
(Silicon Valley Capital Club, 50 W. San Fernando Street, San Jose)
Sunday, September 15, 2019
All Day: San Francisco City Tour
Golden Gate Bridge
Chinatown
Embarcadero/Fisherman’s Wharf
Monday, September 16, 2019
Morning: Class Meetings
Theme: Culture & History of Silicon Valley and Entrepreneurship
Instructor: Dr. Anu Basu
Afternoon: Class Meetings
Theme: Global Leadership
Instructor: Dr. Joyce Osland
Evening: SVCE Event (Women in Entrepreneurship)
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Morning: Class Meetings
Theme: Business Model Innovation & Industry 4.0
Instructor: Mr. Sudhir Kadam
Afternoon: Company Visit – Ethereum Classic Labs
Evening: Cultural Event (San Jose Sharks Ice Hockey game – paid for by Lucas College)
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Morning: Class Meetings
Theme: New Product Development & Innovation
Instructor: Dr. Michael Merz
Afternoon: Company Visit – PARC
Evening: Optional Social Event/Free Time (Santana Row – at your own expense)
Thursday, September 19, 2019
Morning: Class Meetings
Theme: Supply Chain Management
Instructor: Dr. Ming Zhou
Afternoon: Company Visit – Amazon Fulfillment Center
Evening: Optional Social Event/Free Time (San Pedro Square? – at your own expense)
Friday, September 20, 2019
Morning: Company Visit – Plug N Play
Afternoon: Class Meetings
Theme: IoT and Blockchain Technologies
Instructor: Mr. Ahmed Banafa
Evening: Program Evaluation and Awarding of Certificates
Closing Dinner (BBC 032)
Ahmed Banafa
Prof. Ahmed Banafa has extensive research work with focus on IoT, Blockchain, cybersecurity and AI. He served as an instructor at well-known universities and colleges. He is the recipient of several awards, including Distinguished Tenured Staff Award, Instructor of the year and Certificate of Honor from the City and County of San Francisco. He was named as No.1 tech voice to follow, technology fortune teller and influencer by LinkedIn in 2018, featured in Forbes, IEEE-IoT and MIT Technology Review, with frequent appearances on ABC, CBS, NBC, BBC, and Fox TV and Radio stations. He is a member of MIT Technology Review Global Panel. He is the author of the books: “Secure and Smart Internet of Things (IoT) using Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence (AI)” , and “Blockchain Technology and Applications”

Michael A. Merz
Dr. Merz is an Associate Professor of Marketing and the Director of Online Initiatives in the Lucas College of Business at San José State University. His main research areas comprise the study of business-to-business and consumer branding, service-dominant logic, and cross-cultural marketing. He has published in international peer-reviewed journals including the Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Journal of Business Research, Industrial Marketing Management, and Journal of International Marketing. He has a Ph.D. in International Management with a Marketing concentration from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa.

Sudhir Kadam is a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, investor, and start-up advisor with five successful exits in Telecom CRM, Location-based Apps, Video Streaming, Fraud Analytics, and IIoT for Transportation. He works with early and growth stage tech companies in US, Europe and Asia to help them scale and grow into thriving businesses with game-changing solutions. His focus areas are: growth acceleration, go-to-market, customer success, partnerships, operational excellence, funding, and exit strategy. His current portfolio comprises of startups in AI/NLP for eCommerce, Body Motion Virtualization (AR/VR/CV), Medical Devices, Visual AI for Medical Imaging, IIoT for Industry 4.0, Mobile Payments, Travel Experiences, Digital Signatures, and more.


Dr. Mahesh Rajan is Professor and Faculty Director of Executive Education Programs at the Lucas College and Graduate School of Business, San José State University, where he teaches in the areas of Global Enterprise Management and Marketing. In addition to teaching at San José State University, Professor Rajan has taught at several eminent business schools in the United States, Australia, Japan and Central America including the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor), Australian Graduate School of Management at the University of New South Wales, the University of Western Australia, Nagoya University of Foreign Studies, and INCAE. He has also had considerable work experience in the private sector in India, Japan, and the USA, including being a Director at Lyncs Incorporated (Japan), a licensee of Millward Brown (a British multinational market research firm focused on advertising effectiveness, strategic communication, media and brand equity research).

Here are the two recommended options for all participants in the International Week from September 16 through September 23.
Option 1: Residence Inn near San Jose Airport - this is a 3-star hotel (and where many participants in last year's program stayed; ride VTA Light Rail #901 or #902 to SJSU campus). We have negotiated the following rate for the program participants;
Option 2: Convention Inn and Suites - this is a no frills but decent motel within walking distance to the university campus. While the exterior may not be the most appealing, the interior has been renovated extensively; the rooms have been very tastefully renovated (clean, spacious and comfortable) and one will not get the feeling that they are in a no-frills motel once inside their rooms. Hence, it will be a good alternative for budget-conscious participants but we want to emphasize that this is a no-frills motel.
Discounted rates have been negotiated by the Lucas College. Contact either Dr. Mahesh Rajan (Mahesh.rajan@sjsuedu) or Norma Ortiz (norma.ortiz@sjsu.edu) for booking information.
As much as possible, we would like to discourage participants from making their own alternative arrangements since it apparently caused quite a bit of problems in terms of program/schedule coordination and management last year.