Press Releases

Jewelry Executives Study “Disruptive Innovation” During GIA Leadership Program at Harvard

Published

8 years ago

July 14, 2016

INSTORE Staff

(Press Release)
CARLSBAD, CA – For the third year in a row, GIA’s Global Leadership Program at Harvard Business School (HBS) in Cambridge, MA brought together senior leaders from the gem and jewelry industry for a custom four-day curriculum based on the HBS case study method.

The 2016 theme “Disruptive Innovation” focused on innovation in a rapidly evolving world. The program took place from June 20-23 with 45 executives from 14 countries and 15 industry sectors including retail, manufacturing, mining and cutting.

“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,” says 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.

The program facilitated an environment to “come together with a group of passionate, diverse and intelligent people and engage in some very thought provoking discussions,” said one participant.

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. The program also provides a networking opportunity for senior executives, building bridges between different sectors of the global gem and jewelry supply chain.

GIA will hold its next global leadership program at HBS in June 2017. Participation is limited and by invitation only.

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After almost 60 years in business, Breakiron Jewelers in Erie, Pennsylvania, was closing its doors. And the store’s owner, Linda Breakiron, was ready for it. She had run the store as its sole owner since the beginning of the millennium and was looking forward to a change. Of course, she called Wilkerson. Breakiron talked to other jewelers who had used Wilkerson and was satisfied with their response. “They always had positive feedback,” she recalls. With the sales, marketing and even additional inventory that Wilkerson provided, Breakiron insists she could never have accomplished her going-out-of-business sale without Wilkerson’s help. She’s now ready for the journey ahead, but looking back, she’d be sure to recommend Wilkerson. “They just made the whole process very seamless.”