As a senior managing consultant for IBM Corporation, Courts Cooledge (BSBA ’78) knows firsthand about the importance of global business education. That’s what prompted him to establish an endowment to support this area at UNC Kenan-Flagler earlier this year.
“In today’s business world,” says Courts, “we see how interdependent countries have become, in terms of economic growth and financial stability. The European Union countries are a prime example of this. Weakness in Greece and Spain’s economies has affected the economic health of the union itself. Other countries may become impacted because of their financial ties, and the U.S. is no exception.”
Courts has broad experience in the global arena, managing global implementations of HR systems for large, multinational companies. With expertise in designing and implementing global reporting solutions, most recently he led a team implementing a project in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
What does he enjoy most about those global projects? Learning about foreign cultures and building friendships and business contacts with the people he works with in many different countries.
So when director of development Rachel McNassor approached him about supporting global business education at UNC Kenan-Flagler, Courts knew it was a worthwhile initiative.
Together with his wife, Becky, and sons, Clay and John, Courts created The N. Courts Cooledge Family Endowment to provide scholarship funds for travel abroad support for Undergraduate Business students.
“The challenge is to learn how to adapt and thrive in the global economy ,” says Courts. “It is important for our future business leaders to have the opportunity to see and experience some of these lessons firsthand.”
Though Courts travels extensively out of his home office in Atlanta, GA, he still makes time to reconnect with UNC whenever he can. In addition to his support of academic programs at Kenan-Flagler, he enthusiastically cheers on the Heels between 2 am conference calls from Atlanta, frequent commutes to New Jersey, and jaunts to Asia and other parts of the world.
If you are interested in supporting global business education at UNC Kenan-Flagler, please contact us at kfbsdevelopment@unc.edu or 919.962.9252.