EMI’s 15th anniversary conference: Redefining the playbook for emerging markets
Attendees at the 2024 EMI conference, including Dean Karolyi, applaud case competition winners. Photo credit: Michael Graham
As the world economy enters a period of recalibration, the Cornell Emerging Markets Institute (EMI) marks its 15th anniversary with a conference convening global leaders, investors, and academics to reimagine the role of emerging markets in the new global order. With the theme “New Rules, New Opportunities for Emerging Markets,” the conference, which takes place at Cornell Tech, Cornell’s New York City campus, captures the urgency of understanding how shifting power centers, technological disruption, and financial innovation are rewriting the rules of global engagement.
At the heart of EMI’s growing global presence is a dedicated community of faculty, advisors, and students committed to advancing the institute’s mission. This year, the organizing committee, the case and pitch competition committees, and the chairs of the EMI Fellows have shaped a rigorous conference program, evaluating submissions for the flagship pitch and case competitions, curating panels across disciplines and regions, and ensuring that every session elevates diverse voices from emerging markets. The case competition, with 1,343 registered students from 21 countries, reflects EMI’s emphasis on academic excellence, real-world relevance, and meaningful collaboration among future leaders.
Since coming to Cornell from INSEAD in 2014, Lourdes S. Casanova, senior lecturer of management and the Gail and Roberto Cañizares Director of the Emerging Markets Institute, has built the EMI into a globally connected platform for scholars, executives, and policymakers. Its annual November conference has become a leading forum on innovation and impact in emerging markets.
One of the marquee sessions at the conference is the fireside chat “Latin America in the New Global Playbook,” featuring two of the region’s most influential voices. Former Colombian President Iván Duque (2018-22), an EMI Distinguished Fellow, and Alfonso Eyzaguirre, CEO of JPMorgan for Latin America and Canada, will share their perspectives on governance, innovation, and sustainable development in the region. Duque has been a key leader in advancing Colombia’s economic and sustainability reforms, making him a defining voice on Latin America’s role in the global economy. Eyzaguirre will offer a corporate and financial lens, outlining how the region is adapting to new rules of trade, capital flows, and technological transformation. Andrew Karolyi, Charles Field Knight Dean of the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, will moderate the conversation.
The panel “How Trade and Capital Are Being Rewired” will feature Francesco Del Vecchio, managing director at Moelis & Co.; Maria Claudia Ribeiro de Castro, director of fixed income research at Invesco; Alberto Ramos, managing director and head of Latin America economics at Goldman Sachs; and Rohit Chopra, managing director of emerging markets equity at Lazard Asset Management.
“Global Risks and Opportunities: Insights from Multinationals and Ratings” will examine the macroeconomic headwinds and industrial tailwinds shaping the post-pandemic global landscape. Moderated by Vishal Gaur, Anne and Elmer Lindseth Dean of the Johnson Graduate School of Management, the panel brings together leaders across academia, industry, and international institutions. Speakers include Claude Echahamian, vice president and general manager of Corning Advanced Optics; William F. Maloney, chief economist for Latin America and the Caribbean at the World Bank; C. Marks, professor of International Studies at Cornell and former chief economist of the World Bank; Rustom Desai, senior lecturer at Cornell and former Corning executive; Edward Mermelstein, former commissioner for international affairs for New York City; and Kelleny Berchuck, head of innovation partnerships and new ventures at Siemens Healthineers.
On the frontier of financial innovation, the panel “Digital Finance and the Future of Capital Mobility” will explore how digital assets, cryptocurrencies, and central bank digital currencies are reshaping cross-border capital flows. Panelists include John Wu, president of Ava Labs; Mark Mobius, founding partner of Mobius Capital Partners; Priscilla Koo Wilkens MPA ’20, senior economist at the Bank for International Settlements; and Laluy Garduno MBA ’19, director for blockchain and digital assets at Mastercard.
The conference will also shine a spotlight on Cornell’s next generation of global business leaders. The Cornell EMI Mark Mobius Pitch Competition and the Cornell EMI Corning Case Competition will feature student innovators presenting cutting-edge solutions to emerging-market challenges, blending financial rigor with social impact. Winners will be recognized for projects that combine scalability with sustainability.
EMI will also unveil its 2025 annual report, highlighting research on trends reshaping the global economy, from green industrial policy and fintech inclusion to geopolitical dynamics influencing investment flows. The report offers actionable insights for policymakers, investors, and business leaders navigating emerging-market volatility.
The Global Leadership Fellows segment will feature Geoffrey Lim MBA ’00, managing partner at Aeterra Capital Partners, and Heather Henyon MBA ’03, co-founder of Mindshift Capital. Both lead innovative investment firms that bridge emerging-market opportunities with global capital.
The event will culminate in a ceremony recognizing EMI’s 15th anniversary and honoring the longtime support of the Cañizares family, for whom the EMI will be named. The program includes a fireside chat between Karolyi and Esohe Denise Odaro MBA ’09, managing director at PAI Partners Private Equity. The Cañizares Alumni Award will be presented to Wendell Jen-Chau Huang MBA ’86, CFO of TSMC, and Catherine Huang ’21, honoring their contributions to industry and global business.
EMI’s Advisory Council will also reflect on the institute’s evolution as a bridge between academia and industry, the Global North and South, and established and emerging economies.
After 15 years, EMI continues to challenge assumptions, honoring its legacy while setting the stage for emerging markets to become architects of the global playbook.
About the author
Dimple Rathod MBA ’26 is a Forté Fellow at Cornell Tech, a 2025 co-chair of the Cornell EMI Fellows, and head of industry relations for the Blockchain at Cornell Tech Club. Before business school, she was a senior software and product engineer at Nielsen Media and Quantiphi, leading AI-driven solutions that tackled macroeconomic challenges for global institutions across finance, healthcare, and media.