In recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the field of emerging markets, his pioneering leadership in global investment, and his enduring support of the Cañizares Center for Emerging Markets.

Mark was not only a legendary figure in emerging markets investing, but also someone whose curiosity, optimism, and generosity left a lasting impression on all who had the privilege to know him. His work transformed how global investors approached emerging economies and opened new frontiers for opportunity.
In 2018, John Ninia, then a research fellow at the Cornell EMC² and a Hunter R. Rawlings III Cornell Presidential Research Scholars Program scholar, suggested that we reach out to Mark. What began as a simple suggestion evolved into a meaningful and enduring relationship.
At Cornell EMC², we were fortunate to benefit from his steadfast support—especially his enthusiastic backing of the Cornell EMC² Mark Mobius Pitch Competition that proudly bears his name. He engaged deeply with our students, our Advisory Board, and our broader community, always encouraging the next generation. He was forward-looking, energetic, and deeply engaged with the world and positive about emerging markets.
It has been a true honor to work with him over the years. He will be deeply missed.
On behalf of the Cornell EMC² team and the Cornell University community, I extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.

We are proud to announce that the Emerging Markets Institute (EMI) has been renamed the Cañizares Center for Emerging Markets (EMC²) in honor of Gail and Rob Cañizares, BS ’71, MBA ’74, and the Cañizares family. This milestone reflects their extraordinary commitment to advancing global business education and fostering meaningful dialogue on the critical role of emerging markets in shaping the future of the global economy.

The Cañizares Center for Emerging Markets will build upon EMI’s distinguished legacy of rigorous research, thought leadership, and deep student engagement. At the same time, EMC² will expand its role as a global convening platform to exchange ideas, build bridges across regions, and generate impact where it matters most.

As we enter this new chapter, EMC² reaffirms Cornell’s position at the center of global conversations on innovation, development, and inclusive growth across emerging economies.

Read more about this exciting milestone!

This new book by Mark Mobius, Lourdes Casanova, Sharwari Pandit, and John Ninia explores how emerging markets are leading the global shift toward digital payments, cryptocurrencies, and Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). With case studies from around the world, the authors highlight both the opportunities and challenges of digital finance as over 95% of the global economy now considers CBDCs. Watch the video launch of the book.

Lord Jim O’Neill and Dr. Mark Mobius are the new EMC² Distinguished Fellows, starting in 2026. Lord Jim O’Neill and Dr. Mobius will succeed Iván Duque, Former President of Colombia (2018–2022), who served as the inaugural EMC² Distinguished Fellow from 2023 to 2025. The program aims to recognize excellence and foster meaningful engagement between students, academia, and leaders from emerging markets.

Lord O’Neill of Gatley will join Dean Andrew Karolyi for a fireside chat on April 30. Register to attend.

On November 7, 2025, at the Cornell Tech campus in NYC, our center celebrated its 15th anniversary with a significant announcement (EMI is now EMC², Cañizares Center for Emerging Markets). Thank you to all the speakers, organizers, attendees, and sponsors. Watch the live streaming recording and save the date, November 6, 2026, for the 2026 EMI Annual Conference.

Congratulations to team from BITS School of Management, in India, for winning the 2025 Cornell EMI Corning Case Competition. A record of 1,341 participants representing 294 teams from 79 universities in 21 countries! The finalists this year are:

• Runner Up: IIM Indore, India
• Third Place: Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Japan

We thank Corning International for their support to this event.

Congratulations to DOCOKIDS, from Universidad Javeriana Bogota, Colombia, for winning the first prize in the 2025 Cornell EMI Mark Mobius Pitch Competition. 51 startups from 28 business schools competed for a prize of $10,000.

The award recognizes outstanding alumni from SC Johnson School of Management with international careers in emerging markets. The goal of the award is to engage alumni with the EMC² to benefit its mission and raise awareness of the long history of the SC Johnson School of Management contribution to global businesses. The awardees this year are:

• Esohe Denise Odaro, MBA ’09, Head of Sustainable Finance and Transition, HSBC
• Wendell Huang, MBA ’86, CFO, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), Taiwan

Join EMC² as we look back on a remarkable year of impact, innovation, and global engagement—explore the 2024–2025 Year in Review. The main highlights of the academic year were as follows: 117 Fellows graduated, the 14th edition of the EMI Annual Conference attracted more than 500 participants, and the 9th edition of the EMI Report reached a global audience. In addition, EMI published blogs and delivered a wide range of programs and events across the year.

New Rules, New Opportunities

The 2025 EMI Report will be launched soon. Authored by Lourdes Casanova and Anne Miroux (Cañizares Center for Emerging Markets, Cornell University) in collaboration with Lorenzo Pavone (EmNet, OECD development Center); Momina Aijazuddin, Mehmet Akgunay, Rafia Saleem and Shivani Komma (International Finance Corporation); Nan Li Collins, Amelia Santos Paulino, and Claudia Trentini (UN Trade and Development), Veneta Andonova and Juana García (Escuela de Administración at Universidad de los Andes in Colombia); Juan Sebastian Trujillo (London School of Economics), Alicia García Herrero and Jeremy Ji (Natixis), Andrea Goldstein (formerly at OECD Economics Department), Yuexing Xie and Gaoju Yang (Zhejiang University, in China), Lorena Palacios (Tecnológico de Monterrey, in Mexico), Jahir Lombana-Coy (Universidad del Norte, in Colombia), Guy Gresham (Board Advisor), and Georges Ugeux (Columbia University).

Congratulations to the 117 EMI Fellows class of 2025. A record! The celebration hosted a keynote speech by Anupam Thareja, Founder of Phi Capital / Classic Legends, Mark Mobius, Chairman of Mobius Emerging Opportunities Fund, Andrew Karolyi, Charles Field Knight Dean of the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, Vishal Gaur, Anne and Elmer Lindseth Dean of the Johnson Graduate School of Management, and Lourdes Casanova, Gail and Roberto Cañizares EMI Director.

Best of luck for our alumni and please keep in touch.

Find pictures here and watch the recording on EMI’s YouTube video.

During the EMI conference 2023, EMI was recognized by the New York State Assembly as an ‘outstanding institution worthy of the esteem of both the Community and the Great State of New York’. This recognition would not have been possible without the hard work of the EMI team, EMI fellows, volunteers, alumni, EMI advisory council, colleagues and EMI’s networks. Thanks, Steven Raga, member of the NYS Assembly, who signed the recognition.

The Emerging Markets Global Players (EMGP), previously under Columbia University, is joining EMI network and management. EMGP‘s website is in the process of reactivation and all the great research and reports produced by the team will be made available soon. The EMGP research group and its Fellows have resumed meeting and will be included in EMI’s activities, going forward. A special thank you to Lisa Sachs, Director of the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment.

EMC² is proud to announce that its newly released book “Innovation from Emerging Markets: From Copycats to Leaders” is now available to buy from Cambridge University Press and Amazon in hardback and ebook format. This book aims to examine innovation and the leadership of noteworthy EMs countries and EMNCs. Thanks to the Emerging Multinationals Network, the joint efforts of various institutions around the world, comprised in this book.

Rankings of Emerging Markets for Investors. Research takes a first-of-its-kind look at the fundamental risks associated in investing in emerging foreign markets.