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George Foster AM

AMBASSADOR


Professor George Foster is the Konosuke Matsushita Professor of Management at Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) and is also the Lacob Family Faculty Fellow for 2023-2024. His academic focus is in the field of entrepreneurship and sports business management , but also holds additional administrative titles, including Director of the Sports Management Initiative and the Endeavor Leadership Program, as well as Director of the Executive Program for Growing Companies. Foster’s extensive research and teaching portfolio cover entrepreneurship, early-stage companies, sports business management, financial analysis, and valuation, particularly in commercial disputes. His recent research delves into the dynamics of new ventures and their typical roller-coaster journey , negotiation strategies in sports, entertainment, and media, the role of financial systems in company growth and valuation, and  globalisation challenges faced by sporting organisations and companies.

Foster’s academic journey includes earning undergraduate and graduate degrees in economics from the University of Sydney, where he graduated with first-class honours and a university medal before obtaining his doctorate from Stanford Graduate School of Business. Foster’s prolific writings consist of over 50 research articles, more than 100 cases, two monographs, and several editions of textbooks, covering diverse topics such as financial statement analysis, cost accounting, and sports business management. His commitment to high-quality research is evident in numerous accolades, including the Accenture Award and multiple honours from the American Accounting Association.

In addition to his academic pursuits, Foster actively engages with the business community, involving over sixty senior executives each year in his Stanford MBA classes. He has also collaborated extensively with the World Economic Forum (WEF), chairing their Global Agenda Council on Fostering Entrepreneurship and leading research teams for key publications. Foster’s influence extends globally, and his involvement with organisations like the National Football League (NFL) and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) reflects his commitment to bridging academia and industry.

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