It's more than fitting that this issue focuses on the topic of globalization and crossing borders. In recent months, Stern has seen significant milestones in our international efforts. This past January the inaugural, 28-person class of executive MBA students from TRIUM, the program Stern offers jointly with the London School of Economics and the HEC School of Management in Paris, completed their studies. The second TRIUM class, with 35 members, completed its first module at our campus in New York that same month. This innovative program, geared toward inculcating a global perspective in its students, will continue throughout the year with sessions in Paris, London, Brazil, and Hong Kong. While many of our alumni remain in the New York area, and hence can easily maintain connections to Stern, and with one another, Stern graduates who live in 98 countries have fewer opportunities to do so. In October, we held our second international alumni conference at La Pietra, NYU s conference center in Florence, Italy. At La Pietra, where nearly 160 people gathered for a weekend of fine food, fine art, and fine discussion, Stern s approach toward business -- and business education -- was on full display. Panels brought together executives and scholars to discuss topics ranging from corporate governance to the direction of the global economy. A session on the business of opera included the administrators of New York s Metropolitan Opera, Munich s Bayerische Staatsoper, and Milan s La Scala. Meeting in the heart of Europe, and with people from different business cultures and scholarly disciplines, added a great deal of context to all our discussions. Of course, history is an important component of context. Business history -- long a strength at Stern -- has been augmented by the arrival in January of Professor Niall Ferguson, who recently joined us from Oxford University and is the author of the definitive two-volume history of the Rothschild banking empire. His most recent book, Empire -- which is partially excerpted in this issue -- is a significant contribution to the growing literature on globalization. As several articles in this issue argue, understanding the historical development of international markets, companies, and financial systems is crucial for leaders grappling with contemporary questions and challenges. After all, locating our place and role in an increasingly connected world is the fundamental task of all educational endeavors, but in particular of business and management education. We look back on recent accomplishments with pride and a sense that we are affording all members of the Stern community a greater understanding of the world in which we live and work. And we look forward eagerly to the future -- and to this issue of Sternbusiness.   Thomas Cooley Dean