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Society of International Business Fellows Overview

MISSION
The Society of International Business Fellows (SIBF) advances global understanding and the competitiveness of its members through unique resources, educational experiences and relationships.

ORIGINS OF SIBF
Founded in 1981 in Atlanta, Georgia, SIBF has evolved into a select organization of nearly 500 members located on five continents. Members are active internationally and share the belief that the more one understands history, culture and geopolitics, the more successful one will be in today’s global environment.

MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA
The Membership Committee is tasked to select the best possible candidates without regard to race, sex, religion or national origin.
•Membership in SIBF is by invitation only.
•Applicants must be active in, or have implementable plans for, international business.
•Applicants must have demonstrated leadership and achievement in their careers.
•Applicants must be senior-level leaders within their respective organizations.
•When prioritizing candidates who are otherwise relatively equal, community involvement will be considered.


BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP IN SIBF
For those operating in today’s fast-paced and increasingly global marketplace, membership in SIBF offers the potential for new opportunities as well as significant savings in time, money and risk through access to the SIBF network and cutting-edge programming; the camaraderie and shared experiences of life-long friendships; and the opportunity to make a difference in the world through the SIBF Foundation.


THE SIBF NETWORK AND MEMBERSHIP PROFILE
SIBF members constitute experienced and diverse groups of international executives.
•75% are owners, chairmen, presidents, managing partners, deans or similar decision-makers.
•All major business sectors are represented, as are education, government and non-profit sectors.
•Average business size is $100 million in sales, with a range from $1 million to over $10 billion.
•Members average 30% of revenue outside the U.S. and are active in over 60 countries.

Members routinely do business with each other, and thousands of deals worth hundreds of millions of dollars have been consummated among members and through their collective contacts. Members have broad experience with local partners and service providers, due diligence, market entry, and political and business risk in practically any country. Membership in SIBF confers access to this vast network of contacts, experiences and expertise with the reciprocal obligation of responding to others’ inquiries.

PROGRAMS AROUND THE WORLD
Society programs have been held in Argentina, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Cuba, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Myanmar, the Netherlands, Peru, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, the U.K. and Vietnam, among others.

NEW MEMBER PROGRAM (NMP)
Prospective members must complete a unique, in-residence experience abroad with a group of their peer business and civic leaders as a prerequisite to joining SIBF. This program provides perspective and promotes close ties among class members, introducing them to the value of the network, quality of SIBF programs, and personal enrichment that comes from newly formed friendships.

WORLD CLASS PROGRAMS
Once admitted to the organization, Fellows can choose among a variety of programs. Some of these provide extended educational and networking opportunities for Fellows and their families in leading international centers. Shorter, 2-5 day briefings featuring high-profile government, academic and regional business experts are typically attended by 100 Fellows and spouses. Each year, the Society's Annual Summit hosts 250-300 Fellows and spouses for three days of program and networking sessions and social activities. Local meetings with guest speakers are held monthly.

PROMINENT SPEAKERS AT SIBF EVENTS
Former U.S. Secretaries of State Madeleine Albright and Henry Kissinger; Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan; Ambassador to Chile William Brownfield; Former President Fernando Henrique Cardoso of Brazil; Former Turkish Foreign Minister Ismael Cem; U.S. Senators Hillary Clinton and William Frist; Former U.S. Senators Sam Nunn, Fred Thompson and Fritz Hollings; Former National Security Advisor, Zbignew Breyzinski; Director General of the Confederation of Indian Industry Tarun Das; Former Ambassador to the U.K. Philip Lader; Moisés Naím, Editor of Foreign Policy; CIA Directors George Tenet and William Webster; Former Chief Executive C.H. Tung of Hong Kong S.A.R.; Chairman of Hopewell Holdings Sir Gordon Wu; Fareed Zakaria, International Editor of Newsweek and ABC News Analyst; and numerous media political commentators and corporate CEOs.

SHARED EXPERIENCES AND LIFE-LONG FRIENDSHIPS
After a member completes the NMP, their spouses or guests are welcome at all SIBF programs. As a result, SIBF fosters a special camaraderie that results from similarly minded people sharing interesting, unique experiences.

GLOBAL NETWORK FOUNDATION & CELA
As the Society evolved and matured, Fellows expressed an interest in giving back to the global community. The Society formed a supporting foundation to serve as a conduit for Fellows to pursue their philanthropic interests. The Global Network Foundation (GNF) focuses on projects, such as the Central Eurasia Leadership Academy (CELA), that permit members to give their time and expertise as well as provide financial support. CELA fosters the next generation of leaders in Central Asia and the Caucasus, and promotes cooperation and bridges differences between East and West, Islamic and non-Islamic countries.