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I attended the Academy of International Business annual conference in 2022 in Miami, FL. I had just graduated and was invited to participate in the AIB Presidents’ Townhall session to interview presidents (past, current, and future). After many last minute changes of plans (e.g., one president got covid, another president was added to the program), I ended up being paired with the current president at the time, Farok Contractor. I prepared a question about demographic diversity and didn’t care who answered it, I just wanted it to be addressed. Below is the question that I asked:

• AIB encompasses individuals with a diverse range of demographics among its membership. However, male, pale, stale, and Western perspectives continue to remain an amplified majority in leadership, panels, webinars, etc. Even when participation in these roles include women and people color, it’s important to acknowledge and recognize that their voices are often still drowned out. For example, if women are put on a panel but men dominate the conversation, the basic inclusion of women is not enough if men are not mindful of inequities in talking time. How do you plan to address these types of disparities within AIB?

Farok had a very surface-level answer, not one that was particularly satisfying or memorable, but at least the question had been given space, which was enough for me at the time. The panel ended and everyone parted ways professionally and amicably.

4 days later, I received the email displayed above. This email was unsolicited and voluntarily sent by Farok Contractor to the AIB board and the interviewers of the AIB President’s Townhall panel. There were some back and forth emails and I officially filed an AIB Ethics Violation Complaint From. However, I had to wait until August 1 to file because according to the AIB Ethics Review Committee Rules of Procedure, all complaints are ultimately governed by the AIB President. There is no language or amendment stating an alternative course of procedure if the complaint is made about the AIB President. Clearly, I cannot trust that a complaint made about the President would be approved by the President. Therefore, I had to wait until August 1 to formally file a complaint through the AIB Ethics Violation Complaint Form system.

After seven months, I finally received an email from the AIB board responding to my complaints. This letter did not describe any consequences for Farok Contractor for his actions.

At this point, I was emotional exhausted from the situation and was ready to let things lie. I have seen a lot of unethical behavior, particularly surrounding the Academy of International Business organization and was so drained and disheartened by the outcome.

However, I am currently at the AIB 2024 annual conference in Seoul, South Korea. I was baffled to see that Farok Contractor is here and participated in the Fellows Dinner, a tradition honoring prestigious members, as shown in pictures below.

I share this to shed light on the egregious sexism and protections of unethical behavior that continue to be maintained by the Academy of International Business organization. I do not share this for professional gains or malice; I don’t have much to gain by going against a well-established senior scholar in a field that I don’t currently have strong associations to in my current professional position of sustainable business management. However, I do believe that people and organizations should be held accountable for their actions.

Timeline

2022

04/22 - 04/27: Email from Andrew Delios (AIB 2022 Conference Chair) to Sarah Ku inviting her to be on the AIB Presidents’ Townhall panel. Three AIB Presidents (Jeremy Clegg [2021-2022], Farok Contractor [2022-2023]; and Maria-Tereza Fleury [2023-2024]) would be matched with questioners to ask provocative questions to uncover what can be done to improve the AIB organization. Note: Sarah Ku was originally meant to be paired with Maria-Tereza Fleury (2023-2024 AIB President).

07/06 - 07/09: AIB 2022 Annual Conference (Miami, Florida)

07/08: AIB 2022 Presidents’ Townhall session

07/12: Email from Farok Contractor (President of AIB) to AIB Board + participating interviewers of the AIB Presidents’ Townhall

07/13: Email from Sarah Ku to Farok Contractor + participating interviewers of the AIB Presidents’ Townhall

07/12: Emails from Dana Minbaeva (AIB board member) and Ram Mudambi (interviewer) to Sarah Ku + participating interviewers of the AIB Presidents’ Townhall

07/15: Email from Sarah Ku to Farok Contractor + AIB Board + participating interviewers of the AIB Presidents’ Townhall

08/01: Filed original AIB Ethics Violation Complaint Form

• I had to wait to file a complaint because all complaints go through the AIB president before investigation, with no language providing guidance for when a complaint is made about the AIB President. Therefore, I had to wait until August 1, which was the date of turnover between the 2021-2022 president (Farok Contractor) and the 2022-2023 president (Maria Tereza Fleury).

  • AIB Ethics Review Committee Rules of Procedure

    • Section 4.3 states: Referring an initial complaint to the AIB President before investigation. If the complaint meets the standard in 4.1. and the ERC does not decline to investigate under 4.2., then the complaint is referred to the AIB President for approval to go forward with the investigation or other action. Approval by the AIB President starts an ERC investigation. The ERC does not investigate complaints that the AIB President declines to approve.

  • Code of Ethics of the Academy of International Business

  • Code of Ethics for the Academy of International Business Leadership

08/02: Email from Farok Contractor to Sarah Ku + participating interviewers of the AIB Presidents’ Townhall with an attached note

08/15: Filed additional AIB Ethics Violation Complaint Form

Farok was asked to voluntarily resign or he would be forcibly removed from the board. He resigned.

2023

03/27: Email from AIB Executive Board to Sarah Ku

• TLDR: No specifics on the changes that would be made to policies or codes. No specifics on the consequences Farok received.

2024

07/05: Email from Sarah Ku to AIB Board members + participating interviewers of the AIB Presidents’ Townhall

September: AIB board meeting