Internationally recognized thought leader in global business, world affairs, and Asia

Robert Azar has over forty years of experience as an international business executive, educator, author, consultant, and media commentator specializing in global business, world affairs, and Asia.

After working in international corporations at the management level for ten years, he setup and managed US and European businesses in Asian markets for more than thirty years through his international business consulting firm. In addition, for the past decade Robert has served as adjunct professor of global business at Elon University and France’s SKEMA Business School. Main areas of research and instruction are the post-World War II international order, international business development, globalization, management, marketing, negotiation.

He is the author of six books, the most recent one entitled The International Order in Transition: Critical Crossroads for the World Community.

Prior to commencing his career in international business, Robert completed a decade of formal academic training and field research in international politics, economics, and Asian affairs. His double major BA degree in International Relations and East Asian Studies from New York University led to completing advanced degrees at Columbia University’s Weatherhead East Asian Institute in international political, economic, and cultural affairs. He subsequently completed post-graduate studies in global management, international marketing, and business law at Harvard University.

Robert has been a commentator for major media for more than thirty-five years on international business, world affairs, and Asia-related matters on such outlets as CNN, CNBC, the Financial News Network, the Wall Street Journal Report as well as on local cable television and radio shows in the United States and Asia. He has also been featured in interviews in American and Asian news publications, including The New York Times, BusinessWeek, and Crain’s BtoB.

His international career spans several industries and specializations, including global business development, international trade, political and economic analysis, strategic planning, management, sales and marketing, market research, product development, human resource management, finance, negotiating, intercultural mediation, and crisis management. 

Robert was honored to be one of 10,000 consultants in the US to earn the Certified Management Consultant designation in 2002, the management consulting industry’s preeminent recognition for demonstrated achievements and excellence in client satisfaction, professional standards, and ethical business practices. 

He has lived in the Far East for seven years and logged over a million flight miles traveling to, from, and within Asia in service of Western clients. He is proficient in Japanese and is familiar with the Chinese and Korean languages.

Robert has served as a board member or director of several organizations, among them the World Trade Council of Westchester County, NY, Coalition for Global Competitiveness, Organization of Women in International Trade, North Carolina Japan Center, American Cancer Society, United Arts Council of Wake County, Cultural Arts Committee of Cary, and New York Presbyterian Hospital’s Japanese Center for Quality of Life.

WORKS IN PROGRESS

Robert’s current book examines China’s leadership role in the newly emerging global order and its dominance in the world economy. This book demonstrates that China’s goal is to be the primary center of the new global order, and that, far from new, this objective has been central to the country’s identity throughout its history from ancient times to the present.

Unlike Western nations that established their dominance and leadership positions through military power, China is following a fundamentally different strategy, one that has proven true over six millennia.

Contact Robert through his LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertazar/