On June 4, 2025, the new Advisory Council of RTU Riga Business School (RBS) was approved. It brings together renowned entrepreneurs, academics, and education leaders from Latvia and around the world, who have agreed on the school’s future development strategy. The main task of the Advisory Council is to ensure RBS’s successful path toward obtaining AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) accreditation – one of the most prestigious quality marks for business education worldwide.

AACSB – The Highest Standard of Excellence

Only about 6% of business schools globally have obtained AACSB accreditation. It is an internationally recognized certification of excellence in education quality, research, faculty, and resources. Earning this accreditation enhances the school’s global reputation and provides students with significantly greater opportunities for international experience, internships, and career prospects after graduation.

The Chairman of the RBS Advisory Council, Viesturs Kuļikovskis, emphasizes:

“If I were a student today, I would want to gain not only knowledge, but also the ability to navigate a changing business environment, the courage to implement my ideas, the capacity to collaborate internationally, and the skills to lead teams. RBS can become the platform that prepares students for this future.”

Strategic Management with a Global Vision

The RBS Advisory Council oversees the school’s strategic development, approves its budget, provides recommendations, and evaluates management performance – all to ensure the school moves toward sustainable growth and international recognition. One of the Council’s recent achievements is the confirmation of Inese Muzikante as the new RBS Director.

The Advisory Council consists of ten members with extensive experience:

• Viesturs Kuļikovskis – An experienced entrepreneur with a strong background in financial technologies, real estate, and the hospitality industry, with deep expertise in international investment projects and change management.

• Daiga Auziņa-Melalksne – A senior executive with over 10 years of experience in Baltic capital markets and corporate governance, including positions on the Board of Nasdaq Baltic and the Council of Citadele Bank.

• Ananth V. Iyer – Dean of the School of Management at the University at Buffalo (USA), and a distinguished researcher with over 30 years of academic and administrative experience in operations and supply chain management.

• Daina Mazutis – Associate Professor at the University of Ottawa (Canada) and expert in ethics, sustainability, and corporate responsibility. She has received international recognition for her work in leadership and strategy education.

• Jānis Bergs – A technology entrepreneur with extensive experience in the IT and telecommunications industries. He currently leads SAF North America and is actively involved in the investment and startup ecosystems in both Latvia and the USA.

• Arnis Ozols – A digital advertising entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in media and advertising across the Baltics. He is the Regional Director for Northern Europe and Partner at Aleph Group, representing companies such as Meta, TikTok, Microsoft, Snapchat, Spotify, Reddit, and LinkedIn.

• Ilze Kauce – A strategic lawyer specializing in public affairs, regulatory development, and interest representation at the national and EU levels. She currently serves as an Innovation ecosystems lead at LMT.

• Voldemar A. Innus – A higher education management and IT strategy expert with more than 30 years of experience as CIO and Vice President at the State University of New York.

• Vijay Kumar – A leader in sustainable, technology-driven educational innovation at MIT (USA) for over 28 years. He is the founding executive director of J-WEL (Abdul Latif Jameel World Education Lab) and Associate Dean of Open Learning.

• Baiba Rubesa – An accomplished, results-oriented business leader with broad experience in oil and gas, retail, automotive, telecommunications, and transportation. Her focus areas include governance, transparency, human rights, sustainability, and stakeholder engagement.

• Elīna Gaile-Sarkane – Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at Riga Technical University and a professor with over 20 years of experience in academic program management, science, and international education projects.

The Advisory Council operates on a voluntary, unpaid basis.

Looking to the Future – Knowledge-Based Entrepreneurship in Latvia

One of the Council’s tasks is to support the development of modern RBS curricula that align with labor market needs. These programs are developed in cooperation with international and local partners (MIT, University of Ottawa, University at Buffalo, RTU) and closely connected to the business environments in Latvia and the USA.

Considering the dynamic economic landscape, rapid technological progress, and the need to foster startup growth in Latvia, RBS’s strategy is grounded in dynamic, interdisciplinary, and globally competitive education.