Woodbury Business School Professor Examines Impact of Brexit on U.K., European Union

The best laid plans of academicians often lead to compelling new opportunities.

And so it is with Angelo Camillo, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Strategic Management in Woodbury University’s School of Business.  Dr. Camillo began his sabbatical in Italy last May in part to investigate how firms within the so-called “G7” (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the U.K and the U.S.) are managed, what their strategies are, and how they create competitive advantage.

Then, the June 23 Brexit referendum happened.

With voters in the United Kingdom narrowly approving a measure to withdraw from the European Union, it was time for a pivot.  While researching two books — Comparative Strategic Management of the G7 Multinationals and Are Business Schools Preparing Students for the Real World? – Dr. Camillo expanded his investigation to include the upside and the downside of Brexit on both the U.K. and the European Union.

“The fundamental goal of my research is unchanged, even if Brexit has profoundly altered the economic and political environment,” he said.  Dr. Camillo maintains a “research work base” in Europe through an affiliation with the University of Molise in Campobasso, in South Central Italy, where he has been visiting professor since 2007.  His seminars at the university are open to students of degree courses in Communication Sciences and Business Administration, as well as to doctoral candidates in management.

While the jury is out on Brexit’s impact on EU member nations, Dr. Camillo says the consequences for students – from the U.K. and elsewhere – is already “causing a lot of concern.”

“The uncertainty is troubling for both British and foreign students enrolled in U.K. universities, and that’s especially true for business majors seeking employment,” he said. “British students will need to apply for visas and work permits if they’re looking for jobs in any EU member nation.  So Britain’s imminent departure is already having an impact — or at least creating a ‘fear factor’ among business school graduates.”

In the wake of Brexit, Dr. Camillo sees “great opportunity” for U.S. universities, and especially U.S. business schools, to capitalize on the shifts these events are triggering.   “Woodbury is in an ideal position to welcome not only international business students, but students in other disciplines as well – architecture, graphic design, media and communication studies, and fashion design,” he suggested.

“Brexit will of course shape my research into the G7, although it won’t be clear for some time how much the European and British economies will change,” he said, noting that the U.K. has yet to invoke Article 50, formally triggering the separation.  “For companies doing business in the European Union, it’s vital to strategically investigate and compare the firms’ distinctive capabilities or weaknesses, especially if they positively contribute to the economy of the nation in which they operate.

“My research is exploring the underlying philosophy that makes these countries economically advanced compared to others,” Dr. Camillo said.  “My theory is that some of the key success factors of the leading firms in these seven countries have a direct correlation with the G7’s success overall.  But there’s no question that Brexit reshuffles the deck where these success factors are concerned.”

During “whatever is left of my free time,” he said he is providing pro bono consulting to Borgo Delle Fonti, an Italian hospitality start-up committed to doing business with the U.S.: https://www.borgodellefonti.it/.

At Woodbury, Dr. Camillo teaches courses in Strategy, Global Enterprise Management, Business Ethics, Organizational Behavior, and special topics in Hospitality Entrepreneurship and Business Development.  His research encompasses three streams of interest that reflect his specializations and courses he teaches: Strategic Management (Mainstream), Industry Specific, and Cross-disciplinary.  Research topics include Strategic and International Management, Food and Wine Business, Marketing Best Practices, Social Responsibility, and Ethics.  He is also Visiting Professor at various institutions in Europe and China, where he teaches Global Entrepreneurship and International Management.  His international industry experience as an expatriate executive spans 35 years in 10 countries and four continents.

About Woodbury University

Founded in 1884, Woodbury University is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in Southern California. The university ranks 15th among the nation’s “25 Colleges That Add the Most Value,” according to Money Magazine, was voted “Best Graduate School” in the Los Angeles Daily News 2018 Readers Choice Awards, and is a 2018-19 College of Distinction. Woodbury was a finalist for the General Community Service Award, a part of the 2015 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll recognition program. With campuses in Burbank/Los Angeles and San Diego, the university offers bachelor\\’s degrees from the School of Architecture, School of Business, School of Media, Culture & Design, and College of Liberal Arts, along with a Master of Business Administration, Master of Architecture, Master of Interior Architecture and Master of Science in Architecture. The San Diego campus offers Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Architecture, Master of Interior Architecture and Master of Landscape Architecture degrees, as well as a Master of Science in Architecture, Real Estate Development. Visit woodbury.edu for more information.