Go Global Before Business School
I got an email update yesterday from a woman who is now first year business school student. She participated in a program that I ran several years ago. She shared that next semester she will be traveling to India. I was a tad bit jealous. I traveled to India in 2005 (as all of my Facebook friends know! Usually my profile picture is of me in front of the Taj Mahal, which is still the most beautiful manmade structure I have ever laid eyes on). I’m not so envious of her going to India, but that she has her next travel adventure planned (and I don’t). Ok, so don’t feel too bad for me. I just got back from a week-long vacation in Barbados and St. Lucia! (It was amazing. Great weather, great food and great rum – Barbados is the birthplace of rum so I had to partake to get the full island experience.)
Today’s MBA experience offers such tremendous global exposure opportunities and if you are open to it, business school will take your cultural understanding to the next level.
- Classmates: your classmates will have diverse international experiences; some will be international students who are citizens of other countries, living and working outside the US before school. You will also have classmates that are from the US with international experiences, through the educational, professional or military assignments.
- Courses: most MBA programs offer classes that address the global economy and international business. You can engage with professors and students who have similar interests.
- Global Immersions/ Consulting projects: during business school you can participate in immersions or consulting projects that give you in-country business experiences. These allow you to actually see how business is conducted in another part of the world. Many schools offer structured programs that enable you to meet with business leaders (often alumni) from that country, work on a meaningful project and have a great time, sightseeing and enjoying the local culture.
- And my personal favorite for international exposure: informal travel with classmates. There is nothing better than exploring a country with a friend who is also a local. They can give you the real background of the locale and take you off of the tourist path to the hidden treasures of the country.
Business schools want students that will both contribute their diverse backgrounds to the classroom as well as be open to learning from the experiences of others. I wish I could say that admissions officers always get this one right, but unfortunately there are lots of MBA students who are quite willing to share their background and views, but are not as keen to receive from others. Such is life!
Whether you have traveled extensively or had broad international exposure, there is much that you can do before business school to prepare yourself to engage and learn from those that are different from you.
- Examine your circle of friends and acquaintances. Do they all have backgrounds and experiences that are similar to yours? If so, it may be time to branch out to build relationships with people who are different from you.
- Get out of your comfort zone. Take initiative to meet and interact with people that you wouldn’t normally gravitate toward.
- Take a special interest in something that clashes with your approach or beliefs. Challenge yourself to understand someone else’s perspective – whether social, political or cultural.
Business school will provide you with seemingly endless opportunities to broaden and enhance your global perspective. Prepare yourself now to receive them.
