Global Business Club - Evening & Weekend MBA | Student Spotlight

GBC features students who have participated in international programs through Kellogg (GIM, Global Exchange, Kellogg corps, etc.) or have had experience working abroad.

• Company: AkzoNobel
• International business experience: I had the opportunity to travel to Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden, China, and Mexico for various meetings and company events.
• First experience working abroad: My first international business trip occurred three months after joining AkzoNobel (my first employer post-undergrad). I was an engineer going through my first assignment as part of a 3-year rotational program. I was working on a project to help one of AkzoNobel's business unit to identify which R&D initiatives to invest resources. Since our R&D initiatives affected multiple regions, our project team consisted of members from North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. This trip was to meet the team to finalize our project. A few weeks after, I presented our findings and recommendations to the business leadership team.
• Takeaways from first international working experience: I would encourage everyone to work international if/when possible. It was such a great learning experience. My biggest takeaway was understanding how to work with people from different cultures and how to be an effective and efficient team member despite language barriers. I also learned about the global presence and influence of AkzoNobel, the culture of AkzoNobel, and the dynamic between my extended teams.
• Other experiences working abroad: After Germany, I also traveled to The Netherlands, Sweden, China and Mexico while in the rotational program.
• How did you find the international opportunities: Most of these opportunities were project related; but as an ambitious and curious person, I constantly volunteer for opportunities to learn and to be exposed to new situations.
• Challenges of working abroad: One challenge with working abroad is having to quickly adjust to the new time zone. At one point, I traveled to a different continent every other week. I had to learn how to quickly overcome jetlag in order to be productive.
• Best things about living and working here: The best thing about working abroad is being able to strengthen relationships with colleagues. AkzoNobel has a global presence, which allowed me to develop a truly global network. I also like to travel leisurely, so it was a bonus to visit places I would not travel otherwise.
• Tips/advice for someone considering an international opportunity: Before traveling international, it's important to learn about the cultures and customs of where you're going. What is considered etiquette here may not be so in other countries. It is also important to have an open mind and be willing to step outside your comfort zone – after all, the best part of being abroad is the learning experience

• Trip duration: Ten days mandatory in-country, but we were able to arrive a day early and stay a few days after the official trip ended with classmates
• What type of research did you do before applying to the program: I knew I wanted to do a trip when I started at Kellogg. I always had an interest in China and wanted to visit, so the GIM Greater China trip worked out perfectly.
• How did you plan for the trip in terms of course planning and with your job: School-wise, it made the most sense for my to participate in my second year (6th quarter) in the program. At work, I coordinated with my manager and my manager's manager so that my team could support me while I was out for two weeks. We agreed the time difference between China and the US was too great for me to be accessible, so my manager was supportive of me being completely out-of-pocket for the entire two weeks while I was on the trip. Since it was a long trip, I had to plan around me vacation days at work, but it was the right fit for me at that time.
• What was the pre-trip work like: We had a normal class schedule, although only eight classes total instead of ten, leading up to the trip in which we prepared for the in-country portion of GIM. Classes were Monday nights in Evanston and they were a mix of cultural/historical lessons on China, business and economic insights with focus on US-China relations, and guest lecturers. The main component of the class was a final paper and presentation with a group. As part of the project we had to secure company visits for our project while we were in-country. We secured these by cold calling contacts through LinkedIn and the Kellogg network and we did these ahead of the trip.
• What was the actual trip like: The trip was great. It was really well planned thanks to our in-country adviser, Shelia. The program planned almost everything for us. Our hotels were nice and had western touches, like a continental breakfast and hotel staff that spoke English. This was helpful for us to make the most of our experience. We visited companies that were pre-planned and ones that our groups planned to complete our projects. The program planned visits with Boeing, Disney, Tencent WeChat, Alibaba, and the US Embassy in Beijing. My group's project focused on the movie industry, so we visited with a movie agent in production and actor representation, a PWC consultant that worked in the movie/studio and production areas of the business, the Dreamworks animation joint venture in Shanghai, and a conference call with an American author who teaches at Peking University. The program also planned some tourist sites for us to visit. We visited a lot of great sites including the Great Wall, Tienanmen Square, and the Forbidden City. We also had a good amount of free time, mostly in the evening. We could go out to eat, explore the city, visit local markets and experience the culture and different cities in China. We were under a high pollution warning while we were there, and while that wasn't great it gave me a different understanding of what happens when these densely populated countries enter into a period of mass commercialiation and how the challenges are real.
• What was the final GIM deliverable: Final deliverable was a paper and group project, both due after the trip. My group's paper focused on what the best business mdoel is within the movie industry in China. One of the companies we visited, Dreamworks, was the first real Chinese-American equal interest, joint venture business model for movie production. We initially thought that, to be successful in China as an international company you have to partner with Chinese companies to make it. While we were in-country the Dreamworks venture fell apart, so we shifted our focus to the cultural differences between American and Chinese movie industries and the short and long-term ways the industry will evolve, as well as how the sie of the Chinese population is impacting the international movie industry.
• Who was on the trip with you: 37 students total. Most were full-time students, but there were three of us from the evening program. While eight slots are initially held for registration (four evening and four weekend), our class was on Mondays which made it difficult for weekend students to join.
• Favorite part: Hong Kong. We hiked one day and got to see and understand truly the density of culture and population. Generally, it was great to interact and build relationships with some many full-time students throughout the trip. We likely wouldn't have met otherwise.
• Biggest challenge: Everything was pretty smooth in the course and on the trip. One challenge was getting taxis when we were by ourselves, but Hong Kong had Uber which helped.
• Would you recommend this program to other Kellogg students, and if so, why: 100% recommend. GIM China was a great, well-organied trip that gave us great exposure to living and working in China while also seeing some of the great tourist attractions the country has to offer. Our professor, Damien Ma, was great too. If you're able to go on the trip, it's a great use of one course credit.

• Company: Baxter Healthcare
• International business experience: I had the opportunity to work abroad with Baxter for 2 years as a senior financial analyst through the Financial Development Program. The first year I was in Warsaw, Poland supporting the Eastern and Central Europe, Middle East and Africa regional Controllership team, and the second year I spent in Brussels, Belgium supporting the Western Europe regional finance decision support and Belgium country finance support teams.
• First experience working abroad: Through the rotational program, a year after I joined Baxter full-time, I was sent to Warsaw, Poland to support the accounting team for the region. This included teammates from Poland, Russia, Turkey, the Middle East, and Africa to name a few. Programs differ region by region, in which the goal was to gain an understanding of how the local teams work and expand my network, in addition to learning each other's perspectives. As a global organization, Baxter focuses a lot on creating relationships with global counterparts. I was the only person in the office who was not from Poland and who did not speak Polish. It provided an opportunity for both myself and my coworkers to step out of our comfort zones and learn from each other.
• Takeaways from first international working experience: The world is an incredible, diverse place. I learned quickly that being humble and curious is the key to understanding different cultures and creating relationships with those who are different from me. I also learned that face to face interaction when engaging with a different culture avoids a language/cultural barrier, and allows for more productive conversations. Being able to work directly with my global counterparts gave me a much better perspective on why it is so important to get input on new policies and procedures before implementation. It can be really easy to be blinded by the high-level goal at headquarters without understanding the implications.
• Other experiences working abroad: I had a third year left of the rotational program, and with such a transformational experience in Warsaw, I wanted to continue immersing myself in another culture. I spend the following year in Brussels, Belgium supporting the regional and local teams on financial decision support. This gave me a better perspective on the commercial organization, different healthcare requirements, and government dynamics country by country.
• How did you find the international opportunities: I was able to work abroad through the Financial Development Program at Baxter, which is one of the reasons why I chose to work there. Every year there was a preferencing process for us to decide which roles we wanted next, and typically 25% of them were international opportunities. The people in the program who wanted to get international experience were encouraged and assigned a location.
• Challenges of working abroad: The hardest part about living and working abroad was that the locals and I needed to learn to trust each other and embrace our differences. In a working environment, initially, it is incredibly isolating. Since I was entirely alone during my experiences, the first few weeks presented challenges with language barriers, culture shock, learning how to get around the city, and trying to meet new people. Until Warsaw and Brussels felt like home, it was a very strange feeling going from somewhere I had a stable life to a clean slate.
• Best things about living and working in Europe: There are so many wonderful things about living in Europe. It is incredible to have the opportunity to travel to other countries so easily that have entirely different cultures, history, and languages. It is also interesting how much more focus they give to work-life balance. I was encouraged to take long periods of time off of work to enjoy my personal time and reset. I love the food culture there, being able to walk to my neighborhood store and get some of the best fresh bread and produce I've ever had, all year long.
• Tips/advice for someone considering an international opportunity: DO IT! The best way to make the most out of an opportunity like this is to jump in head first, live in the moment and fully commit to a life in another country. Set up one on one meetings with your co-workers, or take time to have lunch or dinner with them. It will allow you to create personal connections with locals and ask questions! Meet people through apps or expat groups from all over the world, walk everywhere, say "yes" to everything, and try things you have never tried before.

• Trip duration: IPADE Business School - 1 week, Guanghua School of Management - 2 weeks
• Number of credits: IPADE Business School - 1 credit, Guanghua School of Management - 1 credit
• What type of research did you do before applying to the programs: I attended an information session for the Global Exchange program after starting at Kellogg. I knew people in my cohort who participated in global exchange programs and I did my research using the website. The reputation of the host school was important to me and both of these had well-known international schools and the program focus were interesting so that's how I decided on each. Additionally, I had been in both China and Mexico for work before. It is worth noting that for those that have already participated in one international program that people who have not yet participated in a global exchange program are given priority over those who have already participated. Therefore, getting into a second program can be difficult.
• How far in advance did you have to start planning in order to make the program work with your course schedule and graduation date: I knew I wanted to take advantage of the international programs during my time at Kellogg. Although I did not get into my first choice second exchange program based on my prior experience and capacity, I found the IPADE Business School Global Exchange in Mexico. This was a more condensed program—shorter time commitment, not as much pre/post work, but still afforded me the opportunity to study internationally. The Mexico trip was short and, therefore, not as robust in comparison to the China exchange program, but it was a good way for me to obtain credits for the quarter in just one week.
• What were the trips like: Guanghua-this was a well-balanced experience with time spent in three different cities and campuses of Guanghua. There was a nice balance of time spent in the classroom, on site visits and taking in tourist experiences. We were assigned a dedicated Kellogg program manager whom we met with prior to the trip and walked us through trip logistics, made sure we had completed any pre-trip items for our time in China, etc. IPADE Mexico- in comparison to China, this trip was extremely brief. There really was only 4.5 days to complete the same amount of class room time so there was not much opportunity for anything else.
• Where did you stay during the programs: Guanghua - room and board was included in the program cost and we had rooming options we could select. IPADE Mexico- accommodations weren't included in the program cost, but we were given two prices points for hotels and they were affordable and what we needed for our stay.
• Who was on the trip with you: There were a few Kellogg part-time students in both the China and Mexico trips. On both trips it was a mix of full-time and part-time students from various MBA programs.
• Did you have free time: Guanghua -Yes, we had a fair bit of free time in China. We had the most in Beijing, where we spent most of the first week. Since I had visited before for business, I had a list of contacts I wanted to see and visit. I also attended an event hosted by the US Embassy about new regulations for foreign non-profit/non-governmental entities. IPADE Mexico- since the trip was short, we had some free time on a few evenings but majority of the trip was scheduled.
• Was there any pre-work or preparation: Yes, both had pre-work. We had some case work but nothing beyond a standard Kellogg course. For the China trip, we also met with the program manager before leaving to discuss the trip in detail and to review the visa requirements for entry into China.
• Favorite part of each program: The terracotta warriors in the China was by far my favorite experience. We were able to visit other places like Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, etc. On the Mexico trip my favorite part was the visit to Teotihuacan!
• What companies did you visit: Guanghua - we visited mostly Chinese joint-ventures such as Shanghai Volkswagen, Beijing Hyundai. In one instance, we visited the Chinese office of a foreign company, Merck. IPADE Mexico- we visited all Mexican companies: KidZania, Grupo Bimbo and Volaris.
• Biggest challenge: Both programs had students from all over the world. In both cases, the cohort was mixed (age, language, background, education, etc.) and made the group work more difficult.
• How do you feel the programs helped you in your academic and professional goals: I've always had a global mindset both professionally and personally. I was recently recruited to a more domestic (United States) focused role, which has made me realize I value having a role that is internationally focused and that has helped me think about next steps in my career. Through the experiences in these programs, I feel that I am even more equipped to excel in an international role and look forward to being able to take advantage of what I learned in the international programs.
• Would you recommend these programs to other Kellogg students, and if so, why or why not: Both experiences have their advantages and disadvantages, but overall I enjoyed both experiences. China was more of a commitment, both financially and time-wise, but the experience was unique. Mexico was an efficient and economical way to get course credit. Both of the programs are a good primer for international markets and I feel prepared to work in either environment coming out of the programs. Personally, I would recommend the Guanghua China exchange trip. The program was more valuable to me because it was in-depth and offered an experience difficult to replicate on one's own.

Natalie also participated in the 2016 GIM program in China & Japan

• Trip duration: May 16 - 26, 2017 (10 days)
• Number of credits: 1.5 (15 class sessions while on trip)
• What type of research did you do before applying to the program: I went on the GIM program in China the year prior and I wanted to take as many opportunities through the international programs as possible. I was entering my last year at Kellogg and I planned for my last quarter to be the Global Exchange program. I knew a few people who went on this program with WHU, including another Kellogg student and my brother, who went to Ross. They all had great things to say and that sold me on the program.
• How far in advance did you have to start planning in order to make the program work with your course schedule and graduation date: I knew I wanted to maximize my international experiences during my time at Kellogg. I went on the 2016 GIM trip to China, and after returning from that I knew I wanted to do one more before graduating. The applications were due a few months after I returned from GIM, so I had some time to map out the remaining courses and credits I needed for graduation pending my acceptance in the Global Exchange program.
• What was the trip like: General business in the European Union (E.U.) was the focus of the program. The program was planned in a way that we were exposed to a variety of different industries and companies in our classes as well as some off-campus visits. It provided a unique perspective on differences between how business is conducted in the E.U. versus the United States. Our classes were lecture style format, like what we have in the E&W program, and we discussed startups in the E.U. and how that compared to startups in the United States, navigating banking and dealing with different government rules and regulations, etc. Monday through Friday we were on-campus in WHU in the classroom. We had a few planned day trips that we took and those were a lot of fun. My favorite day trip was the luxury business trip to a local vineyard. Robert Weil Winery. The estate is large and is dedicated solely to Riesling—it was a beautiful location and a wonderful way to learn more about the luxury industry in the EU.
• Where did you stay during the program: We could select what type of accommodations we wanted—options included individual apartments or group apartments on-campus. I chose to stay in a one bedroom on-campus apartment, it was great to live on-campus, the walk to class was only 10-15 minutes.
• Did you have free time: Our nights were free so long as we completed any homework or group work. Most of the group work we could finish after class, so we were able to use the evenings to explore the area near campus. Our weekends were also free, so students could plan trips to explore. One weekend I visited some family in the area and the second weekend I joined my fellow Kellogg students for a trip we planned in Zurich, Switzerland.
• Who was on the trip with you: Mostly MBA students; there were seven part-time Kellogg students, and some from Ross. There were also some students in a full-time program (four years undergrad plus one additional year for a masters') from the University of Florida. There were also had a handful of international students from places like Singapore, Australia and Canada. There were no Kellogg faculty with us, all of our professors were from WHU.
• Was there any pre-work or preparation: Yes, we had pre-readings to be completed before the first class that were used for discussion in each session.
• What companies did you visit: The program had two company visits built into the two-week program. We visited the European Central Bank and Robert Weil Winery. The program also arranged for us to visit a local castle for some tourism in the area.
• Favorite part: The area near WHU campus, Koblenz, has a great area near campus that we would hang out in after class. It was great to have the time after being in class during the day to relax and experience the culture we were staying in. The wine tasting at Robert Weill winery was also great.
• How do you feel the program helped you in your academic and professional goals: I was beginning to transition into a new global strategy role with my company, so the timing of the global exchange program was perfect. My employer was very supportive of me going on the trip, as the content was highly relevant to my new role and I was able to learn a lot by being in an international situation. The program helped give me perspective I would not have had and gave me more confidence going into my new role at work.
• Would you recommend this program to other Kellogg students, and why: Yes, I really can't stress how great this program was! The global exchange program really emphasized the power of the Kellogg community. Initially, I didn't know the other Kellogg students on my trip, but we were able to get to know each other very well and it was a great opportunity to connect with other students I may not have met otherwise. We really enjoyed our time together—even though we were ready to see our family and friends at home we didn't want to leave!
• What are the main differences from your GIM and Global Exchange experiences: GIM had a lot more preparation, so there was more of a build-up to the trip. There was also the post-GIM trip work that students are required to complete when back in the States, so the process was much longer. The Global Exchange format was more condensed as we didn't have to take a course leading up to the trip and the pre-work was minimal. It was nice that once the classes in the global exchange program were finished, that was also the end of the program. Exchange was very well-balanced and also more affordable.

• Trip Duration: May 15-23, 2017 (9 days)
• What type of research did you do before applying to the program: I attended two Kellogg information sessions (found through Kellogg Events and the Kellogg exchange program website). I also met a few students who had participated in past Exchange programs, so I spoke with them to learn more about their experiences. I knew I wanted a program with a tech focus, so I looked for programs that had this component.
• How far in advance did you have to start planning in order to make the program work with your course schedule and graduation date: Applications are due five months before the program, so I started researching before that. It's good to finalize trip details ahead of time because you are unable to take full credit courses in the quarter you choose to go on Exchange.
• What was the trip like: It was very well planned! We had a great mix of academic courses, company visits and touring throughout the country. We had 2-3 free evenings and one weekend to let us explore on our own.
• Who was on the trip with you: Thirty MBA students in total and professors. Students were from a few different schools including Kellogg, Booth, Ross, McCombs, George Washington University School of Business and some international MBA students from Singapore University.
• Was there any pre-work or preparation: Yes, there were two cases and a short book we were required to read before the program started.
• What companies did you visit:  Netafim, Masik, sFBI, Samurai Incubate Israel, Lighthouse, Call Yachol
• Favorite part: The trip organizers planned a dinner for us at a restaurant called Blackout where you eat in the dark. It was an out of the world experience!
• How do you feel the program helped you in your academic and professional goals: It reaffirmed my interest in pursuing a career in the technology space.
• Would you recommend this program to other Kellogg students, and why: I would highly recommend the program. I picked one that had a technology and venture capital industry focus, and the program exceeded my expectations. The program gave me great insight of what makes Israel the innovation hub that it is. The trip was also very well planned and it gave us the exposure and experiences we needed with not only industry but culture as well.