Inside the NYU EMBA Global Study Tour to Vietnam
Global study trips are one of the most valuable opportunities available to MBAs. It can provide students with the chance to experience different business practices, learn from companies across the world, and better understand the global marketplace. It’s a beneficial learning environment for students in any industry and job function.
At the NYU Stern School of Business, the most recent Global Study Tour took a group of Executive MBA students to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. During the trip, students met with representatives from a wide range of companies including Vina Capital, Grab, AstraZeneca, Siemens, Esquel Group, and more. Don’t worry; they also had plenty of time to sightseeing and eat the local food.
To learn more about this most recent Global Study Tour to Vietnam, we spoke with Anjou Martinez, an ’18 EMBA student, who was on the trip.
MetroMBA: What was the highlight of the trip for you?
Vincom Center
Anjou Martinez: The best part of the trip for me was the Local Market Immersion, where each group was assigned a tour guide/interpreter and was given an itinerary to visit a variety of local places to observe the daily life in Ho Chi Minh. My group was tasked to visit Vincom Center, a high-end shopping mall equipped with residential and office space. At lunch, we sampled traditional Vietnamese cuisines such as Bun Bo Hue, a traditional Hue-style beef noodle soup, Xu Chicken Rice, a crispy chicken dish with ginger chili soy sauce and aromatic rice, and Sautéed Vermicelli Noodles with vegetables.
Ben Thanh Market
After lunch, we walked to the famous Ben Thanh Market, an indoor marketplace that sells local handicrafts, branded goods, and souvenirs at inexpensive prices. In this setting, prices are not fixed, so you have to haggle to find a bargain. We also visited Phuong Ha, a specialty grocery store for expats and more affluent locals. Most of the goods were manufactured from the U.S., Europe, and Australia.
On our way to our last stop, which was Maybank, we added a side trip to the Bitexco Financial Tower, which is the tallest skyscraper in Saigon. We ended our immersion at the bank, which was closed by the time we arrived—it closed at 3 p.m., which we thought was early compared to U.S. standards.
Metro: What company visit had the greatest impact on you and why?
AM: My favorite company visit was at Doan Potters, a private company in Binh Duong province which exports its pottery and home décor products to big companies such as Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Crate & Barrel, and Pier 1 Imports. The management was very accommodating. They broke us into groups and assigned us an expert to tour their facilities and better understand their business from converting the raw materials into clay, designing, slip-casting, jiggering, hand-turning, glazing, carving, and firing. This experience showed me how small businesses in Vietnam can thrive, make an impact in their community, and profit globally.
Doan Potters
Metro: Can you share one of your funniest situations or experiences in Vietnam?
AM: The most unique experience I had in Vietnam was after class, when several of us rode on the back of a scooter driven by our personal driver/guide to explore the bustling streets of Saigon while making food stops at local eateries. It was exhilarating to go with the traffic flow with no clear driving lanes and directions. We ate like the locals on low tables and low stools in a crouch position. We were on the streets with Back of the Bike Tours for most of the evening, and we ventured from District 1 to District 3 and 10. I thought it was the best way to live like a local for one night. My driver Phuong was very helpful in answering questions about her country and what it was like for her—as a recent a college graduate—to live in Saigon.
Metro: What surprised you the most about your trip?
AM: Coming into Vietnam, I thought they were a strict Communist country like China. However, I was surprised to find out that the government has done a lot of things to improve capitalism by encouraging privatization. Small- and mid-size businesses are indeed thriving in Saigon.
Metro: Why did you decide to go on the Global Study Tour to Vietnam?
AM: As part of the NYU Executive MBA program, we had an option to go to a global study tour (GST) in Vietnam or Greece. I thought a GST in Vietnam is more of an educational experience for me since I had lived in Southeast Asia when I was younger. I think Vietnam has its own charm and interesting history—so much so that I was inclined to travel more than 20 hours one-way to experience what it had to offer.
Metro: How did the trip enhance or change your view of international business?
AM: Seeing is believing. Aside from Doan Potters, we also visited Esquel Group, a global textile and apparel manufacturing company that boasts clients such as Nike, Ralph Lauren, and Tommy Hilfiger. We witnessed how shirts and pants were made from scratch from cutting, sewing, embroidery, silkscreen, laundering, and packaging. Now, when I go for a run and put on Nike apparel, I think of Esquel’s manufacturing facility and how the world is a smaller place. The East has really met the West. International business can flourish by establishing global partnerships that create win-win situations for both companies.
Metro: Why would you recommend that an MBA student travel abroad during their program?
AM: My global study tour was an eye-opening, educational experience that cannot be matched by lectures, course readings, or videos. Students must immerse themselves in the culture, language, customs and thus, business opportunities. The academic structure of the global study tour optimized the learning.
Chicago Booth Talks Suspect Stock Trading, and More – Chicago News
Let’s explore some of the most interesting stories that have emerged from Chicago business schools this week.
Why Do Investors Seek out Stock Swindles? – Chicago Booth Blog
The University of Chicago Booth School of Business (the new number one business school in the country according to U.S. News) recently published new research that uncovers an unfortunate gambling problem among some German investors who “buy suspect stocks for the thrill of it, even when they know better.”
Booth Professor Christian Leuz collaborated with Leibniz University of Hanover’s Steffen Meyer, Humboldt University of Berlin’s Maximilian Muhn, Harvard’s Eugene Soltes, and Goethe University of Frankfurt’s Andreas Hackehtal on a new working paper entitled, “Who Falls Prey to the Wolf of Wall Street? Investor Participation in Market Manipulation,” which examines “the German stock market, asking who invests in these schemes and how often.”
“Of these investors, 6,569 individuals—nearly 6 percent of the sample—took part in pump-and-dump schemes, investing an average 11.4 percent of their portfolio’s overall value and sustaining an average loss of nearly 30 percent.”
Read more about the quintet’s stock trading research here.
2018 MBA Chile Immersion – Mendoza College of Business Blog
Students from the University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business recently embarked on a five-day study abroad trip to Santiago, Chile, where they “toured some of the most innovative and philanthropic local businesses.” In early March, the group paid a visit to fruit producer Vista Hermosa, based in the Central Zone of Chile (Melipilla). Vista Hermosa’s mission is to “produce good quality fruit and have control of it from its harvest until it is shipped to different markets.” The company gives “special emphasis to the care of the environment, protecting the native flora and fauna, as well as the efficient use of fertilizers and agrochemicals.” According to one student testimonial:
“Our visit consisted of a tour of both the farm and the packing plant to better understand the production and fruit export process. There is a small church on the farm grounds available for the employees who live on the farm. We were treated to fresh pears and cherries, the latter of which is one of the farms biggest exports.”
You can read more about the Mendoza’s Chilean itinerary here and watch the student’s day one diary of the trip below.
Trying to Be Persuasive? Here’s What You Are Likely Doing – Kellogg Insight
Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management professor of marketing Derek Rucker and associate professor of management and organizations Loran Nordgren recently published new research that attempts to offer a glimpse into how “people use language in persuasion.” The duo found that “participants’ language tends to become more emotional when they are motivated to persuade others to buy a product.” Rucker elaborates:
“The gravity of emotional language is hard to escape, even when you know the audience wants to hear a more cognitive appeal. We observe that people express more emotion even in categories where that might be odd and potentially less effective. When it comes to influence, emotion is arguably the earliest form of communication we have.”
Check out more of the duo’s research here.
What Chicago MBAs Can You Earn the Fastest?
Here’s a lesson everyone learns well before ever stepping foot into business school: time is money.
Some students want to complete their MBA coursework as quickly and efficiently as possible. That’s where accelerated MBA programs come into play: in only 12 months, those who earn an accelerated MBA reenter the job market ready to start their next career.
Accelerated programs— also known as One-Year MBA programs—are designed for students who have clear ideas for what they want to do after graduation, as well as those who already have a strong base in business.
While one-year MBA programs are popular in Europe, they are less common in the U.S. However, several top business schools in the Chicago metro feature accelerated MBA programs.
Let’s take a look:
University of Illinois at Chicago Accelerated MBA Program – Under 12 Months
The Liautaud Graduate School of Business Accelerated MBA launched in fall 2015 and was designed for recent graduates or students with limited work experience to develop knowledge of business principles and skills in three semesters of full-time study.
Students begin the program by taking core courses—financial accounting, corporate finance, marketing, microeconomics, operations management, and organizational behavior—before moving on to advanced electives. Core coursework is completed in a cohort during the fall and spring semesters. The final semester may be completed in the summer semester or in the subsequent fall semester. This degree can be completed in under one year by students who carry a heavy course load each semester.
Kellogg Accelerated MBA – 12 Months
The Northwestern Kellogg School of Management was the first top-tier business school to offer a One-Year MBA program, launching the program more than 50 years ago. The degree option was designed for students who have both a business-related degree and several years of work experience. Fun fact: Kellogg has increased the size of the accelerated program by nearly 20 percent over the past two years.
Kellogg’s Accelerated MBA allow students to bypass core classes. Required courses are taken in the summer, and elective courses taken in the fall, winter, and spring. Students take at least two summer courses in Leadership and Business Strategy, a Crisis Management half credit course right before the fall term, and then join second-year MBA students for the final 13 courses before earning their degree.
Notre Dame One Year MBA Program – 12 Months
Notre Dame University’s Mendoza College of Business’ One Year MBA, located just outside of Chicago on the border of Indiana, begins in May and ends the same month of the following year. The program starts with a 10-week summer session before students join classes with other MBA students in the fall and spring. Summer courses include leadership & organizational behavior, marketing management, and strategic essentials. Following the summer session classes, students declare a concentration in either business analytics, business leadership, consulting, corporate finance, innovation & entrepreneurship, investments, or marketing.
The immersive Mendoza College of Business’ One Year MBA includes international expeditions / Photo via morrisinn.nd.edu
Notre Dame’s One Year MBA also has an international immersion option. Between fall break and Christmas, one year students take a full schedule of MBA courses in partnership with Universidad Catholica in Chile. In addition to business courses in English, students will have the opportunity to learn or improve their Spanish language skills. These class feature numerous travel opportunities for students to explore the Andes region, including trips to Chile’s Atacama Desert, Machu Picchu in Peru, and multi-day trekking in Patagonia. Read more about Mendoza’s Global Opportunities here.
Northern Illinois University One Year MBA Program – 12 Months
Unlike most accelerated programs, NIU’s One-Year program accepts one cohort each winter. Classes begin in January and students finish coursework in 12 months by attending class just two evenings per week. Classes are further broken down into groups, which are expected to meet up at least once per week outside of normal classroom hours.
The program also includes a nine-day international trip, which is usually scheduled in March. These experiences generally include a combination of company visits, government briefings, and university lectures. Recent international immersions have had students visiting places like Lisbon and Barcelona.
Northern Illinois University Fast Trak MBA – 12 Months
NIU is also unique in that it offers two different MBA options that can be copleted in 12 months or less. The school’s Fast Trak MBA is a day-time, 12-month program with required international experiences in Bordeaux, France or Murcia, Spain. Students attend classes Monday through Friday during spring and fall semesters.
NIU’s Fast Trak MBA has all students enter and experience the program together and begins with a mandatory orientation session in mid-August for all students. The MBA program is broken up into five modules, with students taking between two and four courses during these five-to-eight week intensive class blocks. Students enrolled in the program also have the opportunity to earn a second Masters degree in International Management from IAE the Bordeaux University School of Management or a Master of International Management from the ENAE School of Business in Murcia, Spain.
For more information on Chicago MBA programs, click here.
D’Amore-McKim Study Abroad Explores Israel As Innovation Hub
The D’Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University unveiled a new study abroad pilot program that hosted five MBA students on a two-week guided tour of Israel’s past, present, and future this summer. The new International New Venture program, a joint venture between D’Amore-McKim and Ben Gurion University of the Negev, combines “historic and cultural experiences with big business and young start-up visits.”
Stanford International Students Stay Home, Take Study Trip of Middle America
Amidst this divisive political moment, coastal dwellers have begun to reconsider the culture and future of what many might have once condescendingly referred to as “fly-over country.” Stanford recently published an article about some outside-the-box economic strategies currently underway to revitalize the Rust Belt.
After leading study abroad trips to Seoul and Shanghai, Matt Mascioli, MBA ’17, wanted to show off a part of America that folks “don’t typically see on the coasts.” Mascioli co-led 18 international students on a Global Study Trip that included Detroit, Pittsburgh, Charleston, North Carolina, and his native state of West Virginia.
“It’s a tremendous opportunity to lead peers into a place that most of them have never been, and to lead them in learning from a different perspective.”
In Detroit, Mascioli met with the mayor’s jobs and economy team where they learned about the city’s extensive development plans, which include replacing 100,000 vacant homes—a byproduct of a decade of white flight—with public spaces.
For the more rural portion of the trip, Mascioli partnered with two of West Virginia’s “leading economic thinkers,” WVU’s John Deskins and Stephen Spence from WV’s Department of Commerce to give Global Study students a bird’s-eye view of the problems facing the state. Mascioli explains that having locals “devoted to thinking about what is the economic future of that region” is important to clarifying a place’s seemingly impenetrable logic for outsiders. He elaborates:
“It’s easy to assume from the outside that there’s zero rationale about how people are thinking. But once you’re on the ground and get to know people and organizations, oftentimes, it makes a lot more sense.”
The Best Boston Global MBA Programs
Boston may be a well-known hub for education in the U.S., but it’s also a center for global business studies. Global MBA programs are similar to executive MBA model, which usually meet on weekends and cater to students who are mid-career professionals, but focus on conducting business in international settings. A global EMBA targets students with 10 to 15 years of experience and allows students to learn while immersed in other cultures.
MBA students have a number of Boston Global MBA programs and concentrations to choose from. Below is a breakdown of the various offerings you can find in the metro: Continue reading…
