Executive MBA Classroom Goes to Vienna and Prague

Written by Rachel Dwornick, Graduate Assistant, Graduate and Executive Programs in Business

There is no better way to learn about global business operations than to travel to another country and see it firsthand.  For the past 20 years, that is exactly what cohorts in the Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) have done. This fall was no exception. The EMBA cohort took a one-week trip to Europe where they were immersed into the business world of Vienna and Prague. They visited such organizations as Ernst & Young, Ketchum Publico, Ericsson Austria, and Znovin Zonjmo.  

The goal of the EMBA global trip is to gain better knowledge and understanding of what it is like to operate a business in a foreign culture where laws and customs are different than in the United States. The cohort learned about crisis management, the business climate, international experiences, supply chain, and globalization.  

EMBA cohort member Barton Kulish states, “This trip reinforced to me that we live in a global economy and the success of organizations are tied to the quality of people that lead them. Successful, growing companies have quality leaders! Learning from those leaders will assist in my personal development.”  

During their visit to Prague, the cohort visited Foxconn which builds computer servers. They learned about the suppliers they use, where the product is assembled, and how it is sent to where employees live.

While in Vienna the cohort visited Ketchum Publico, a global organization that specializes in marketing, communication, and public relations. At Ketchum the cohort heard about crisis management and what it’s like to work in the industry in Europe.  

Dr. Jane Wheeler is the BGSU management professor teaching the cohort’s EMBA course “Leading for Organizational Success.” She states, “As a professor, I have learned to judge the worthiness of a travel experience by listening to the students.” Dr. Wheeler adds, “The students shared that they felt as though dealing with businesses on an international basis was going to be intimidating and overwhelming, but this experience has shown them that with the right preparation it can be a rewarding experience.”  

David Chatfield, director of Graduate and Executive Programs in Business, said that visiting business leaders in another culture teaches students about management and leadership in a global setting. “The global business trip is a once in a lifetime experience,” states Chatfield. “It allows students to directly experience topics they have been studying for the past year.”  

Before returning to the U.S., the cohort enjoyed a farewell dinner in Prague, along with visiting cathedrals, opera halls and the city capital and old town square in Prague and Vienna. 

Learn more about the EMBA program.