After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19 restrictions, the University of Nevada, Reno’s Global Business Program is back in full swing.
The program allows business students at the University and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas to embark on a weeklong trip to one of nine exciting destinations as the culmination of four weeks of online classes. Options this summer included Toronto, New York and London, but more trips are planned for the 2022-2023 school year. Each destination provides its own unique experiences and learning opportunities.
College of Business Dean Gregory Mosier, who established the program during his time at the University, encourages students to participate in Nevada’s global business as a valuable career-building and networking opportunity.
“Our Nevada Global Business programs provide an incredible educational opportunity for our students,” said Mosier. “In addition to studying other countries and cultures, active learning while working with companies and organizations in those other countries, often with connections in Nevada, provides students with an understanding of what is possible in their careers.”
Jim McClenahan, executive director of Outreach and Engagement for the School of Business, teaches students how businesses operate internationally and how to act as business professionals through the program. He hopes the program will inspire students to pursue careers in organizations operating abroad.
“Nevada Global Business allows students to not only study business, but experience it,” McClenahan said. “We offer hands-on classes that allow students to use location as a canvas.”
This June, 18 students traveled to Toronto, 17 students to London and 16 students had the opportunity to travel to New York City where they applied design thinking concepts in business management. During their stay in New York, students had the opportunity to visit museums, including MOMA, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Design Museum. Students also had the opportunity to visit the news studio at the CBS Broadcast Center, which was run by news anchor and University alumnus, Nate Burleson.
“Nate is a great example of someone who has transitioned from one career to another time and time again,” McClenahan said. “His preparation and perseverance allow him to seamlessly transition from a career as a professional athlete to a sports commentator, news anchor, clothing designer and rapper.”
McClenahan hopes the experience gave students a different perspective and allowed them to explore the international business world and make connections with global business professionals.
Christie Chaump and Paige Zolldan, two students who went to New York, believe that the skills they learned during the course will help them become stronger leaders in the business world. They both decided to take the course to learn a new approach to leadership, as many business courses are not based in the humanities.
“I went on the trip because I knew it was going to push me out of my comfort zone,” Chaump said. “It was a very introspective experience that helped me become more open-minded.”
The trip to New York City taught students about the humanities and approaching the business world from a liberal arts perspective. During the last week of the course, students developed a creative project that was the culmination of everything they learned online and the experiences they gained in New York.
“Some of the projects that people have done have been super creative,” Zolldan said. “People wrote poems, painted and wrote plays. One person even created a piece of art on a leather strap.”
Although the trip to New York was focused on visiting museums and seeing shows, every trip offers something unique. In London, students had the opportunity to visit the CEO of handbag company Radley and attend a presentation on promoting stoicism in the workplace.
Students on a trip to Toronto visited the offices of Spin Master, the children’s entertainment company responsible for popular global projects including PAW Patrol and various popular toys such as Hatchimals, Air Hogs and the Rubik’s Cube. Tim Sullivan, who graduated from the University in 1979 and serves as Senior Vice President of Global Quality/Compliance at Spin Master, meets with the class each year.
On each trip, students had the opportunity to speak with business leaders, ask questions and make connections. These visits open doors to future careers or mentoring opportunities and allow students to begin building a professional network.
“People are attracted to careers by the leaders and the people they work with, not the pay or perks of the job,” McClenahan said. “These conversations help students make better career decisions.”
Although field trips are over for this summer, there are still plenty of opportunities for interested students. Students can look forward to visiting Singapore this winter or traveling to Sydney, Australia during Spring Break 2023. Other future destinations include San Jose, Costa Rica, Buenos Aires, Argentina and various locations in Poland. New locations may be added in the future also based on interest.
For more information and how to apply, visit the Nevada Global Business Program website.
