How Executives are Taking Experiential Learning into Emerging Markets

As an executive in an increasingly global marketplace, the world may not be your oyster: it may, in fact, be your challenge.

With a range of topics to master on the road to doing business abroad, an executive can encounter everything from language barriers to cultural sensitivities that stand in the way of getting work accomplished. That’s why today, several EMBA programs include immersive learning in the world’s emerging markets to best prepare its students to compete after receiving their degrees.

EMBA Global Americas and Europe – London Business School and Columbia Business School

The EMBA Global Americas and Europe collaboration between London Business School and Columbia Business School ranked number one on Ivy Exec’s list of best joint programs. With an international cohort of elite business leaders, this program also offers students the option to pursue an international seminar. Past international assignments have included an economics assignment in China, a business development project in Moscow, an innovation project in India and a cultural change project in South Africa.

“I had the opportunity to go to a world-class company—to Coca-Cola. And we met everybody from the C-Suite: from the CEO on down. It was pretty interesting and I learned a lot about the consulting side of things and I learned a lot about how a real world company works—and they were world-class. It was a lot of fun,” says Matt Hogan, class of 2015 of his experience in Cape Town. “It gave me sort of an insight into that kind of a project mentality. How you can walk into a company without really knowing that much about them and just learn on Day One how a company focuses, how they work and potentially ways they can improve.”

Many of the students in this program emphasize the importance of these international assignments as providing real world insight—and not simply being an opportunity for business tourism. In some cases, the EMBA students are given the chance to make a real impact on the companies they visit.

“For me, the most positive outcome of the Cape Town International Assignment was that the recommendations that we provided to MyPlayers, a company which represents the commercial rights of the South African rugby players were actually acted on and implemented which was very satisfying to hear,” say Niels Hamelink, class of 2015. 

The Global Executive MBA – ESADE Business School and Georgetown Business School

GEMBA takes its students on a world tour that gives program participants a window into understanding global business strategy and international relations. Structured in six, immersive, residencies each lasting about two weeks, GEMBA’s students globetrot from Washington D.C. to Spain to Brazil to Qatar to southern India to China and then back to New York and Washington D.C. These international residencies are, of course, not contiguous: students have two to three months between each module to continue at their current jobs.

GEMBA also emphasizes real world learning modules. Program participants are required to complete a consulting project for companies that either operate in or are based in India and China. In small teams, participants create consulting plans to present to these firms.

“The world has changed remarkably in the last 15 and 20 years. And that means that the executives need a broader range of capabilities,” says Professor Paul Almeida, GEMBA co-academic director.

With a “moving classroom”, students are able to access the best minds and business leaders of each country they study in person.

“I decided to pursue a global EMBA because I felt like there aren’t many businesses today that aren’t global,” says Jeff Perkins, a chief people officer participating the GEMBA program. “It’s a chance to learn in a classroom but also a to go and see places firsthand. I think that’s something quite unique to the program: it’s being here, being where you’re studying, what you’re learning.”

With four out of six of its modules based in countries that are considered to be emerging markets, GEMBA touts its ability to give program participants an expanded future career scope.