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Category: consulting-abroad-program

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By: Jesse 

May 14, 2023

It’s been a week since my classmates and I began our incredible adventure in Dubai. I’ve come to appreciate how this city is a land of fascinating contrasts, where modern skyscrapers coexist with the timeless beauty of the desert. Upon my arrival, I was greeted by a scorching desert sun. Eager to explore, I ventured out to iconic landmarks like La Mer, the Dubai Frame, and Jumeriah Mosque.

As the program began, I discovered a unique blend of business practices in Dubai. English being widely spoken made it easier to navigate the professional landscape. However, I learned from out guest speakers that the local customs and traditions remain deeply rooted, reminding us to embrace cultural nuances when conducting business. It was an eye-opening experience that broadened my perspective on global entrepreneurship. Further immersing myself in the local culture, I seized the opportunity to sharpen my bargaining skills when we took a group trip to the Grand Souk. Later in the week, my CAP partner surprised us with a truly remarkable experience – a meeting with Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, a member of royalty. This encounter left an indelible mark on our journey, as we realized the significance of the relationships formed and the doors that open through such connections. It was a humbling reminder of the power of networking and the value of genuine experiences.

Not only has this program been a great for new experiences, but it has also provided us the space to grow closer as classmates and friends. Exploring together, sharing cultural encounters, and embracing new experiences fostered a bond that transcended the classroom. These connections will undoubtedly endure, serving as a reminder of the strength and diversity within our MBA cohort. To this end, the CAP experience has thus far been incomparable to anything else I’ve done at GW. 

 

To compare CAP to traditional on-campus courses would be an injustice. The experiential learning model exposed us to invaluable lessons beyond the realms of textbooks. We delved into a new culture, a different way of life, and a thriving business hub, expanding our understanding of the world. This opportunity has been a transformative part of our education, molding us into well-rounded global leaders. I can’t wait to see what exciting new adventure we get into tomorrow.

Published on

By: Jesse 

May 7, 2023

My CAP journey has me placed in Dubai, one of the most fascinating cities in the world. It's a modern, multicultural city that's also steeped in tradition and history. I can't wait to explore the iconic Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, and the breathtaking Dubai Fountain. I’m also really looking forward to experiencing the vibrant culture and trying
new foods.

I have had the honor of being partnered with Botho Emerging Markets Group, a consulting firm founded by Ghanaian entrepreneur Isaac Kwaku Fukuo in 2006. Their mission is to connect investors, companies, governments, and non-profits who are interested in the world’s fastest growing markets across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Botho has been a leader in guiding organizations to success in some of the world’s newest industries, and they are now looking to bring the African creative economy to the Middle East. 

To get ready for the trip I’ve been busy practicing my Arabic, mentally preparing for the crazy hot weather, and making my final checks packing my suitcase. I'm most excited about meeting my clients after an amazing semester working with them. However, I'm also a little nervous because I want to give them a good presentation! Working with my team and client partner has been amazing. Botho tasked us to discover the most lucrative creative industries across Africa and determine how best they can be monetized for a Middle Eastern market. After extensive research, our team has identified two cultural festivals as the focal points of our investigation: WeLovEya Festival (EYA) and the Lagos International Jazz Festival. These festivals are full of creative energy, and I can't wait to finalize all the last-minute details of our presentation in Dubai! As I prepare to leave, I'm filled with gratitude for this incredible opportunity that GWSB and the G&EE team have given me. I'm excited to share my journey with you all and document every moment on this blog. 

 

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By: Camila Batres

May 5, 2023

Preparing for my upcoming trip to Dubai has reminded me of my last visit there six years ago. At that time I was fresh out of high school and unaware of the country’s cultural nuances. I'm eager to return as a business student and make the most of the city's learning opportunities. I plan to immerse myself in the culture, network with local professionals, and gain new insights to enhance my understanding of international business.

I am grateful to have an opportunity to travel with my classmates who have become like a second family to me. I look forward to sharing this adventure with them and creating unforgettable memories. I'm also a little nervous about navigating a new business environment in a new country. Nevertheless, I'm confident I'll take on the challenges and make the most of this fantastic opportunity.

My team’s work with our Industry Partner Visa has been a fascinating journey so far. Our project focuses on helping Visa promote circular economy practices such as buying and selling secondhand goods worldwide. This project presents exciting opportunities for sustainable growth. 

Initially, we narrowed the scope of the problem but our partner advised us to think more creatively. After stepping back and contemplating the bigger picture, we analyzed the UAE population and identified how most blue-collar workers could benefit from recommerce practices. Our partner has been impressed by how we took their suggestions and reinvented our way of thinking. Witnessing the evolution of our partnership with Visa over the semester has been truly remarkable.

So far CAP has been an incredible learning opportunity for me as a business student. I'm grateful for the chance to work with Visa and my team and I'm excited to see where this journey takes us. I plan to continue learning and growing with my classmates and partner once we get to Dubai!

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By: Sophie Titlebaum

May 18, 2023

Upon arrival, we dove right in! This was helpful in order to minimize jetlag as much as possible. We toured parts of the city and had a nice welcome dinner together, all 17 students, Dr. Messerli (our professor), Chelsey (our Graduate Assistant), and Eamon (our Berlin tour guide). Dinner was delicious and then everyone went to sleep. What shocked me the most, upon arrival, was that there were so many vegan options! There were always multiple vegan options, from the hotel buffet to ice cream shops to wurst (sausage) restaurants. This was super cool, and lots of food was very cheap! Some days I could keep it to around 10 Euros per day, on food.

Globant & Their New Office!

Caption: On our second visit with our client, Globant, they showed us their new office which is in its final stages of construction! This was a pleasant experience to meet other “Globers” and spend some time with the team. Globant has been very welcoming to us and we have loved getting to know them. After this, we went to lunch with the Globant team and then we went back to the hotel to continue working on our final presentation!

The local business environment is very interesting! We had the opportunity to visit many types of businesses, from startups (36C) to growing companies (MiCT), to very mature and established companies (PwC). This has given me great insight into all levels of business. One common theme is that German businesses focus on ethical business, putting moral aspects first, above profits. Germany is also highly affected by political aspects, most specifically at the current moment, the Russia-Ukrainian war. Some businesses are impacted in that energy prices are higher and new energy sources are needed to be found, while other businesses are impacted in that they are the ones actually trying to provide assistance to those affected by
the war. 

Surprisingly everything was pretty simple in terms of getting around! There is not much of a language barrier, as nearly everyone knows English! Additionally, the metro system is very simple to navigate, and it is very clean! 

Exploring a New Part of Town!

On our free day, I spent the morning with others and went to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp, about an hour from where we stayed. It was a very moving experience and I was grateful to have the opportunity to do so. On our way back, I took some time to myself. I got off at the Waidmannslust train stop and explored a new town! It was an excellent time to reflect on my own and see how Germany has changed.

An impactful class trip experience was when we went to visit Bayer, the pharmaceutical company. They had a museum within the site, and actually explained a lot of Bayer’s history. What stood out to me the most was the fact that they acknowledged some of its dark past with respect to the Holocaust and the former company’s connection to some unethical testing on Jewish women in concentration camps. Germany is very aware of its history and remembers it in a way to remind itself to never repeat its past. 

This has been a great experience to really understand a culture and situation, without simply reading about it. We really get the opportunity to live in the experiences and understand it all firsthand!

Meeting Our Clients in Person!

On the first full day, we all had the opportunity to meet our clients in person for the first time. This was an excellent opportunity for us to all learn about each other’s clients, and projects, and hear the clients speak. This was held at the SAP Data Space in Berlin.

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