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Tag: Global

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Blog post by Jonathan Fuller, GMBA '20

17 students; 3 teams; 1 professor; 1 TA; 2 tour guides; countless directors, founders, CEOs, CFOs, managers, and liaisons… just a taste of the many people that made CAP Germany so special. It’s easy to say that the final two weeks of Year 1 in the Global MBA program at GW were nothing short of unforgettable.

Our final presentations took place the Thursday before leaving, when all three teams got up in front of their clients and crushed it! It was incredible to see the final projects come together and to compare them to each stage throughout the CAP process. A special shout-out to Ali, who was named the most improved (and boy did he deserve it). If there were any doubts about progress before, after the presentations it was clear that each group had learned an exceptional amount through CAP. The teams were able to put it all together in final deliverables that received the highest of praises from all clients: the statement, “We look forward to next year’s GW Consulting Team!”

Team BEOS

Team Peccato

Team GETEC

The BEOS Team delivered a change management initiative which included the re-structuring of company personnel along with an implementation plan and timeline. The Peccato Team offered a full marketing plan, complete with a how-to guide and step-by-step process moving forward. The GETEC Team presented a comprehensive industry analysis along with market-entry strategy and quantitative decision-making tools for the UK. To say that any of us anticipated such in-depth and well-received deliverables back in January would have been a stretch!

Some of us left CAP Germany with better presenting skills, some left with new mentors/professional contacts, others left with a better grasp on working with people from different cultures. All of us left better prepared for what’s next. We’re heading off to internships around the country and world this summer with an enhanced sense of the business needs of today and the solutions of tomorrow. The CAP experience gave us a boost in the skills and confidence needed to be successful in our internships and come back in August ready to complete Year 2 before heading off to our big-kid jobs post-MBA!

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Blog post by Calvin Sanders, GMBA '20

The South African elections came and went as 16 GMBA students explored the ins and outs of Cape Town and Johannesburg. Political posters were placed on each streetlight for us to observe on the spot and research later on. The ANC won handily, as expected. In hindsight, the unexciting election day was a testament to the strength of South African democracy. Political participation is unpredictable on the African continent, so the relatively stable voting process was a pleasantly received surprise by all members of our D.C. contingent.

We are continually fascinated with the dialectic nature of South African society. The country features some incredibly western characteristics that contrast the seemingly-endless rows of shanties we observe outside of the city centers. On its own, Cape Town could be any southern European coastal city. Slightly dirty, lots of cigarette smoke, but a healthy number of commuters, well-lit streets, and strong infrastructure. The nightlife is extensive and the restaurants are phenomenal. Needless to say, these realities are not enjoyed by the masses who spend their lives in informal housing and scrapping for an income. We have spent a significant amount of time discussing the country’s political economy and debating different strategies to elevate the nation out of poverty.

Our client engagements strengthened after each group met their respective points of contact. We dispersed around Cape Town for meetings and came back with ways to improve our recommendations for our clients. Every project has unequivocally improved since the face time. Team RainFin and Team VoiceMap took their clients out the following weekend for drinks, food, music and dancing. The evening ended at a dive bar called Aces & Spade in the center of Cape Town; a dive bar that VoiceMap’s owner, Iain, frequented over a decade before. Iain, thanks for the recommendation!

Bike ride along the coast with Joe, Mike, Ramzi, Becky, Tringa, Max, Calvin.
Dana, Vedika, Shehu, Prava, and Will and a safari.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Each student was free to spend last Sunday doing any activity they desire in the Cape Town region. Swarchaa Kataria and Tasorn Pornsirikrul went paragliding in the morning and cage diving in the afternoon. One handful of students embarked on a day-long safari where they saw 4 of the Big 5 (Elephant, Black & White Rhino, Cape Buffalo, Lion, and Leopard). Another group road bikes along Cape Point and had a drink as the sun set behind the southern Atlantic Ocean. Overall, it was quite a spectacular day across the board.

The next days will be spent sharpening presentations and tightening recommendations. With our last bit of feedback from the clients, our professor, and other advisors, everybody is excited to show their clients the culmination of three months’ worth of work. Until next time!

 

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Blog post by Josh Lodestro, GMBA '20

While I have been to Hong Kong before, for many of my classmates, this is their first time to Hong Kong. For some, it is even their first trip to Asia. The different sights, sounds, and food stand out as such a difference from Washington, DC.

Students were provided a case study by Deloitte to solve and are presenting their findings to executives.

On our first night together, we decided to jump head first into the culture and try Chinese hot pot at Haidilao. The spices of the soup and delicate meat made for a truly memorable first night in Hong Kong!

As much as us students would like the trip to be all pleasure and no business, we immediately began to work the following day with professional meetings around Hong Kong. We were able to meet with the city’s Planning Department to discuss how such a vast and expansive city like Hong Kong came to be the icon that it is today. We met with finance heavyweights like Broadridge and Visa. We also had meetings with Marriott, the American Chamber of Commerce, and Deloitte, to name only a few. Being able to immerse yourself in the business perspective of this side of the world is a truly unique experience to CAP.

On our second day in Hong Kong, all of the teams met their client in person for the first time. For my team, Regal Hotels, we were able to tour many of their properties and meet with front-line staff from the hotel. We gained a more in-depth perspective about the hotels themselves and the hospitality industry in Hong Kong that we could never have gotten from a video conference. When we returned to our hotel for the evening, we had to reevaluate our recommendations and adapt them to the realities on the ground. This is a challenge that we had to work on steadfastly to ensure that we were delivering value to the client.

Students recap their memorable day at Deloitte Hong Kong.

In between our busy working schedule, G&EE arranged for exciting and insightful cultural tours so we can better get to know the city of Hong Kong and its people. We were able to see the iconic Symphony of Lights, an absolute must for anyone visiting Hong Kong. We were able to experience the unique architecture of Hong Kong up close with a tour of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. One cannot appreciate how unique Hong Kong is without being here up close and personal.

After more than a week of long nights reworking our recommendations and our presentation, we will wake up tomorrow and deliver the final presentation to the client, bringing the most critical portion of CAP to an end.

 

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Blog post by Jonathan Fuller, GMBA '20

The “German White House” in Berlin.

 

Germany is one of the most important nations in Europe and the world; they are one of the largest global economies and exercise influence in many political arenas around the globe. Germans have a very strong culture and are well-known for several strengths (such as engineering prowess). But how does that translate on the ground? I’ll attempt to give a bit of insight into the small differences that make a big impact on traveling and doing business in Germany (Berlin and Dresden, at least).

Arrival at Berlin’s main airport and the subsequent transportation to our hotel was simple. Germany has an outstanding public transportation system (not that I know much about that as an American)! Additionally, most signs, kiosks, etc. include information in both German and English. This allowed us to navigate through the airport and find a city bus that dropped us just a few blocks from the hotel for under €3. This language (non)issue persisted, as most personal interactions I’ve had have been in English – clearly a common 2nd language for many Germans.

In terms of the work environment, Germany has largely exemplified the typical corporate culture associated with Germans. For one, they get right down to business. While there is room for brief introductions/niceties, most meetings have kicked off with the agenda within a couple minutes of entering the building. We’ve also noticed, with few exceptions, that punctuality is of great importance. Finally, the stereotype of Germans excelling at industry and innovation appears accurate, with one key difference. Innovation in Germany is more calculated and incremental than elsewhere. Disruptive change does not typically emerge from German business; although they are quite adept at implementing such changes and building upon them.

Team GETEC with GW Alum Paul Maeser at BDI (the Federal Association of German Industry).

A few additional differences to consider while in Germany:

  • Leadership – the term “leader” does not always carry a positive connotation here. This sentiment was echoed to us from both a German and U.S. employees here. Instead, it is helpful to frame the position as responsibility and potential to create impact.
  • Water – all of us here on CAP Germany have had a difficult time adjusting to the lack of persistent availability of water. While the tap water is fine to drink, getting water while out is difficult – drinking fountains are nearly non-existent and restaurants only serve bottled water (but remember to specifically ask for still water lest you want sparkling).
    • A positive side? Beer is sometimes cheaper than water!
  • Calculating Distance – what has become a running joke with our group is the locals’ under-estimation of distance between locations in the city. Did someone say the restaurant was 200 meters away? Prepare for a 15-minute walk! An office is a block from the metro station? More like six blocks!

    A section of the Berlin Wall at the East Side Gallery.
  • Plastics – a pleasant change compared to the US is the lack of plastic! Bottled drinks are served in glass. We even went to an outdoor beer festival in Dresden, where a plastic cup could not be found; instead, you are served beer in a glass. Once finished with the drink, you return the glass to the beer tent for a refund of €2.

Overall, there was no single, major culture shock experienced in Germany. Instead, it’s the combination of many subtle differences that, taken together, can make it feel like the totally different country that it is. No less – it has been a great experience and I will certainly return in the future (water in-hand)!

 

 

 

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