Global Business Experiences

The Global Business Experiences (GBEs) are a new and exciting addition to the MBA curriculum and provide our students with a unique opportunity to learn about global business through a week-long immersion in one of five international locations.

The GBEs take place in the students' second year of study and are led by two senior faculty members from different subject areas.

An Academic Challenge

The GBEs are academically focused and are designed to be fast-paced, engaging and demanding. Each GBE is tailored to its location, offering a rare opportunity to gain insight from local industry, governmental leaders and the regional and national culture. Students are pushed outside their comfort zone, working with classmates they have not yet worked with before in an unfamiliar environment.

The GBE week consists of faculty lectures, guest speakers, site visits, workshops, panels, company visits as well as opportunity to engage with local London Business School alumni in the region.

"If the MBA is like an Olympic campaign, where every day is different and exciting in its own way, I think we are gearing up to have one of our absolute highlight events of the programme: The Global Business Experience." Wouter, Belgium

GBE Destinations

Boston & New York City, United States of America

Understanding Incentives in the Asset Management Industry

Autumn

While travelling to both Boston and New York, student learnings will focus on incentives in the asset management industry. The GBE will enrich an understanding of how prices of financial assets are determined. In Boston the emphasis is on asset fund management and custodian services. In New York students will explore the influence of regulatory agencies.

The GBE includes lectures from faculty members Anna Pavlova and Richard Portes, as well as presentations and panel discussions led by luminaries from hedge-fund companies, investment firms, risk management organisations, regulatory agencies and our alumni. Students will then work as part of a group to address one of three assigned questions and present to a panel at the end of the trip.

"When you look back on your GBE, the incredible people that you meet and places that you visit--it will be one of the highlights of your MBA. The GBEs are an opportunity that so few other students will ever have and the international nature of them really adds to the MBA experience." Chris, UK

"Coming from a non-finance background, I learned a lot during this trip from the people who really drive the financial market of New York and Boston from inside. Now I understand why it is such an exciting industry." Gaisa, Kazakhstan

"As a student interested in joining the industry after graduation, the trip provided me with more exposure to some of the world's best practitioners - people that are responsible for investment funds that are greater than the GDP of entire economies - than I had ever dreamed possible." Sid, India

Find out more on The Independent blog.

Johannesburg, South Africa

Building Sustainable Businesses in Emerging Markets

Winter

Students are given first-hand experience of entrepreneurship in the dynamic emerging market of South Africa. Classmates will form consulting teams to work with an Alexandra based business owner on an existing challenge. Students will learn about the many facets of entrepreneurship from speakers and visits to major corporations including SAB Miller, Anglo American and Deloitte, as well as not-for-profit organisations and SMEs. Working as a team, students will present their recommendations to the client and will then draw on this insight and consulting experience for presentations to your peers and faculty members Rajesh Chandy & Michael Hay.

"It was an eye opening experience, and one you just can't learn from sitting in a classroom. Through the GBE I've gained a broader perspective of the way the world does business and will carry the lessons learned with me far beyond completing my MBA." Preethi, India

"The GBE experience was able to bridge the gap between what we learn in school and what micro businesses are facing in developing economies. In my opinion, this experience fully complemented the MBA into a well-rounded business course." Fabio, Australia / Brazil

"I understood that London Business School emphasized the diversity of its class and its global perspective on business. And while the London classroom hits you with its global outlook on day one, I didn't quite appreciate how important these were until going to Johannesburg, working with fellow students on a consulting project, and learning about business in Africa. The Global Business Experience has made me realize just how connected the world is." John, Canada

Find out more on The Independent blog.

Mumbai, India

Exploring Innovation & Change

Spring

Students will travel to one of the most dynamic and colourful countries in the world for an insight into the unique innovations and business practices of India. Through a series of company visits, presentations from faculty members Rajesh Chandy and Vikrant Vig and guest speakers, student will focus on "understanding, driving and adapting to change".

The week will explore some of the most momentous areas of change in contemporary India by interacting with thought leaders from across sectors - business, government and the creative pursuits (art, media, fashion, and film). The intent is for the visiting students and faculty to get the perspectives of leaders who are driving change (or putting the brakes on change) in their organizations, industries, and in society more generally. These include grappling with a high context culture, serving customers with significant disparities in income levels, and overcoming many infrastructure hurdles.

"The Mumbai GBE will be an incredible opportunity to live and breathe the realities of business in India and the timing couldn't be better as the world looks to India as an important market for future economic growth." Ira, Canada

"I look forward to participating with my LBS classmates in such a learning adventure that will not only include understanding India's business and economic environment, but also enjoying its unique culture and heritage. Definitely, India's GBE is one of my MBA's most anticipated events!" Armando, Mexico

"Understanding India, its economy, society and culture, is essential to understanding global business. The Mumbai GBE is a phenomenal way to learn on-the-ground about the many opportunities in India." Spence, Canada

Hong Kong, SAR (Special Administrative Region of China)

Developing China's Financial Future

Spring

While participating in the Hong Kong GBE students will examine the prospects for China's economic development. It is widely accepted that the balance of economic power is shifting dramatically to the East. Despite more than three decades of rapid economic growth, China confronts substantial challenges. It is a country of contrasts, coping with the rural population migrating to the cities; at the same time, significant effort and resources are being deployed to develop a world class R&D platform. Students will learn from guest speakers, case studies and faculty lectures by Andrew Scott and Francesca Cornelli.

"The Global Business Experience in Hong Kong is the perfect way to complete my MBA journey. I am particularly interested in getting a view on the future direction of Hong Kong's financial sector and likely role in supporting Asian growth from the key financial stakeholders in the region." Alexandra, Romania

Istanbul, Turkey

Understanding the Business Environment in Turkey

Spring

While in Istanbul, students will focus on the theme of "Business in a Changing Environment". Turkey's economy grew threefold from 2002 to 2010 and its GDP per-capita is now just over $10,000. This transition from middle to high income requires structural changes and new ways to grow.

During the trip students will examine the drivers of this change as well as sources of resistance to it. They will appreciate the most important changes in Turkey, understand how individuals and organisations are driving and adapting this change, and the implications of these changes for business beyond Turkey.

Students will learn by interacting with thought leaders from business, government and academia during company visits and guest speaker presentations. David Faro and Emre Ozdenoren are the senior faculty accompanying the students.

For more information please contact the GBE team at gbe@london.edu.