Discovering how culture shapes business:  Three UBC Sauder MBA graduates reflect on their global learning experiences 

Madeline Dao, Manuel Lozano and Sophia Hsieh are recent graduates of the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at the UBC Sauder School of Business. During their studies, they each took advantage of a global learning opportunity offered by the school called Global Network Week.  

Global Network Week is one of the ways UBC Sauder encourages its students to explore new paths and think outside previously held beliefs. Through its membership as the only Canadian school in the Global Network for Advanced Management (GNAM), students gain access to a diverse list of courses from 32 prestigious graduate schools located across the globe, in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and Americas.  

While they chose different countries and courses, each returned to Canada with a deeper understanding of how culture influences business strategy. 

Some students prioritize a university’s location or faculty expertise while others pick a course that best matches their passions and interests. Both strategies offer an exciting cultural experience.   
 

Learning about social entrepreneurship in Costa Rica  

Manuel Lozano, a UBC MBA alumnus from Colombia, spent his Global Network Week in Costa Rica, studying social entrepreneurship and meeting small business owners who are contributing to the country’s sustainability-focused economy.  

“I’m really interested in social entrepreneurship and sustainability and Costa Rica has many entrepreneurs who are not just running profitable businesses, they are also improving the people’s quality of life,” explains Manuel, who previously worked as a diplomat with Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  

Studying alongside MBA students from Canada, the United States, Mexico, Brazil and Chile, Manuel met local entrepreneurs who are delivering critical infrastructure and services to Costa Rica’s rural communities.   

“In a developed country, the government is responsible for providing certain services for the people, but in a developing country, those services might be the responsibility of a private company. These are the kinds of contextual differences you learn about when you spend time in another country, traveling and talking to locals.” 

The experience reaffirmed Manuel’s desire to pivot from diplomacy to a new career, advising public and private organizations on how to build sustainability into their business strategies to create social value.   
 

Studying iconic brands while exploring Italy’s fashion capital  

Sophia Hsieh, a UBC MBA alumna from Taiwan, spent her Global Network Week at SDA Bocconi School of Management in Milan. She studied the business strategies of Italy’s most famous brands in a course that attracted students from Europe, North America, India, Asia and South America. 

“We had many dynamic discussions about Italian innovation,” says Sophia, who was a marketing professional in Taipei before moving to Canada.  

She and her classmates visited the headquarters of Pomellato, Campari and B2B luxury cosmetic brand Intercos Group. Then they worked in groups to develop a business strategy to help Intercos succeed in the SMB cosmetic market. Sophia’s team won 1st place for their solution – a private label incubator program that would offer greater flexibility in manufacturing. 

“It was a great learning experience and I came away with so many ideas about how certain Italian business models could be successfully applied in North American and Asian contexts.” 

Today, Sophia is doing just that – applying her international business experience to build a global customer base in her new role as Digital E-Commerce Manager with Canadian fashion brand, Sophia Grace.  

Building leadership skills in Spain

Madeline Dao, a UBC MBA alumna from Vietnam, traveled to Madrid, Spain last fall to take a one-week leadership course at the IE Business School. 

“The Holistic Leadership course was completely different from anything I had ever taken before,” says Madeline, who graduated in December and now works as a Project Manager with the City of Vancouver. 

“I used to put work ahead of everything else, but this course taught me the most effective leaders find a work-life balance and they ensure their teams do as well.” 

To cultivate holistic leadership, Madeline and her classmates learned how nurturing the mind and body gives leaders the strength to be visionary, inspiring and impactful.   

“At the end of the week, we produced recommendations for how business leaders and organizations can ensure the well-being of their teams. Since taking the course, I have tried to apply all that I learned by establishing a healthier way to live.” 
 

Making international connections to last a lifetime 

Global Network Week not only provides the opportunity to travel, it also offers the chance to meet fellow business students from around the world. Those contacts made in the classroom can last a lifetime.  

As Manuel looks for his next career opportunity, he is leveraging the connections of his international network. “So many job opportunities stem from friendships and business relationships. No matter where you live in the world, your professional network is essential to your career success.”