Smith MBA Global Experience – China and Vietnam

The time is almost here – less than a month to go! One of the main reasons I chose Smith for my MBA was the Global Study Abroad Program. I did not have the chance to go abroad during my undergraduate years and therefore, studying abroad was a priority for me in my MBA. This year presented an exciting opportunity to visit both China and Vietnam!

Our trip will be split between Shenzhen, China and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The majority of our trip will be spent visiting with different companies and understanding how their business and line of work operates and what impacts the country’s history, culture, and way of life has on their decisions. While our final itinerary is being finalized, the two companies I am most excited about are: Yantian Harbor, one of the major container ports in Shenzhen, and Esquel Group, a leading textile manufacturer in Ho Chi Minh.

To date, we’ve had two class sessions to start preparing for our trip, learning about the economy, language, and business norms for he countries. But I have also had the chance to connect with fellow MBA students who will be traveling as well. We have a strong group of 19 students from a variety of backgrounds and industries. I look forward to networking more with my classmates and seeing how their backgrounds and experience will help to shape the trip as well.

Finally, I am really looking forward to our cultural visits and experiencing both China and Vietnam! Exploring is one of my favorite parts of traveling and I am really looking forward to experiencing these countries for the first time – a bucket list trip for sure! We’ll be immersed in new social norms, languages, traditions and of course try some new foods!

I can’t wait for this exciting experience, not to mention some warmer weather! The clock is ticking down and while there still seems like there is a lot to do before I leave, it’s going to fly by! I look forward to sharing more with you soon!