MBA students cross the pond to learn about international business in London

A group of 20 Ted Rogers MBA students had the opportunity to travel to London to expand their knowledge on international business in late May.

The trip was part of their International Experience Capstone course, which allows students to gain an understanding of a specific cultural, business, political and economic environment impacting businesses. It requires students to apply theory associated with an international context to their experience in an international setting.

In collaboration with the City, University of London’s Bayes Business School Global MBA program, the course was integrated with their London Symposium (external link, opens in new window)  course module. Students from both programs were also joined by MBA students from the University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science, providing opportunities to share their experience and to network with each other.   

"This year's MBA international capstone course was designed to challenge our students to critically examine London's role in the global economy with specific emphasis on the impact of recent de-globalization trends," explains Dr. Phil Walsh (Professor, Entrepreneurship and Strategy), who led the course.  

The week’s program introduced everyone to academic and industry leaders at a variety of iconic locations across the City of London. In addition to lectures and presentations delivered at the Bayes Business School, other activities ranged from visits to corporate headquarters of global enterprises to start-up media incubation hubs. Topics covered included the role of artificial intelligence within different industries, entrepreneurship and innovation, globalization of fin-tech, growth in satellite communications, sustainability and well-being, and large data.    

Highlights

Highlights from the trip included a presentation by award-nominated writer and entrepreneur Olufikayo Adeola (external link, opens in new window)  on the development of the Disney Channel’s Iwájú animated series, a visit to the Royal Institution, where the Antarctic explorer Ben Saunders (external link, opens in new window)  re-lived his historic trek to the South Pole and multi award-winning TV and content producer Jayne Hancock (external link, opens in new window)  discussed her work on true crime documentaries for the UK’s Sky Crime network, and a stop at the European headquarters of CBRE at Henrietta House and its innovative workspace environment.

The most popular visit was to Aston Martin Formula One at their Silverstone headquarters where students were hosted by members of the C-suite and had the opportunity to observe the innovation, technology and brand contributions to the Aston Martin brand.  

"I am very proud of the contributions our MBA students made to this integrated course with the Bayes Business School MBA program,” says Dr. Walsh. “With their insightful questions and candid discussions involving some of the UK's most exciting business leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs, it was clear that our program's graduates can impress at the highest levels."

The week also featured many social experiences, with lunches and receptions at celebrated locations hosted by industry and the Bayes Business School, including the final rooftop reception in the Princes Dome at the Ned Hotel. For the Ted Rogers MBA students, their final day involved a group exercise, the Amazing Race London, where teams competed against each other to find and identify historical sites of significance to the economy of the U.K.

Student experience

Ted Rogers MBA student Farheen Raaj found the International Capstone Experience in London very enriching. “The London Symposium was unlike the traditional client consulting routes that international capstones have taken so far,” she explained. “The ability to interact with so many businesses and professionals, big and small – from Aston Martin Formula One to EasyJet to polar ice walkers – allowed me to immerse myself in a new economy in a way that a traditional consulting experience or holiday never would.”

“I have come away with so many new perspectives, new friendships and a lot of new ideas,” she adds. “I also had the opportunities to look at my own MBA experience through the eyes of other MBA students from different schools, and this gave me renewed energy for my education and goals. We were also lucky to have both a fantastic professor and a great cohort, which made the social elements of the capstone just as enriching.”

Fellow student Josiah Jarvenpaa was excited to engage with global experts through this MBA capstone project. “The London Symposium allowed me to critically reflect on business environments beyond Toronto and consider emerging trends that are impacting international markets,” he explains. “I'm grateful for this incredible opportunity to gain practical knowledge and strengthen the connections I have with my peers.”