Executive MBA Program Blog

When we were first informed the international trip for our class was to Taiwan, many cultural norms, facts and economic statistics were thrown our way. None of these figures could have prepared us for the experiences ahead. On our first day in Taipei we were astounded by the kind-hearted nature of the locals. Having lived abroad for over a year in Europe, I was conditioned to refuse help on the street, out of fear of being taken advantage of. Here in Taipei, the capital city of Taiwan, the opposite was true. The only trouble we found was that asking for help could result in a long conversation and relationship building taking up time needed for the task at hand. 

Traveling to an exotic location has always been on my to do list. I consider myself fortunate to be able to have that experience here in Taipei, Taiwan. As a result of the opportunities afforded with being apart of the RIT EMBA program, I can check South East Asia off of my list.

Not Your Average International Trip

The Executive MBA international experience is more than an overseas trip. You are immersed in  the business world and culture of a new city, where traditions and general business practices may seem unusual or even exotic. However, that is one of the exact reasons we select the locations we do — to create a transformative experience for our EMBA students. In addition to company visits, tours, and presentations by senior management, you will also serve as a consultant and subject matter expert, applying your knowledge and expertise to specific client projects. This trip is like none you have experienced before. 

A distinctive cornerstone of the EMBA program at RIT, the international trip and consultancy project offers the opportunity to put learning into practice on a global stage. Prior to departure, students conducted relevant country, industry, and firm-specific research on the international and domestic companies located in and around Johannesburg, South Africa. Once in country, students had the experience of a lifetime.

Before RIT Executive MBA students depart on their international trip, they learn about the country in an International Business course through lectures, case studies, and group discussions.  After arriving in country, the students continue learning from the leaders of companies representing a variety of industries.  These visits often include operational tours, company presentations, and even live case studies to explore the challenges and opportunities facing firms in these countries.

When the EMBA trip was announced earlier in the year, it seemed so far away.  I was thrilled that our class was going to Malaysia.  I enjoy being out of my comfort zone and Malaysia seemed like just the ticket for this.  Malaysia fit into my philosophy of “If you only do what you know, you will never be more than you are.”  I quickly scrolled through pictures of Malaysia and spotted pictures of the Batu Caves, palm trees, monkeys and exotic foods.  October 14^th couldn’t come soon enough!

 Day 1 - Sunday

Breakfast in Malaysia: “Don’t bother looking for the bacon.”  Because Islam is the state religion, most restaurants don’t serve pork products which meant that most of us were eating beef “bacon” (aka hot beef jerky) for the first time with breakfast along with some other items such as chicken sausage.  Breakfast at the hotel was complimentary and was designed to feed a variety of people from different cultures.  Vegetarian foods, fried rice, curries, fresh fruit, pastries, waffles and baked beans were daily fare.  Our group quickly learned the fried rice was amazing.