Gaining an Irish perspective on business

Graduate | Dec 05, 2016 | Laura Besozzi

Learning about global business in a classroom is one thing. Experiencing it in person is another.

Gabelli School Executive MBA students get a front-row view of the international business world through the Ireland global immersion course.

Created by Assistant Professor Meghann Drury-Grogan in 2013, the one-week course focuses on business from an Irish perspective and also gives students cultural, environmental, and political perspectives of Ireland.

Because forging connections is an important part of business, site visits are a key component of the course. The most recent EMBA visit brought students to the Irish locations of Boston Scientific, HP Enterprise, and TG4 and emphasized the importance of innovation in today’s marketplace. Mazars Ireland dedicated a half-day session and social-networking event.

Students also had the privilege of hearing from Ireland’s former prime minister, Brian Cowen, who led the country during its 2008 recession. 

Incorporating what they learned from the multiple speakers, presentations, and site visits throughout the week, students were challenged to deliver an on-site, C-suite presentation on why their organization would do business in Ireland.

In this EMBA global immersion, Gabelli School students have the opportunity to put their classroom learning to the test on an international scale.