Domestic and international trips provide experiential learning
While Daniels College of Business MBA students primarily learn in the classroom, travel presents a unique opportunity to experience business cultures outside of Denver.
Experiential learning is a key pillar of the MBA experience at Daniels; many of the College’s students travel during their time on campus, both within the United States and abroad. Past trips have taken MBA students to Spain, Italy, South Africa and other global business hubs. In many cases, students vote on their preferred destination, choosing from a variety of world-class destinations.
While the locations differ, the experiences mix business, culture, learning and leisure for students, building lifelong friendships in the process. Megan Reilly, director of MBA global and experiential learning at Daniels, says these trips teach students to think creatively and challenges their assumptions.
“Experiential learning is the cornerstone of the Daniels MBA,” she said. “Through the international experience in particular, students have unique opportunities to step out of their comfort zone and learn about business from an entirely different perspective and ultimately learn more about themselves as leaders. These experiences are designed to complement and bring to life what is learned in the classroom.”
This summer, three cohorts of Daniels MBA students took trips inside the U.S. and abroad.
Seattle
In June, MBA@Denver experienced an immersion to Seattle, Washington. The trip, which was focused on iconic branding, included stops at the Starbucks Reserve Roaster, Amazon and its Community Banana Stand, and Microsoft. Students met with representatives from each company and learned what it takes to create a leading global brand.
Chile
Though their original international immersion was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Professional MBA alumni returned this July to visit Chile with their cohort. In this South American business hub, alumni visited Wild Foods, IT services company Globant, environmental company Beloop, medical furniture company Liditec, and winery Kingston Family Vineyards. COVID-19 caused travel issues for multiple MBA programs, but Daniels has honored its commitment to a global experience, making up trips for alumni in multiple cohorts.
Morocco
In August, a current cohort of Professional MBA students traveled to Morocco for its global business trip. The group met with DHL, Nestle Nespresso and Bosch to learn how business is done in the North African country. Before returning to the U.S., the group also visited Ecodome Maroc to learn about entrepreneurship in Morocco and the company’s sustainable, natural earth homes.
