Going Global Spring 2016

Two Continents,  One Classroom

Building on a relationship developed by co-teaching an HR-focused education abroad class for undergraduates, Stacy Doepner-Hove, program director of the MA-HRIR program, and Professor Bernd Irmer of Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Australia, developed a two-credit graduate-level Strategy, Ethics and Execution course that was taught fall semester of 2015. Participating in the course were 28 University of Minnesota students and 21 students from QUT.
Doepner-Hove and Irmer teamed up to co-teach using technology-enabled classrooms to convene both classes concurrently, once a week for seven weeks. The two-credit class consisted of lectures and small group work, with groups comprised of students from both schools. The small groups met each night and worked via Skype, WebEx, and Google Hangout in breakout rooms equipped with large-screen TVs and microphones.

"This class is a great way to prepare these students for the real professional world," says Doepner-Hove. "At some point in all of their HR careers, they will most likely have global dealings. It is also a good way to increase cultural understanding and working through technological means." 

New Course Highlights Emerging Small Business Opportunities in Cuba

Carlson School Senior Lecturer and veteran education abroad course faculty Steve Spruth has developed a new course model exploring entrepreneurship in Cuba, offered during the spring semester of 2016. The students are working in teams to develop a new venture with a connection to Cuba. The class is unique in that it includes class sessions before and after the group visits Cuba over spring break. Prior to departure, the class sessions introduced business development concepts and ideas. While in Cuba, the class visited a variety of organizations, including an urban farm and the University of Havana, while exploring entrepreneurship issues through guided field research observations. Upon return, the students are prompted to revise their initial business concepts based on their fieldwork and reflect on their immersion in Cuba using the D-I-E model (describe, interpret, evaluate).

Carlson School Undergraduate Receives University Award for Excellence in Campus Internationalization

Carlson School Senior Carl Zwieg was recognized by the University of Minnesota's Global Programs and Strategies Alliance (GPS Alliance) for his efforts to create opportunities for Carlson School students to connect with incoming exchange students from around the world. Zwieg spent a semester in Denmark at the Copenhagen Business School and felt the impact that a strong connection with local students can have for exchange students. His experience inspired him to join GLOBE, a student organization "committed to fostering awareness, knowledge, and understanding of international management and multicultural issues among students." The group matches international exchange students with a "buddy" from the Carlson School to ease the transition into American culture. As president of the organization, he created numerous opportunities for the students to connect and learn about each others cultures. Learn more about Carl's story.  

Carlson School Undergraduate Student Founds Non-profit to Support South Asian Women's Empowerment

Anish Chandak, a Carlson School undergraduate honors student studying finance and economics, has been a dancer since he was five years old. In response to a highly publicized gang-rape in Delhi, Chandak decided to take action to support women's empowerment in South Asia. He harnessed his passion for dance and his skills in business to form a non-profit organization called Jazba Entertainment. Since its inception in 2014, Jazba has hosted an annual inter-collegiate Bollywood-Fusion dance competition at the University of Minnesota, drawing over 1,000 students, families, and professionals. Proceeds from the event supports the efforts of Women In Need, a non-profit providing health services and advocacy for women in India. Read more about Chandak and Jazba.

Carlson Global Institute Concludes its 2015-2020 Strategic Planning Process

The Carlson Global Institute (CGI) initiated its strategic planning process in the spring of 2015. The purpose was to update its strategic priorities in alignment with University and Carlson School strategic plans that had recently been unveiled. Over the course of six months, CGI leaders convened focus groups with Carlson School faculty, students, and staff; interviewed Carlson School faculty and staff leaders and external partners; and conducted a survey of all external stakeholders.

Key themes that emerged from the process included:

GLOBAL/LOCAL: There is a local impact of having cultural competence. It's not just about working internationally, it's also about productive interactions with others in the community or workplace whose cultural roots may not be the same as one's own.
INTEGRATION OF GLOBAL EXPERIENCE: Global business skills and knowledge apply to all functional areas of business. There is interest in further integrating and infusing a global mindset across the curriculum and co-curricular initiatives.
INNOVATION AND BIG IDEAS: The Carlson School was one of the first U.S. business schools to require an international experience. As the field of international education evolves, we must continuously innovate with stakeholders to maintain and enhance our reputation as a leader in this space. In the words of one focus group participant, we need to "think big."  
IT'S THE SOFT SKILLS: A significant number of stakeholders from a variety of perspectives indicated that soft skills, including the ability to work effectively across cultures, ability to adapt to ambiguous work situations, and ability to creatively solve issues are very important to succeeding in global business.
MEASURING IMPACT: More than five years ago, CGI began to measure the potential impact of the Carlson School's global initiatives on individuals' mindsets and motivation for learning to provide continuous program improvement, enhance learning, and articulate organizational metrics as a school. Stakeholders are hungry for more such data.

The information and insights gathered were used to update the Institute's mission, vision, and strategic priorities and will guide its work over the coming years. 

Global Matters: New Videos Posted to YouTube Channel

Check out our newest addition to the Global Matters playlist. Congressman Tom Emmer: Why it is important for the U.S. to lift its embargo against Cuba

Global Matters: Achieving Growth in Challenging Markets

Wednesday, April 27, 2016
3:30-4:30 p.m. Remarks and Q&A
4:30-5:30 p.m. Reception 
Carlson School of Management

As firms consider going global, they must devise strategies to reconcile the challenges and opportunities inherent to emerging markets. Over the last five years, General Mills' Latin American operations have achieved growth, both organically as well as with strategic acquisitions.

Sean N. Walker has served as President for Latin America at General Mills for the last eight years. Drawing from his experience leading the firm's endeavors in Mexico, Central America, and South America, Mr. Walker will share his tips for achieving growth in emerging markets.

Two Continents,  One Classroom

Building on a relationship developed by co-teaching an HR-focused education abroad class for undergraduates, Stacy Doepner-Hove, program director of the MA-HRIR program, and Professor Bernd Irmer of Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Australia, developed a two-credit graduate-level Strategy, Ethics and Execution course that was taught fall semester of 2015. Participating in the course were 28 University of Minnesota students and 21 students from QUT.
Doepner-Hove and Irmer teamed up to co-teach using technology-enabled classrooms to convene both classes concurrently, once a week for seven weeks. The two-credit class consisted of lectures and small group work, with groups comprised of students from both schools. The small groups met each night and worked via Skype, WebEx, and Google Hangout in breakout rooms equipped with large-screen TVs and microphones.

"This class is a great way to prepare these students for the real professional world," says Doepner-Hove. "At some point in all of their HR careers, they will most likely have global dealings. It is also a good way to increase cultural understanding and working through technological means." 

New Course Highlights Emerging Small Business Opportunities in Cuba

Carlson School Senior Lecturer and veteran education abroad course faculty Steve Spruth has developed a new course model exploring entrepreneurship in Cuba, offered during the spring semester of 2016. The students are working in teams to develop a new venture with a connection to Cuba. The class is unique in that it includes class sessions before and after the group visits Cuba over spring break. Prior to departure, the class sessions introduced business development concepts and ideas. While in Cuba, the class visited a variety of organizations, including an urban farm and the University of Havana, while exploring entrepreneurship issues through guided field research observations. Upon return, the students are prompted to revise their initial business concepts based on their fieldwork and reflect on their immersion in Cuba using the D-I-E model (describe, interpret, evaluate).

Carlson School Undergraduate Receives University Award for Excellence in Campus Internationalization

Carlson School Senior Carl Zwieg was recognized by the University of Minnesota's Global Programs and Strategies Alliance (GPS Alliance) for his efforts to create opportunities for Carlson School students to connect with incoming exchange students from around the world. Zwieg spent a semester in Denmark at the Copenhagen Business School and felt the impact that a strong connection with local students can have for exchange students. His experience inspired him to join GLOBE, a student organization "committed to fostering awareness, knowledge, and understanding of international management and multicultural issues among students." The group matches international exchange students with a "buddy" from the Carlson School to ease the transition into American culture. As president of the organization, he created numerous opportunities for the students to connect and learn about each others cultures. Learn more about Carl's story.  

Carlson School Undergraduate Student Founds Non-profit to Support South Asian Women's Empowerment

Anish Chandak, a Carlson School undergraduate honors student studying finance and economics, has been a dancer since he was five years old. In response to a highly publicized gang-rape in Delhi, Chandak decided to take action to support women's empowerment in South Asia. He harnessed his passion for dance and his skills in business to form a non-profit organization called Jazba Entertainment. Since its inception in 2014, Jazba has hosted an annual inter-collegiate Bollywood-Fusion dance competition at the University of Minnesota, drawing over 1,000 students, families, and professionals. Proceeds from the event supports the efforts of Women In Need, a non-profit providing health services and advocacy for women in India. Read more about Chandak and Jazba.

Carlson Global Institute Concludes its 2015-2020 Strategic Planning Process

The Carlson Global Institute (CGI) initiated its strategic planning process in the spring of 2015. The purpose was to update its strategic priorities in alignment with University and Carlson School strategic plans that had recently been unveiled. Over the course of six months, CGI leaders convened focus groups with Carlson School faculty, students, and staff; interviewed Carlson School faculty and staff leaders and external partners; and conducted a survey of all external stakeholders.

Key themes that emerged from the process included:

GLOBAL/LOCAL: There is a local impact of having cultural competence. It's not just about working internationally, it's also about productive interactions with others in the community or workplace whose cultural roots may not be the same as one's own.
INTEGRATION OF GLOBAL EXPERIENCE: Global business skills and knowledge apply to all functional areas of business. There is interest in further integrating and infusing a global mindset across the curriculum and co-curricular initiatives.
INNOVATION AND BIG IDEAS: The Carlson School was one of the first U.S. business schools to require an international experience. As the field of international education evolves, we must continuously innovate with stakeholders to maintain and enhance our reputation as a leader in this space. In the words of one focus group participant, we need to "think big."  
IT'S THE SOFT SKILLS: A significant number of stakeholders from a variety of perspectives indicated that soft skills, including the ability to work effectively across cultures, ability to adapt to ambiguous work situations, and ability to creatively solve issues are very important to succeeding in global business.
MEASURING IMPACT: More than five years ago, CGI began to measure the potential impact of the Carlson School's global initiatives on individuals' mindsets and motivation for learning to provide continuous program improvement, enhance learning, and articulate organizational metrics as a school. Stakeholders are hungry for more such data.

The information and insights gathered were used to update the Institute's mission, vision, and strategic priorities and will guide its work over the coming years. 

Global Matters: New Videos Posted to YouTube Channel

Check out our newest addition to the Global Matters playlist. Congressman Tom Emmer: Why it is important for the U.S. to lift its embargo against Cuba

Global Matters: Achieving Growth in Challenging Markets

Wednesday, April 27, 2016
3:30-4:30 p.m. Remarks and Q&A
4:30-5:30 p.m. Reception 
Carlson School of Management

As firms consider going global, they must devise strategies to reconcile the challenges and opportunities inherent to emerging markets. Over the last five years, General Mills' Latin American operations have achieved growth, both organically as well as with strategic acquisitions.

Sean N. Walker has served as President for Latin America at General Mills for the last eight years. Drawing from his experience leading the firm's endeavors in Mexico, Central America, and South America, Mr. Walker will share his tips for achieving growth in emerging markets.