Expanding Horizons: Izmirlian Program, International Experiences Prepare Undergraduate Students to Become Global Business Leaders
In the Undergraduate Program at Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business, learning and engagement opportunities reach far beyond the classroom. There are numerous transformational experiences available to undergraduate students that help cultivate the necessary skills to succeed as a global business leader — ranging from interdisciplinary degree programs to immersive global fellowships to international consulting projects and many others.
As business and policy become increasingly interconnected, the Dikran Izmirlian Program in Business and Global Affairs prepares students to solve complex global issues. A joint degree from Georgetown’s Walsh School of Foreign Service and McDonough School of Business, the rigorous curriculum offers a select group of students from both schools classes in international affairs, business and finance, economics, history, and more. Additionally, the Izmirlian Program features various hands-on experiences in Washington, D.C., and around the world to give students real-time exposure to the globalized business world.
The Izmirlian Program is distinguished by its Global Value Chain Immersion Experience, where students analyze the global value chain of an organization and travel around the world to see its various stages in real time, while deepening their understanding of how policy and international relations impact business processes at every level. The Izmirlian Program has previously partnered with Gap, Inc., Bechtel, and Medtronic.
“This immersion experience showed me how each part of a value chain is individualistic and collaborative,” said Genevieve Domenico (B’23), reflecting on her time in the signature course. “While they all have a specific role to play in the broader chain, they are impacted not just by other parts of the value chain, but also by governance, society, and the environment. This experience also demonstrated the human experience behind global operations — the day-to-day livelihoods that contribute to a broader global process.”
In addition to the Izmirlian Program, undergraduate students have an array of opportunities to gain immersive cultural experiences and deepen their understanding of global business.
Global Business Fellows
The Global Business Fellows (GBF) program is a cohort-based initiative designed for McDonough students who are interested in expanding their understanding of international business and public policy. The interdisciplinary curriculum, featuring courses in business, economics, and international affairs, provides students a breadth and depth of knowledge across multiple disciplines.
“The GBF program provided more than just a degree; it provided a panoramic view of global dynamics and, importantly, allowed me to foster connections with a cohort of exceptional peers,” said Ana Clara Fernandez (B’24), during her Global Business Experience trip to consult with Uber Spain.
Global Business Fellows participate in a semester-long Global Business Experience course, where they engage in a consulting project for an international business or organization in the private, public, or nonprofit sector. The course includes travel to the clients’ country where students present their findings to senior management.
“I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for the transformative journey provided by the GBF program,” Fernandez added. “The insights gained, the connections forged, and the cultural immersion experienced have enriched my academic pursuits in ways beyond measure.”
Global Business Experience
McDonough undergraduates also have the option to enroll in the Global Business Experience (GBE) as an elective course. During the semester-long capstone, students collaborate in small teams to consult for an international client and create sustainable solutions to real-world business challenges. Students have traveled to a variety of countries including Argentina, Ghana, Italy, and Spain to deliver their case presentations to senior executives.
The GBE was pioneered by Georgetown McDonough nearly 30 years ago as part of the Executive MBA program and has become a signature part of the school’s curriculum. Through this experience, students learn how businesses operate in different parts of the world and discover solutions that address complex business challenges.
“Since its inception, the GBE course has redefined how business students can both learn about and experience global business across cultures,” said Sezer Ulku, professor and academic director of the GBE. “As the world grows more interconnected and complex, we need business leaders who understand that problems, especially on an international level, are nuanced and ambiguous in nature. The GBE exposes students to these challenges and gives them a real-world scenario to work together to find creative solutions.”
Global Case Competitions
As part of McDonough’s robust interdisciplinary curriculum, students apply skills learned in the classroom in a practical setting through various global case competitions. Through these experiences, students develop their analytical abilities, critical thinking, presentation, and communication skills. Undergraduates have previously competed in case competitions in Canada, Denmark, Hungary, Netherlands, and Norway.
Each year, McDonough convenes students from national and international schools for a global case competition. The McDonough Business Strategy Challenge (MBSC) celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2024, welcoming 72 undergraduate students from five countries to the Hilltop. Teams engage in a week-long competition during which they develop unique and sustainable solutions to a client’s problems.
“MBSC emphasizes McDonough’s global education network,” said Catherine Tan (B‘25), co-managing director of the 2024 event. “It fosters lasting relationships with universities around the world and local nonprofits. Organizing the event allows students to learn how to develop a case challenge and manage finances for the competition. They also engage directly with sponsors, judges, and clients.”
Georgetown’s emphasis on business and global affairs attracts leaders in international business, including Cartier. The Cartier Challenge marked the first time the renowned French company partnered with a U.S. school.
A group of 20 students was selected to participate in the challenge, allowing them to dive into the luxury world to quickly understand the market, the competitive challenges and opportunities, and then provide marketing and branding ideas to best address the needs of Cartier’s customers. After six weeks of work, the teams presented their final recommendations to Cartier executives. Participating students remarked on how valuable the experience was to their educational experience.
International Internship and Coursework Opportunities
Each year, Georgetown McDonough students spend their summers around the world working in corporate, nonprofit, and government organizations.
In the summer of 2023, the Georgetown Global Startup Interns Program (GSI) took its inaugural cohort to Mexico, where interns networked with fellow Hoyas, learned about entrepreneurship, and explored the culture of Mexico City. In an effort to provide Georgetown undergraduate students with greater access to the global startup community, the GSI program matches high-quality students with startups around the world for unique international internships and cultural experiences. The program creates opportunities for Georgetown students across all disciplines to become the next generation of global entrepreneurs.
Sophie Piedras (B’25) was an investment intern at Llama, a startup that focuses on increasing financial inclusion and prosperity in Latin America.
“My company has provided me with considerable knowledge about finance. Meeting with other interns and alumni secured an exceptional networking opportunity at the Hoya Club of Mexico City,” said Piedras. “I enjoyed the early morning strolls and explored a variety of new cafes in the Condesa and Roma areas. It is a trip to remember.”
McDonough undergraduate students also have the unique opportunity to take part in custom summer programs abroad. Students complete two business courses, taught by faculty from McDonough and partner institutions, while also visiting cultural sites and local businesses to complement their coursework. Each year, Georgetown McDonough partners with the Escuela Superior de Administracion y Direccion de Empresas (ESADE) in Barcelona, Spain, to offer courses in marketing, as well as business and government relations. For the past 40 years, McDonough has partnered with Oxford University to offer a comparative strategic management summer program in the United Kingdom.
Face Time with Global Executives
While on the Hilltop, undergraduate students have the world at their fingertips with the ability to engage with executives from global organizations. Located in the global capital city of Washington, D.C., leaders in international business are regularly featured at McDonough events and invited to be speakers.
Paul Freedman (L’96), executive vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary of AES Corporation, spoke with students in the Izmirlian Program about accelerating the future of energy.
Cyrille Vigneron, president and global CEO of Cartier, and Mercedes Abramo, CEO of Cartier North America, addressed the Georgetown community during an event hosted by the Georgetown Retail & Luxury Association and the Baratta Center for Global Business to share their perspectives as leaders of a multinational luxury brand.
“Being able to hear the authentic perspective and knowledge from a global CEO of a major brand like Cartier has the power to be transformational for our students,” said Wendy Zajack, associate professor of the practice at Georgetown’s School of Continuing Studies. “These experiences shape the leaders we know our students will become by exposing them to challenges they will need to focus on as they move into the professional world.”