Dispatches From Brussels: Real-Time Insights on Global Business and Policy

This story is part of the Student Voices series, which provides a firsthand perspective of the student experience at Georgetown McDonough. Margo Spiritus (IBP’25) is a student in the Master of Arts in International Business and Policy (IBP) program and a McDonough Student Ambassador.

We just returned from our week-long residency in Brussels and are all still buzzing with ideas and memories after ingesting a copious amount of waffles, Belgian beers, moules-frites, and chocolate. It was extraordinary in every way – intellectually, gastronomically, and emotionally.

For eight years, the IBP program held its European residency in Frankfurt. But this year, after thoughtful planning, we became the first cohort to experience it in Brussels. And while a visit to Germany and the European Central Bank is no small feat, Belgium was, quite simply, next level.

Bridging Business and Policy

Brussels brought the dual DNA of Georgetown’s IBP program, business and policy, into sharp focus. One moment we were unpacking the Draghi Report on EU Competitiveness, the next we were deep in discussion on the instruments of foreign policy (military, economic, and diplomatic) and the security dilemma. To be part of this program at a time when the world is recalibrating amid a new U.S. administration and a devastating war in Europe, is to witness history in real time.

Brussels Highlights

A Full Day at NATO and Simulation Exercise

We explored the real-world implications of the Russia–Ukraine war and heard from senior North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) officials, including the assistant secretary general for operations. We then participated in a hands-on simulation led by the deputy political advisor to the supreme allied commander Transformation (SACT) and the Chief of Staff to NATO’s Military Committee.

A Half Day at the European Commission

We explored the European Union’s evolving defense and security strategy and spoke with senior policymakers, including the head of unit for defense and security policy at the Secretariat General.

A Visit to the American Chamber of Commerce in Brussels

Our conversations with AmCham EU, which represents U.S. companies committed to Europe on issues related to trade, investment, and competitiveness, focused on fostering a growth-oriented business climate across the region.

A Visit to a Leading Economic Think Tank

Bruegel offered a candid discussion on the European Union’s complex relationship with China. We explored the geopolitical and industrial policy challenges facing European companies in the region.

A Half Day in Bruges

We took a trip to Bruges, a beautifully preserved medieval city and UNESCO World Heritage site. With its cobblestone streets, winding canals, and gothic architecture, the city offered a striking contrast to our policy-focused week. We wrapped the day with dinner alongside our professors in one of Europe’s most iconic settings

Course Highlights

Crisis and the Future of Europe, Professor Anders Olofsgard

We focused on the current situation in Europe and the existential threat posed by an aggressive Russia and a strained transatlantic relationship, both economically and politically.

Institutions, Diplomacy, and International Business, Professor David Edelstein

We explored the origins of the international system, its present dynamics, and its possible futures as well as the implications of global politics for business.

Global Cooperation, Professor Erik Voeten
We examined how international rules affect global business, the role of institutions, and the challenges facing global cooperation today — where local, national, and international politics collide.

Beyond the Classroom

Final Reflections

It’s hard to imagine any place but Georgetown, and any program but IBP, creating something this special. The access, the insight, the proximity to global institutions and decision-makers – it was unmatched and truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

-Margo Spiritus (IBP’25)