McDonough School of Business
McDonough School of Business

Corporate Engagement

One of the Baratta Center for Global Business’s main objectives is to become an effective bridge between Georgetown McDonough and global organizations. Leveraging the reach of our Board and Georgetown’s global network the Baratta Center has worked with Estée Lauder, Cartier and Lamborghini to provide our students transformational educational opportunities in D.C. and abroad.

The Baratta Center will continue to strengthen current engagements and look for additional partners to connect the business community and Georgetown McDonough’s faculty and students in mutually beneficial relationships.

Our Current Partnerships

Estée Lauder – The Gen Z Network Initiative

Estee Lauder speakers panel

The Baratta Center, the Undergraduate Program Office and The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) have since 2020 launched a semester-long pilot program focused on developing and building the next generation of leaders in beauty, titled the Gen Z Network Initiative. The unique partnership, led by ELC’s CEO Global Reverse Mentor Program Team, connects a group of undergraduate students with a team of executives from the company, giving students the opportunity to provide valuable consumer-focused feedback on the company’s brands, products and upcoming launches.

Our vision for the Gen Z Network Initiative is to inspire change by giving a voice of influence and impact to young talent earlier in their lives and careers. We want to empower the next generation of leaders to use their voices, and to use them loudly.

Fabrizio Freda, President & CEO The Estée Lauder Companies
ELC GBI Image High Res-2

GBI News, News Story

Global Business Initiative Partners with The Estée Lauder Companies’ Gen Z Network Initiative

“Our vision for the Gen Z Network Initiative is to inspire change by giving a voice of influence and impact to young talent earlier in their lives and careers,” said Fabrizio Freda, president and CEO, The Estée Lauder Companies.

May 4, 2021

ELC GBI Image High Res-2

GBI News

Undergraduate Student Selected to Estée Lauder’s Presidential Associate Program

Ashley Chen (B’22), a senior at Georgetown McDonough, has been involved in several global opportunities, including The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) Gen Z Network Initiative and the Cartier Challenge.

March 3, 2022


Cartier – The Cartier Challenge

Cartier speaker panel

In the Fall of 2021, 20 students embarked on a unique, one-of-a-kind challenge with the iconic French luxury brand Cartier. The Cartier Challenge allowed students to dive into the luxury world, 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. The six-week challenge was a collaboration between the Georgetown Retail & Luxury Association, School of Continuing Studies, the Baratta Center and Undergraduate Program Office.

I’m proud to be a member of this community. I was so impressed by all of the teams who put out such strategic and thoughtful presentations

Kendall Seighan (MBA’23)
Graphic for the Global Business Initiative Cartier Challenge

News Story

Georgetown Students Participate in Marketing Challenge with Iconic French Luxury Brand Cartier

Last Fall, 20 Georgetown University students embarked on a unique, one-of-a-kind challenge with the iconic French luxury brand Cartier. The Cartier Challenge allowed students to dive into the luxury…

January 27, 2022

CEOs from Cartier during a Global Business Initiative panel discussion.

GBI News, News Story

Georgetown Convenes Top Cartier Executives to Discuss Trends in the Luxury Goods Market

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 &…

November 12, 2022


Lamborghini – The Global Business Experience

Lamborghini and Undergraduate students behind it with arms raised

Since 2015 Georgetown McDonough different cohorts of MBA students have traveled to Italy, for their Global Business Experience (GBE), as part of the culmination of the three-month consulting course. During these trips, approximately 20 students were able to share their final presentations with Automobili Lamborghini executives in Bologna.

I am so grateful to my Georgetown McDonough team, my peers are rockstars who held down our presentation in person at the headquarters in Italy.

Jaime Brown (MBA’23)
Undergraduate students in front of healy hall with Laborghini's

GBI News

Lamborghini CEO: Company Success Comes From Constant Innovation

Maintaining a luxury brand requires passion and innovation to deliver an effective customer experience, said Alessandro Farmeschi, CEO of Lamborghini Americas, at an event hosted by Georgetown Retail and Luxury Association and the GBI.

November 15, 2018

students sitting near Lamborghini

News Story

MBA Evening Program Students Consult in Bologna

In July, 40 Georgetown McDonough MBA students traveled to Bologna, Italy, for their Global Business Experience (GBE), as part of the culmination of the three-month course. During the trip, the…

June 28, 2017