Our shrinking world has had a significant impact on the outlook of today’s business student. Whether they seek to better understand the global marketplace or are considering a career abroad, there’s no better learning opportunity than to see a country’s culture, customs and business practices first hand. Just ask Alice Chacon, Annick Laberge, Ashley Armstrong, Alison Lundy, Matthew Kroeker, Paula Lum, Irene Liu, Kevin Chey, Shannon Johnston, Sascha Neth, Andre Sad, Jerry Huang, and Jana Svedova, the 13 Sauder MBA students who participated in the recent 5-day China Study Tour co-ordinated by the Robert H. Lee Graduate School.

“I gained a lot from the experience,” says Paula Lum. “Not only did I learn how doing business in Asia is different from North America and experience the economic boom I’ve been reading about, I practiced my Cantonese skills and was inspired to learn Mandarin. This will be a great addition to my resume, demonstrating my openness to international travel, experiences and employment opportunities to prospective employers.”

The tour itinerary included Hong Kong and Shanghai with visits to the Canadian Consulates in each city, Cheung Kong (Holdings) Ltd., the Hong Kong Government, Cathay Pacific, Deloitte, Hang Lung Properties Ltd., LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy), McKinsey & Company, and RBS Coutts Bank Ltd. “What really stood out for me at the company visits was how open and candid people were,” remarks MBA student Jana Svedova. “We were fortunate enough to be hosted by senior people who provided insight into their companies, strategies, success and challenges.”

Just under 100 Sauder alumni in China stepped up to help students make the most of their tour facilitating company visits, hosting the group, and welcoming students at alumni dinners in both Hong Kong and Shanghai. Svedova, an exchange student in Hong Kong and company visit organizer, enthuses, ”Without alumni, we would not have had the opportunity to have such a great line up of company visits.” Wendy Bishop, Director of Alumni Relations at Sauder, notes that this is part of a broader trend. “It’s like ‘paying it forward’”, says Wendy. “Remembering what is was like to be starting out, many of our alumni are showing a keen interest in facilitating the transition of students into their careers “