Global Business and Social Enterprise

In an increasingly global economy, international experience for Indiana University MBA candidates comes from hands-on work in the field as much as the classroom. A group of students, led by Professor Sheri Fella, travel to Ghana to help local entrepreneurs tackle business challenges using cutting edge business practices. The Kelley MBA GLOBASE initiative provides a unique social enterprise experience by partnering with Ghanaian businesses to make a global impact.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Week #1

By Liesel Mertes

We all returned safely from our three-week break, ready to face the craziness of internship season. Thoughts of business formal suits, CAR statements, and networking tips are at the forefront of everyone’s mind. So, walking into the Ghana GLOBASE class was a dramatic shift during the first week back at Kelley.

During this first class session, the reality of our project and upcoming trip began to sink in. One of the second years shared details regarding visas and vaccinations…yes, we would be traveling halfway around the world to a place where foreign sounding afflictions like yellow fever still lurked.

The “otherness” of Ghana was also revealed in the presentation of Professor Roberto Garcia, who gave an excellent talk on communicating successfully in cross-cultural environments. I especially resonated with his presentation, reflecting on the mistakes I made communicating with my Kenyan colleagues during a previous job in Nairobi.

Yet, in spite of the cultural and physical barriers that divide us, it was exciting to think about the common ties we would establish through our consulting relationships with Ghanaian clients. Right now, Gladys of All Pure Nature is just a name on a piece of paper. However, by the end of the course, she will be an in-the-flesh woman who (I hope) I have come to like. I will know her house, her neighborhood, perhaps even have shared some of her favorite Ghanaian dishes.

Our first session was one full of anticipation: anticipation for all that is to unfold over the next BUSY seven weeks.

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