One of the integral parts of the Executive MBA program is a weeklong group immersion experience outside the United States. These international residencies, which take place during the spring of the students’ second year, include in-depth corporate visits that help explain the complexities of doing business in the global marketplace. This past April the Executive MBA Class of 2012 traveled to China, where they toured Beijing, Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Macau. What follows is a collection of photos and observations that capture their experience.
April 29: Beijing
Although the buildings were beautiful, what struck me most on this part of the visit were the Chinese people. The younger people clamored to have their pictures taken with us. Parents would bring their small children to say hello, and we were obvious objects of attention. ~Sherie Edwards
April 30: Beijing
Today marked the first day of visits to businesses—the true reason for the trip. I joined the health care group since my career for the past 19 years has been in risk management and medical malpractice. Our first stop was Peking Union Medical College Hospital. It was well-equipped, clean and similar to hospitals in the U.S. ~Sherie Edwards
May 1: Hong Kong
Once we landed in Hong Kong, it quickly became apparent that there was an entirely different mentality here than in mainland China. Buildings towered into the clouds, and the influences of British rule were starkly felt. We took a tram up a near 45-degree slope to the peak of the island, where hot and humid jungle trails were interspersed with shops and eateries. ~Brett Wade
May 2: Hong Kong
We started our first full day of business tours in Hong Kong with a visit to the American Chamber of Commerce. We were presented information on business challenges facing both Hong Kong and the mainland. It was interesting to learn how high the cost of living is in Hong Kong and the amount of lavish wealth there is in turn. ~Brett Wade
May 3: Shenzhen
Huawei is developing cutting-edge communications products to integrate into all aspects of a person’s life. It was fascinating to see the products that will be launched in the next year. It was also unnerving to realize the potential applications of such technology and the implications these applications could have on individual privacy. ~Sherie Edwards
May 4: Macau
With more than six times the gaming revenues of Las Vegas, the casinos of Macau are immense, impressive structures. The Venetian is no different. We were given time to explore its casino, shops and restaurants before a quick Q & A and a behind-the-scenes tour of the kitchen, the built-in stadium and an impressive 6,000-square-foot “high roller” suite. ~Brett Wade
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