The Global Business Center’s 25 Anniversary: Celebration of study abroad

Former GBC Faculty Director, Dick Moxon, moderating a panel on “What travel teaches us about global markets”

In honor of the Global Business Center’s 25th anniversary, the Foster School hosted a Celebration of Study Abroad. Faculty, alumni, students, and study abroad participants about to embark on their global adventures gathered in Anthony’s Forum to exchange travel stories and celebrate the journey of the GBC.

The event kicked off with former GBC faculty director, Dick Moxon, moderating a panel on what travel teaches us about global markets. Faculty panelists, Charles Hill (Professor of Management and Organization), Jennifer Koski (Associate Professor Finance), and Doug “Mac” MacLachlan (Professor Emeritus of Marketing), all shared insight on the value of going abroad and the importance of challenging your preconceived notions about doing business in other countries.

GBC Scholarship Recipient, Mike Guevarra, is a junior majoring in Marketing and Information Systems

The program closed with remarks from Global Business Center scholarship recipient, Mike Guevarra. Mike shared that he received a recurring piece of advice from many graduating seniors and alumni – find a way to study abroad. Growing up in a South Seattle immigrant household with limited income, Mike noted that “experiencing my dream of seeing the world and attending the UW should have felt impossible.” But by joining Running Start, participating in Foster’s YEOC program and now receiving a GBC Scholarship, this dream has become reality. This Fall, Mike is heading out on an exchange program to the Rotterdam School of Management in the Netherlands. Talking about Rotterdam, he exuded excitement, hope and gratitude for the adventure ahead. “Thank you to the donors for making my dream and others’ a reality, to the faculty here for the work they do, and to alumni and students who share this same hope.”

Last year, Foster undergraduate students studied in 30 countries, including Hungary, Ecuador, Sweden and Vietnam. Since 1998, over 1000 MBA Foster students have participated in Study Tours to 31 countries, most recently including Cuba and South Africa. Since the Global Business Center started in 1990, study abroad at the Foster School has grown through innovative new programs, study abroad advising and the addition of study abroad scholarships. This celebration brought together the globally minded Foster community to honor that 25 year legacy and also to inspire the next generation of global business leaders.