My name is Leah French, and I’m part of the Clarkson MBA Global Trip through the one-year residential MBA program. This spring, I had the opportunity to put the knowledge from my classes to the test through Clarkson University’s global business trip to Bangkok, Thailand, and Sydney, Australia.
The two-week trip offered unique insights into Eastern and Western business practices that simply can’t be gained from textbooks. With business becoming increasingly globalized, understanding international markets firsthand has never been more valuable.
Cultural Contrasts: Bangkok and Sydney
Our journey began in Thailand, where the bustling streets of Bangkok immediately immersed us in a business environment vastly different from what most Americans are used to. Business there revolves around relationships, respect for hierarchy, and nuanced communication. Corporate values emphasize collective achievement over individual success. Business meetings often begin with relationship building before any transactions occur. The Clarkson MBA Global Trip provided real-world insight into international markets.
Australia offered a fascinating counterpoint. Sydney’s business culture blends American-style directness with a strong emphasis on work-life balance. Modesty is valued, and excessive self-promotion is often viewed with skepticism.
Business Insights Across Borders
During the trip, we visited businesses across multiple industries—manufacturing, healthcare, law, consulting, and government. This gave us a well-rounded view of international operations.
One of my favorite visits in Thailand was to a Stanley Black & Decker factory. We saw firsthand the challenges of applying Western management styles in high power distance cultures. The plant manager emphasized creating a workplace that felt like a “second home,” which reflected Thailand’s collectivist values. However, they also struggled to encourage employee feedback, showing the cultural barriers multinational companies must navigate.
In Sydney, my favorite visit was to the Sydney Fish Market. It was unlike any other business I had seen. Their Dutch auction system for selling fish brought an economic theory we studied in class to life. I also learned how the market balances profit with sustainability—an insightful look into an industry I had not previously explored. Experiences like this are what make the Clarkson MBA Global Trip so impactful.
Beyond Business: Culture in Action
Some of the most valuable lessons didn’t come from boardrooms—they came from cultural experiences.
Exploring Bangkok’s street food scene by tuk-tuk offered insights into local commerce and daily life. The Elephant’s World sanctuary showed how Thailand is balancing tourism revenue with environmental and animal welfare.
In Australia, climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge revealed the country’s strong safety protocols and risk-averse mindset. A day trip to the Blue Mountains highlighted Australia’s focus on preserving natural resources while keeping them accessible to tourists.
Why Global Experiences Matter for MBA Students
This international experience transformed abstract concepts from our MBA curriculum into tangible realities.
Hofstede’s cultural dimensions shifted from theory to observable behavior. We saw how culture influences meetings, marketing, and management styles. Supply chain management challenges also took on new meaning—whether due to Australia’s island geography or Thailand’s infrastructure limits.
Beyond academics, the trip developed essential soft skills for global leadership:
- Adaptability: Navigating language barriers and adjusting communication styles.
- Cultural Sensitivity: Recognizing when Western approaches need modification.
- Global Perspective: Understanding how history, location, and values shape business.
Bringing Global Lessons Home
As I return to complete my MBA, I carry with me not just memories from the trip, but actionable insights for my future career. Understanding how cultural values shape business practices, from communication styles to organizational structures to consumer preferences isn’t just academically interesting; it’s professionally essential in our interconnected global economy.
As I reflect on this experience, I’m grateful for an MBA program that prioritizes international exposure as a core component rather than an add-on. The insights gained during these two weeks abroad will influence me for years to come, providing context and depth to every international interaction in my future career. In a world where business increasingly transcends borders, having navigated the streets and boardrooms of Bangkok and Sydney gives me confidence that I can adapt to diverse business environments, recognize cultural nuances that impact business outcomes, and approach international opportunities with informed perspective. For future business leaders, this kind of global immersion isn’t just enriching, it’s essential.
