When businesses in the Americas seek global expansion and a broader global mindset, they turn to Thunderbird.

Thunderbird in the Americas

When visionary leader Lieutenant General Barton Kyle Yount established Thunderbird in Glendale, Ariz., more than 60 years ago, he saw — even then — a growing demand for international executive talent. Since its inception in 1946 as the world’s first business school focused exclusively on international management, Thunderbird has trained global business leaders who, today, work and live in more than 140 nations.

And while the school’s reach spans the globe, Thunderbird continues to partner with top national corporations and neighboring countries in the Americas. Organizations, industries and corporations in the Americas rely on Thunderbird’s expertise as they seek global expansion and a greater understanding of the world’s global business environment and cultures.

Learn more about Thunderbird’s expertise and offerings in:

Arizona

Thunderbird's Glendale, Ariz. campus is often referred to as a mini-United Nations, with students and faculty hailing from all over the globe. Long touted as a “different” kind of graduate management school, Thunderbird's students and professors share an unwavering interest in cultures, languages, entrepreneurship and the global world overall — a mystique now defined as a global mindset.

Aside from being Thunderbird’s global headquarters in America, the Arizona campus is also the birthplace of award-winning programs designed with the executive learner in mind, including:

Western United States

From technology and toys to personal care products and musical equipment, Thunderbird has played a key role in developing executive talent and providing business insight to dozens of industries headquartered in the western United States:

  • When Mattel CEO Bob Eckert assumed the reigns, he set out to globalize the toy giant beyond its perceived domestic brand. Working with Thunderbird, Mattel representatives participated in a 4.5-day, twice-annual customized global strategy and leadership program that included nearly 50 executives.
    Read more about Mattel’s success »
  • As one of the world's leading musical instrument suppliers faced the changing landscape of the music industry — greater demand, a shifting consumer base, new sales channels and increased competition — executives saw a need for an innovative 21st century business strategy. With advice and market research results from business consultants in Thunderbird’s Learning and Consulting Network, the company is working to develop a new strategy for its marketing structure that will respond to consumer demands, embrace innovation and increase market share.

Midwestern United States

Thunderbird Executive Education has provided customized business and leadership programs to leading corporations in the midwestern United States in the following industries:

  • Automotive
  • Biopharmaceutical drug development
  • Chemical, plastic and agricultural
  • Cleaning, sanitizing, food safety and infection control
  • Direct sales
  • Manufacturing
  • Mobile electronics

Eastern United States

  • "Global Mindset Inventory," a breakthrough tool developed at Thunderbird after more than 15 years of research, helps organizations and individuals measure their readiness for globalization. After engaging with the tool first-hand, executives with East Coast defense industry giant Raytheon agree that Thunderbird's tool can reduce a company’s risk of failure in foreign markets.
    Read more about Raytheon’s Global Mindset success »
  • Employees at the Bank of New York Mellon participated in an online program developed by Thunderbird called “The Emerging Global Leader.” Participants successfully focused on leadership, global strategy, global marketing and financial management.

Canada

Thunderbird’s Executive Education offices have developed and delivered customized programs with companies in Canada since 2002. Leading global corporations in the food and beverage, information technology and pharmaceutical industries have taken advantage of Thunderbird’s multicultural understanding, international negotiation expertise and global leadership insight. Participants from 12 countries have attended Thunderbird programs in Canada to date.

Latin America

The Thunderbird Global Council (TGC), a global advisory board that counsels the school about projects and initiatives central to Thunderbird’s mission, includes Latin American alumni John Donnelly ‘70 of Mexico and Carlos Neuhaus ’74 of Peru. Vice chairman of the TGC, Donnelly is also chairman of the board for Grupo Zurich Mexico. Neuhaus is the Business Administrator for Wiese Group.

Thunderbird's work in Latin America is extensive - including the school's innovative partnership with Mexico’s best-known business and engineering school, Tecnológico de Monterrey (ITESM). Since 1998, Thunderbird and Tec de Monterrey have delivered a joint Distance Learning Global MBA for Latin American Managers program. Taught by Thunderbird and ITESM faculty with onsite, local and live satellite components, the program is delivered to more than a dozen locations throughout Mexico and Latin America.

EGADE, the School of Business Administration and Leadership, is another global partner, assisting with Global MBA program delivery through its Virtual University.

Mexico

For decades, Thunderbird has worked hand-in-hand with its southern neighbor, Mexico, providing expertise and insight in a variety of ways. Among the school's many successful Mexican endeavors includes our work with Mexico's state-owned petroleum company, PEMEX. Since the early 1990s, PEMEX has taken advantage of various Thunderbird Executive Education programs, including the Finance and Accounting program and the Advanced Management Program for Oil and Gas Industry Executives.