The world is your classroom
Explore the socioeconomic, political and cultural forces that are shaping influential markets of the world. Field Seminars to BRIC nations with classmates and professors give first-hand exposure to the practical side of conducting business, and help develop participant networks abroad.


Global Experience

Robert Graham '12, President and CEO RG Capital

"With the increasing pace of globalization and intensified competition, I wanted an Executive MBA where I would learn from top-in-class global educators, have access to the best resources, have hands-on international experiences and develop a truly global perspective. I chose Thunderbird's EMBA because it's the best in the world."

With Thunderbird’s Executive MBA program, we bring the world into your classroom and your classroom into the world. Students in both the U.S.- and Europe-based cohorts have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel together on two international field seminars during the course of their degree studies. Destinations for the field seminars vary, but are currently offered in Brazil, China, India, Russia and Switzerland.

There’s an extraordinary benefit to a global MBA curriculum that incorporates three 10-day international study tours to Asia, Middle East, Latin America or Europe. You have the opportunity to explore business, governmental and cultural differences firsthand as well as in the classroom. You’re guided by professors who have researched cultural variations and have lived and worked with them all over the world. Informed by classmates from other cultures, with a broad range of professional backgrounds, who openly share their experiences, gives you the chance to expand your own global perspective. That has immediate benefits on the job.

These travel seminars are designed to provide students with a broad business, economic, political and cultural overview of various important regions of the world, and include industry visits, top-level speakers and vital cultural exposure. During the program, the two cohorts also visit one another’s home campuses (in Arizona and Geneva) for joint courses and further cross-cultural and professional interaction.

According to Chris Sheppard, Executive MBA graduate, "The knowledge and perspective I gained even in the first trimester was readily applicable to many work situations. You interact with this incredible group of proven professionals — with diverse experiences and multicultural backgrounds. The class, itself, is a learning laboratory." Read more about Executive MBA alumni.

Uday Marty, another Executive MBA graduate, feels Thunderbird made him more culturally focused, especially from a communication perspective. "I became more aware of the difference between behaviors during meetings and negotiations with a Japanese vs. a Chinese client. It was great to get acquainted with cross-cultural behaviors and influences in several classes, including Cross-Cultural Communications, HR and Negotiations. It grounded me in what to expect before I ever visited customers in Japan and China."

You go for an MBA to learn more about business. Thunderbird’s global focus shows you where business is going.