Experiencing the Global Network in Evanston

For most Executive MBA students, a global experience means an extended stay with your cohort in another part of the world. While there can be value in the bonding that occurs on those global trips, the interactivity with local professionals is often limited to site visits and guest speakers.

But at Kellogg, all students are immersed into a global classroom in the first year of the program.

Every August, first-year Kellogg students have the chance to learn and work alongside peers from across the Kellogg Executive MBA Global Network during Global Network Week, an immersive six-day offering on the Evanston Campus.

Greg Hanifee, associate dean of the Executive MBA Global Network, shared more insight on the value of Global Network Week for Kellogg students.

What’s unique about Global Network Week?

Global Network Week gives our students a valuable opportunity to engage with fellow peers from around the world in highly experiential and interactive courses designed to highlight cultural differences. This way, you’ll make the crucial connections and learn from different perspectives, no matter what campus you choose in our global network – everyone gets to experience the famously collaborative, demanding and immersive environment of Kellogg.

Even students who work for organizations that are not global say this experience is invaluable, both for improving their skills and for becoming a better leader.

What knowledge will students gain through the week’s curriculum?

All students take two classes during their week in Evanston: Strategic Crisis Management, and Negotiations. We’ve chosen these classes purposefully for Global Network Week. As a global leader, when experiencing an organizational crisis, you need to be equipped with the specific skills to not only steer your organization toward a resolution, but to also do so in a culturally-sensitive and globally-minded way. And the Negotiations course pushes students to the limit in terms of their cultural awareness and collaboration — hallmarks of the Kellogg experience — with round after round of negotiations. In both courses, you’ll be placed into study groups that represent all seven Kellogg Global Network campuses.

Students have the chance to practice their skills and apply the tactics presented in an environment rich with feedback from faculty and from peers. They’ll learn how executives in different cultures, governmental systems and economic climates deal differently with difficult situations and challenging negotiations. Ultimately, students will finish the week of classes with a new toolbox of tactics that will help them lead with a global mindset.

What else will student have to look forward to?

Outside of courses, students have ample time to network. They’ll have time to enjoy the beautiful lakefront and campus here at Northwestern University and head into Chicago for sightseeing and bonding with their peers. All in all, this week will be filled with plenty of ways to experience Kellogg’s global community.