Program Overview
11
Days
5
Academic Engagements
55
Students
The University of Georgia Executive MBA cohort recently traveled to New Zealand for a high‑impact global leadership experience that blended industry insights with cultural immersion. In partnership with WorldStrides, UGA developed this program to provide students with a better understanding of global strategy, while exploring how culture shapes business.
Beginning in Queenstown, students met with leaders in the adventure tourism and hospitality sectors. These conversations gave them a firsthand look at how New Zealand's brands differentiate themselves globally. They saw how local companies balance risk management and customer trust, which marked a vivid contrast from the cohort’s classroom risk frameworks. The engagements also spurred discussions on topics like duty of care, innovation, and reputation capital.
"Many students were struck by how differently companies approach risk, innovation, and stakeholder engagement in a global context. Hearing directly from executives about navigating regulatory complexity and cultural nuance challenged some of their U.S.-centric assumptions,” remarked Susan Brown, Director of Executive, Professional, and Online MBA Programs at University of Georgia.
New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland, served as the program’s capstone, featuring a panel discussion with senior executives who spoke candidly about regulation, global competitiveness, and how New Zealand companies navigate complex stakeholder environments. Students immediately recognized the contrast with U.S. business norms and how those differences influence strategy.
The cultural highlight of the tour was a visit to Rotorua, a center of Māori cultural tourism. Students learned about Māori arts and witnessed a traditional haka performance. They were able to see how history and social values inform everything from meeting structure to decision making, insights they later applied to their strategy challenge presentations.
The program culminated in team strategy presentations, where students incorporated what they learned over their 11 days in the country. A farewell dinner with 360 degree views of Auckland’s skyline marked a fitting end to the experience. The tour represented an all-encompassing look into New Zealand business culture, one that the University of Georgia Executive MBA students would not soon forget.
For [the] students, the experience was genuinely transformative. The combination of academic rigor, executive access, and cultural immersion created moments that will stay with them well beyond the program.
Susan Brown
Director, Executive MBA, Professional MBA, Online MBA
A look inside the program
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