Today begins a special series in this blog, as a colleague and I set off for our international immersion residency in China with 40 Executive MBA students.
For the next ten days, you’ll see where we are going each day, what we’re doing, what we are learning, and what this international immersion residency is really all about.
In the process, you’ll get to see some of China (albeit through pictures) and learn something important about China today and about good global leadership. (I’ll share a few teaching points along the way about living in a diverse world that are relevant beyond China, too.)
So join us and follow our travels.
This is the culminating learning experience in the final semester of our Executive MBA program. It’s also a transformational life experience that will make our students stronger and more effective global leaders. By following us each day, you’ll understand why.
This series was conceived for three specific purposes – although its possibilities for learning are broader.
We wanted families, friends, and significant others back home to know what was happening for their loved ones, to feel connected, and to learn about China, too. Executive MBA programs are intense, compressed learning experiences for full time working professionals; and we appreciate the support and sacrifices made by those at home that have enabled our students to concentrate on their studies.
This series is a concrete expression of our appreciation to the important others who have supported our students over the past two years. We’ve noticed, and we thank you.
We wanted to give first year students and new recruits to our program a taste of what they’ll be doing next year this time. Immersion study and China travel are difficult to envision. These posts will reduce the human tendency to worry about the unknown.
Finally, we wanted our corporate sponsors, local organizations who hire our students, and our students’ current bosses and colleagues to get a grounded feel for the quality of our degree program – and why our immersion residencies are our competitive advantage. They have a new China expert in their midst. In today’s world, that’s important.
NOTE: To make sure China’s internet firewalls and policy fluctuations don’t block the ability for daily posts – as they did last year or as recent g-mail blocks made us fear they might this – posts for the next 10 days have been drafted so that they can be sent from here (based on the learning agenda and itinerary of the day) or updated and uploaded on the ground from China.
May this not become a 30 Rock experience where what you read bears little resemblance to what unfolds!
We have a 6:00 am departure from Kansas City International Airport. Our Executive MBAs have been preparing for this trip all year, including the development of individual China projects as independent studies to make themselves experts in their organizations or industries on a relevant area.
They have read, studied, listened, questioned, and met with those here who know international business and China today. They have developed networks and colleagues in China through the wonders of technology, and will soon have opportunities to complete the final phase of their efforts.
Let’s the journey and the deep learning begin. Onward!
