For students in the Global Business Fellows (GBF) track, the intersection of international business and geopolitics emerges through experiential learning. As the capstone to the track’s Global Trade Module, this year’s cohort, including 21 SFS students, embarked on an immersive trek to Panama, one of the world’s most critical nodes in global business markets.
The GBF track is a 13-credit option for juniors and seniors in the McDonough School of Business and the School of Foreign Service. Eligible SFS students include those in the Landegger Program in International Business Diplomacy (IBD) Honors Certificate Program, the Global Business major, and the Bachelor of Science in Business and Global Affairs (BS-BGA) program.
The Panama trip is designed to build capacity in navigating the complexities of international trade. Core competencies include policy and market analysis, global business strategy, and industry and policy engagement. Fellows use this unique opportunity to develop and sharpen the strategic, analytical and cross-cultural skills needed to navigate global markets.
The Global Business trek to Panama gave this year’s cohort of fellows a first-hand look at how infrastructure, public policy and private enterprise intersect to drive the global economy.
“Being on the ground allows the fellows to build real-world perspective, cross-cultural competency and the confidence to lead in global spaces,” says Linnea Sandin, associate director of the IBD Program.
For Maggie Yang (SFS’27), the trek deepened her understanding of the Panama Canal beyond its role in global trade and challenged her preconceived notions about its geopolitical influence and the role of Panamanians in operating the canal.
“I learned that the canal became an important geopolitical asset of U.S. control under President Theodore Roosevelt,” Yang says. “While common perception is that large powers such as the United States and China have significant influence on the canal itself, Panamanians are heavily involved in its day-to-day operations.”
This experience also helped fellows understand new perspectives and quickly synthesize information on unfamiliar topics. For Yang, this meant organizing information on domestic politics in Panama.
“Learning to transform a complicated topic on Panama’s social security system into a digestible flowchart taught me how to organize ideas in a way that will continue to be useful as I navigate a career in global business.”
Maggie Yang (SFS’27)
Beyond the Panama Canal, students engaged with the dynamics of international trade through visits to the Free Trade Zone, where they met with Panamanian policymakers and business leaders, including representatives from Hutchison Ports PPC.
“PPC is one of the most productive ports of the 48 across the world, demonstrating first-hand the contributions of Panama beyond merely serving as a point of transit for global trade,” Yang notes.
Yang credits her SFS education for exposing her to a melting pot of global influences in regions and countries key to trade. While in Panama, she could appreciate not only the operations, but the individuals who drive them.
“As we watched the lock doors of the Panama Canal open and close, we waved to Filipino crew members on a ship going to South Korea,” she says. “I was previously unaware that ships going through the canal went as far as East Asia, and it was eye-opening to witness crew members journeying across continents to serve a greater purpose.”
To learn more about the Global Business Fellows track, including applications dates and process, visit the GBF section of the IBD website.