Global MBA for Executives

GEMBA Brazil Residency

The Darden Global MBA for Executives residency in Brazil will take place in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro in January after you begin the program (visit Academic Calendar for proposed dates). During the residency, you’ll attend classes, visit influential firms, gain cultural knowledge and contacts and learn to work across international borders. 

Courses taught during "Term 2: Global Capabilities and Opportunities" and during the Brazil residency include:

  • Leading Organizations
  • Financial Management and Policies
  • Accounting
  • Global Economies and Markets
  • Global Leadership Explorations (experiential)

Two Global Executive MBA Class of 2014 students talk about their experiences during the Brazil residency:

Below you will find the proposed residency schedule: 

Sao Paulo, Brazil

Hotel: Marriott Renaissance Paulista
Classroom Site: INSPER (Institute for Education and Research, Sao Paulo)

Days 1 - 2

 Sao Paulo, BrazilGet your bearings in Sao Paulo

  • Learning teams will meet in the late morning 
  • Lunch at a traditional Brazilian restaurant 
  • Afternoon tour of Sao Paulo by bus 
  • Evening reception with Darden alumni 
  • Talk by INSPER professor on the history and culture of Brazil and current dynamics of Sao Paulo
  • Meet with INSPER alumni

Days 3 - 5

  • In class sessions held at INSPER 
  • Four case method classes per day taught by Darden faculty (visit Curriculum & Residencies for information about the classes taught during this term)
  • Lunch as a group at selected restaurants; each day will emphasize a different element of Brazilian culinary culture
  • Learning teams will meet at the hotel 
  • Most dinners on own in Paulista neighborhood 
  • Traditional Feijoada luncheon on Wednesday
  • Talk by AES executive

Days 6 - 8

  • Mixture of class sessions at INSPER, Global Leadership Exploration activities and the following business visits:
    • The Sao Paulo stock exchange
    • Itaú Bank
    • Embraer, an aircraft manufacturer
    • Sao Paulo’s Central Market, the large vendor market for flowers, fruit and fish  

Rio de Janeiro, BrazilRio de Janeiro, Brazil

Hotel: Windsor Atlantica

Day 9

  • Travel to Rio de Janeiro

Days 10 - 12

  • In class sessions taught by Darden faculty
  • Lunch as a group at selected restaurants; each day will emphasize a different element of local culinary culture 
  • Learning teams will meet at the hotel 
  • Most dinners on own in Rio

Days 13 - 14

  • Mixture of class sessions and Global Leadership Exploration activities. 
  • Residency closing dinner  
  • Other activities:
    • Tour of favelas, communities built into the hillsides, for opportunities to understand this socio-economic group
    • Lectures and reflections at Christ the Redeemer Statue (Cristo Redentor) on Corcovado Mountain and Sugar Loaf Mountain (Pao de Acucar) 
    • Visit to produce markets in Rio, ranging from farmers markets to national distributors

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