Global MBA for Executives

GEMBA Europe Residency

The Darden Global MBA for Executives residency in Europe will take place in Paris, France and Berlin, Germany during the last two weeks in September (visit Academic Calendar for proposed dates). During the residency, you’ll learn about business ethics and stakeholder responsibility, global financial management in the face of turbulent times, leadership theory and practice, international marketing and regional nuances in European business. You will also experience the quality and attentiveness to detail in the service sectors and luxury goods market. 

Courses taught during "Term 4: Managing and Sustaining Organizations Across Different Cultures and Contexts II" and during the Europe residency include: 

  • Business Ethics
  • Financial Management and Policies
  • Leading Organizations
  • Marketing
  • Global Leadership Explorations (experiential)

ParisParis, France

Hotel: Radisson Blu Ambassador Hotel

Day 1

Get your bearings in Paris

  • Orientation to residency
  • Discussion of pre-residence discoveries about the differences in how business is conducted in France and Germany, as well as the differences in how tightly held enterprises and corporations are viewed locally and nationally
  • Two cases studies

Days 2 - 8 

  • Three case method classes per day taught by Darden Professors Allayannis, Isabella, Wicks and Wilcox (many of which will be taught by multiple faculty during a single class session — watch this Darden Team Teaching video to learn more)
  • Lunch on your own each day, allowing you to experience the cafés and culture of the Opera House neighborhood surrounding the hotel
  • Learning teams will meet at the hotel
  • Company visits and Global Leadership Exploration activities, including:
    • A day-long visit to Disney Paris, following the morning Disney case discussion. The visit will include several hours with the executives of Disney Paris discussing the challenges of taking an iconic American brand into a different culture and context: 1) What challenges were faced at the launch? 2) How did they need to adjust their people management strategies to fit the French culture? 3) What aspects of Disney might not translate well into another culture?, and 4) How have they addressed the recent economic crisis?
    • Visit by Fouad Benseddik, Director of Methodology and Institutional Relationships at Vigeo, and former General of Social Security for Morocco, discussing Corporate and Social Responsibility
    • Following a morning class on “Four Seasons goes to Paris,” you will tour the Four Seasons George V property and meet with the executive team to discuss how they recreated this historic property and are able to step into one of the most culturally elite cities in the world without a misstep and continue to receive Parisian accolades today
    • Visit to a private European investment bank
    • Afternoon at La Cuisine Paris, a French cooking school, for a class on pastry.
    • Luxury Goods focus: A visit to the House of Boucheron on the Place Vendôme to see and understand the marketing and promotion process as well as gain insight into brand creation and preservation through a discussion with the directors about their new strategy.
    • Speaker on "Leading and Managing in Central Europe" 

Berlin GermanyBerlin, Germany

Hotel: Grand Hyatt Berlin

Day 9

Day in Berlin on your own to investigate the cultural relevance of the surroundings

Days 10 - 14

  • Three case method classes per day taught by Darden Professors Allayannis, Isabella, Wicks and Wilcox.
  • Lunch on your own each day, allowing you to experience the restaurants and culture of the Arts District of the Potsdamer Platz
  • Learning teams will meet at the hotel
  • Company visits and Global Leadership Exploration activities, including:
    • A discussion with German fiscal leadership about the Euro Crisis
    • Meeting and reception with the U.S. Ambassador to Germany in the U.S. Embassy
    • A site visit and discussion exploring Germany’s culture and decision making surrounding WWII
    • A meeting with a member of the launch team for eBay Europe
    • A meeting with a local entrepreneur about the support and constraints of launching a business in Germany
    • A presentation on the role of Germany in the success of Europe and in geo-politics
    • Friday evening: residency closing dinner

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