Undergraduate Programming

“…one that combines an openness to and awareness of diversity across countries and markets with a propensity and ability to see common patterns across countries and markets.” – Financial Times

Different authorities may take different approaches to define a global mindset. The important thing to remember is that people with a global mindset can understand differences among cultures and business practices and welcome the opportunity to learn about similarities.

CGB defines ‘Global Mindset’ by seven competencies or attributes that those with a global mindset exhibit. Contact CGB for more information on how to develop a global mindset.

Seven Competencies of the Global Mindset

1. Tolerance of Ambiguity — Ability to navigate unclear or uncertain situations without feeling stress or anxiety. Comfort with vague instructions or information.
2. Global Business Savvy — Knowledge of business environments and growth drivers (institutional, geographic, cultural, and economic) that operate in and between countries.
3. Passion for Diversity — Willingness to seek out and consider diverse viewpoints, appreciate the values and beliefs of others, and collaborate on diverse teams.
4. Cultural Curiosity — Interest in learning about cultures and world events, and taking the initiative to seek out more information about local contexts.
5. Adaptability — Ability to overcome challenges and be resourceful when faced with difficult situations.
6. Self-awareness and Humility — Confidence in oneself without overestimating one's abilities while valuing the experience and backgrounds of others.
7. Relationship Building — Eagerness to interact with new people and develop a strong network built on communication, empathy, and mutual respect.

As part of the #KeepGlobalSmith campaign, the International Business (IB) Agility Labs are innovative virtual programs. Through these labs, students gain multiple global perspectives in a fast-paced, intensive, and hands-on competition while working on a real global business issue.

Learn more bout IB Agility Labs

Eligibility: Open to all business majors, though geared towards marketing majors.

Program Dates: June 1-August 13, 2021

Faculty Champion: Mary Beth Furst, Associate Clinical Professor, Marketing

The Global Marketing Virtual Internship program is an opportunity to gain professional experience with a Maryland company. Students are matched with a small to midsize enterprise internationalizing their business and seeking Maryland Smith talent to help them do so.

The internship program is paid through a stipend and students work on assigned teams. More information on the company is provided during the application and matching process. Students work on projects focused on eCommerce and digital marketing strategy during this 2+ month, part-time summer internship. Potential projects include:

• Website optimization for international eCommerce
• Website tracking and analytics
• Search engine optimization
• Website localization (creating or enhancing a website for a specific country)
• Global social media strategy and analysis

This internship is not for academic credit. Students interested in receiving credit for summer internships may be eligible to register for one of several courses offered through the Smith School.

"Leveraging Your Global Mindset" is an online module geared to help students translate their global experience into their career and is sponsored by The Office of Career Services and the Center for Global Business. By watching this module, students reflect on their global experience, analyze specific skills that they developed or enhanced through their global experience, and develop techniques to translate their global experience in an interview and on their resume.

The Global Young Professionals Institute (YPI) is a Maryland Smith students’ first introduction to a global mindset and the launching point for their self-guided discovery of the competencies that make up a global mindset. Global YPI is a two-part event of Smith Start, a year-long orientation program for first-year students, and the sophomore experience.

Part 1 of Global YPI: Global Competencies for the 21st Century Workplace

As an annual event as part of the Distinguished Speakers in International Business Series during International Education Week, students learn the meaning of global mindset and the seven competencies.  Students also hear from Maryland Smith alumni about how to be globally competent in business and what they can do now to be successful in the future. Please see the news story which includes a link to the most recent recording.

Part 2 of Global YPI: Virtual Embassy Day

Virtual Embassy Day is the second event of Global YPI and an opportunity to virtually travel outside the U.S. to learn about culture, business, and society at an embassy. 

Global YPI is hosted in collaboration with the Undergraduate Programs Office and co-sponsored by EY.

Pursue a career in international business and participate in the International Business Trek in Maryland!

Interested students can register for any or all visits. Registering for one visit does not require a student to register for the entire program.

Recent Events

Virtual Visit to FlyWheel Digital

Friday, April 30, 2021

The Center for Global Business hosted the International Business (IB) Trek in Maryland, an opportunity for Maryland Smith students to virtually visit Maryland-headquartered companies that have global operations.

Students participated in the visit to FlyWheel Digital and learn from Maryland Smith Alumni in their London and Baltimore offices about:

• FlyWheel’s operations and e-commerce services;
• Why and how FlyWheel prioritizes global markets;
• FlyWheel’s global portfolio of digital retailers;
• How FlyWheel uses global mindset skills in their everyday work;
• Concepts in international business while highlighting industry right here in Maryland;
• FlyWheel’s business culture and what life is like as a business professional.

Virtual Visit to the Maryland Port Administration

Donovan Murray
General Manager, Intermodal/Trade Development
Learn more about the port and its work | Event Highlights

The International Business Trek in Baltimore is supported in part by CIBE, a Title VI grant administered by the U.S. Department of Education.

The Smith Global Consulting Fellows program is designed for students who have an interest in the world’s people and cultures and a desire to apply business and language skills to enhancing economic development worldwide and helping others succeed.

Students in Global Consulting Fellows study intercultural issues in global management and learn skills in group research and consulting through two courses: Cross-cultural Challenges in Business, and Practicum in Global Consulting. Students work in teams to conduct research and develop feasible business ideas that contribute to business, social and economic development, especially in emerging economies.

While English is a universal business language, acquiring and mastering a foreign language can often give professionals a competitive advantage when doing business abroad. Language competency can often be the gateway to understanding cultural and societal norms that a business person would otherwise not know. For these reasons, CGB partners with the University of Maryland School of Language, Literature, and Culture (SLLC) to encourage Smith School undergraduates to enroll in language programs.

SLLC offers an array of programs in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish as well as programs that bring together language and business.

If you are an undergraduate interested in learning more, please see the SLLC website or email CGB at smithglobal@umd.edu.