From Maryland to Medellín: A Journey of Global Leadership and Experiential Learning

This summer, Carlos Del Rio ’26, Hamid Shabbir ’27, and Vasiley Syomin ’28 were selected to represent the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business at the 2025 Consortium for Undergraduate International Business Education (CUIBE) Global Summer Leadership Summit in Medellín, Colombia. Sponsored by the Title VI CIBE grant and the Center for Global Business, the program brought together emerging business leaders from across the Americas to explore international strategy, innovation, and sustainability in one of Latin America’s most vibrant cities.

Del Rio, Class of 2026, is a finance and accounting major; Shabbir, an OMBA student expected to graduate in May 2027; and Syomin, Class of 2028, is majoring in finance. They joined peers for an immersive week of leadership workshops, cultural exploration and project-based learning. The experience challenged students to step into the mindset of global consultants and changemakers—an opportunity each UMD delegate embraced fully.

A highlight of the summit was a consulting-style capstone project, where students were tasked with designing business solutions to real global challenges. Del Rio and Shabbir teamed up to develop a sustainability-focused energy proposal, combining strategic analysis with financial modeling to make a compelling case for clean energy expansion in Latin America. Their project incorporated tools such as discounted cash flow analysis, break-even projections and ESG-aligned investment frameworks. The team presented their findings to an audience of international faculty and Ph.D.-level scholars—an experience that tested both their technical skills and ability to communicate complex ideas across cultures.

Meanwhile, Syomin partnered with other summit participants to tackle a consulting challenge centered on sustainable tourism and community development, culminating in a high-level presentation to the academic panel.

Beyond the classroom, students engaged in field research with Café Capilla del Rosario, a Colombian coffee company exploring international investment opportunities through a partnership with Taiwanese stakeholders. This live business dialogue gave students a rare lens into global capital negotiations and the intricacies of building sustainable supply chains.

While the academic rigor of the summit was undeniable, the cultural immersion proved equally transformative. From exploring the steep, mural-lined streets of Comuna 13 to sailing across the lakes of Guatapé, students experienced Colombia’s evolving narrative firsthand. Company visits, ceramic traditions and graffiti tours offered practical insights into how global firms operate within local ecosystems.

Throughout the week, students built meaningful connections with more than 20 student leaders from across North and South America. For UMD’s representatives, the summit was more than a study abroad experience—it was a shift in perspective. The opportunity to navigate cross-cultural collaboration, conduct real-world research and present to international faculty expanded their confidence and clarity as future business leaders.

This opportunity was made possible in part by CIBE, a Title VI grant from the U.S. Department of Education.