The Center for Global Business (CGB) hosted its annual conversation with Eric Peterson, partner and managing director, Global Business Policy Council, Kearney, on Monday, February 8, as part of the Distinguished Speakers in International Business Series (DSS).

The Center for Global Business (CGB) hosted a conversation with Javier Lopez Gonzalez, senior trade policy analyst at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and William Reinsch, senior adviser and Scholl Chair in International Business at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), on Thursday, January 14, 2021, as part of the Distinguished Speakers in International Business Series (DSS).

The Center for Global Business (CGB) presented the second installment of a new series of webinars by the MAPIT Alliance focused on risk when entering international markets. In the webinar, “Choosing and Entering Foreign Markets,” experts shared helpful tips and best practices about how to make informed, strategic decisions and limit risk when considering expanding businesses internationally. They also provided guidance around the types of information to consider when researching potential markets.

Travel had ground to a halt and learning was mostly online in 2020’s fall semester, but at Maryland Smith, global educational experiences were forging ahead in new ways.

Developing a global mindset may require changing one’s way of thinking. For co-founder of Tanzola International LLC, Kevin Tanzola, a global mindset is thinking outside the box and being comfortable with differing opinions, which he admits is not as easy as it sounds. “I think it means something a little bit different to everybody, but for me, it’s breaking away from your traditional way of thinking and being open and honest with other points of view…it's really difficult. I think to have that global mindset, you've got to invite diversity into the conversation.

As the business world is growing more global, recognizing cultural differences and values is an ever-important skill. For Principal Advisor for Strategy and Corporate Affairs at IDB Invest, Alejandro Prada, not only celebrating our differences, but also recognizing what we have in common, is what truly fosters respect and open-mindedness and is the key to developing a global mindset. “Be mindful that there isn’t just one subset of cultural value, so that means being cognizant of differences.

Working in international markets means seeking opportunities outside of familiar markets, and that requires engaging with people from different regions and cultures. For Mikael Baker, senior information and communications technology (ICT) advisor at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), developing a global mindset is key to working effectively in these markets. “In international development, like many fields, it’s important to be able to effectively work with people from different cultures.