The Center for Social Value Creation’s Impact Consulting Fellowship (ICF) program at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business provides for students (both Smith and non-Smith at UMD) at the undergrad, masters and doctoral levels to work in cross-functional teams to provide pro-bono consulting services to impact-driven organizations across the country, as well as internationally.

Prior to COVID-19, United Source One had experienced multiple "near deaths," according to President and CEO Michael Imgarten of the exporter that specializes in supplying premium beef and other food products to high-end restaurants. By June 2020, exports were down 95%. At that level, many companies would close operations, he said, especially "a young entrepreneurial company specializing in international business, which is an extra layer of complexity."

The Center for Global Business (CGB) successfully closed out a fully virtual 2020-21 academic year delivering programming that continued to support its mission of being the driving force behind global learning at Maryland Smith.

Investing in a pandemic era is challenging. But students from Maryland Smith’s Global Equity Fund were determined to rise to the moment.

The Center for Global Business organized a virtual site visit with FlyWheel Digital for ten Maryland Smith students as part of the second International Business (IB) Trek in Maryland on Friday, April 30, 2021. The IB Trek in Maryland provides opportunities for undergraduate and graduate Maryland Smith students to learn from Maryland-headquartered companies about how they do business across borders and their industry and business culture, all while highlighting international business originating from Maryland.

In a year like no other for the markets, a team of Maryland Smith undergraduates showed that they can succeed no matter what the circumstances. Over a year, beginning in April 2020, 10 undergraduate students at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business led the Lemma Senbet Fund to outperform the S&P 500 by 12%, growing it to just above $1.5 million.

It’s been a tough year to make predictions in financial markets, but Maryland Smith MBA students have been up to the challenge. In the 12 months beginning April 2020, Maryland Smith’s team of Mayer Fund full-time MBA students helped the fund outperform the S&P 500 by 14.79% and grow it to roughly $7 million through appreciation and investment decisions.

Company Leaders, Exporting Experts to Discuss Best Practices in Global Business Perseverance Through COVID Disruption

During TechFest 2021, undergraduate students from the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business took home top honors in the KPMG Excel Competition. Hosted by the Department of Decision, Operations and Information Technologies, the competition was open to all UMD students. 

The Maryland Smith chapter of the American Marketing Association drew several accolades at the 2021 International Collegiate Conference. The chapter was recognized as outstanding in three categories: Chapter Planning, Membership and Internal/External Communications. The 2020-21 academic year has been filled with challenges, but the chapter’s executive team demonstrated that they could rise to those challenges. The team successfully transitioned the chapter to the online environment, seeing an impressive 60% increase in membership applications.