Australia. Chile. China. France. Iceland. Japan. Kenya. South Africa. Taiwan. The Philippines. Vietnam. These are the countries Tuck MBA students visited in the 2023–2024 academic year as part of the Tuck Global Insight Expedition (GIX) course.
An immersive, experiential learning course that fulfills MBA students’ Bakala TuckGO global learning requirement, the GIX takes students around the globe to gain new perspectives on how business is done in the world—and to foster their intercultural literacy. These skills are critical for tomorrow’s business leaders who will be working for global businesses with increasingly diverse workforces, says Lisa Miller, executive director of the Bakala TuckGO program.
“Most if not all of our students will do international work,” says Miller. “In doing so, they will almost certainly encounter unfamiliar ways of building business relationships, communicating information, motivating staff, and negotiating deals, to name just a few. In addition, even in their home countries, they will be surrounded by rich diversity. If they are self-aware, open-minded, and adaptable, they can thrive in such environments, and help others to thrive too. We’re thrilled to help our students foster these capabilities by enabling them to experience firsthand the different values, perspectives, and business norms around the world.”
Most if not all of our students will do international work. … We’re thrilled to help our students foster these capabilities by enabling them to experience firsthand the different values, perspectives, and business norms around the world.
— Lisa Miller, Executive Director, Bakala TuckGO Program
When reflecting on the past year, Miller says she is most excited about international travel returning to pre-pandemic patterns. “Many of our students have already traveled to Western Europe, so this year it was exciting to see them travel to and experience countries in Asia and Africa as well. Miller herself traveled to Kenya with a group of students and Professor Ramon Lecuona Torras.
Titled “Kenya: The Silicon Savannah” the Kenya GIX is a project-based course that blends classroom instruction and field visits to local startups, where students engaged directly with entrepreneurs and business leaders. Kenya, with its burgeoning startup scene and innovative spirit, offered students a unique environment to explore social impact ventures in the country.
“Kenya is a hub of entrepreneurial activity,” says Miller. “From fintech to agritech, Kenyan startups are leveraging technology to solve local problems and create scalable solutions. Our students were able to witness this innovation firsthand and understand how their ecosystems operate.”
Students were asked to examine clients’ ecosystems—including their constituencies and product delivery strategy—leveraging Tuck professor Ron Adner’s Innovation Ecosystems framework. They were then asked to lead consulting projects for the nonprofit clients, offering fresh perspectives and strategic recommendations to help these businesses grow.
“Working with Kenyan startups was incredibly eye-opening,” says Vidya Krovvidi T’24 of the Kenya GIX. “We learned about resourcefulness and resilience, qualities that are crucial for any entrepreneur. The lessons we took away from Kenya are invaluable and will undoubtedly influence our future careers.”
Learn more about the 2023–2024 Global Insight Expeditions through reflections from first- and second-year Tuck MBA students.
Global Insight Expeditions: Inclusive Business in Australia and Globalization in Vietnam
By Ryann Miguel T’25 and Will Burroughs T’25
Locations: Australia; Vietnam
“The most impactful site visit for me was to First Australians Capital, a firm that exists specifically to invest in Indigenous entrepreneurs. During our visit, we had the opportunity to meet with two team members in a historic building near St. Kilda. Their passion and philosophy gave me a new perspective on investing. As someone who pursued an MBA to be able to do more in the service of others, I was newly energized to think outside the box and challenge myself to apply course material in innovative, value-driven ways,” writes Ryann Miguel T’25.
Global Insight Expeditions: Technology in Taiwan & Future-Proofing in France
By Hope Matthews T’24 and Yalcin Oney T’24
Locations: Taiwan; France
“During this visit, we also were joined by Peter Kurz D’79, who shared a presentation on the history and background of Taiwan. It was extremely helpful to have this introduction on our first day, as it set the stage for the rest of our trip. Above all, I found it fascinating to find parts of Tuck and Dartmouth on the literal other side of the world, and it emphasized to me the enduring strength of the Tuck bond,” writes Hope Matthews T’24.
Global Insight Expeditions: Sustainable Agriculture in France & Navigating Innovation in Japan
By Abhi Sikri T’24 and Nicole Kutteth T’24
Locations: France; Japan
“The appeal of Japan as a GIX location lies in its iconic status as a crucible of operational excellence. The blend of rich cultural discipline with pioneering business methodologies, like the Toyota Production System, exemplifies a commitment to perfection and continuous improvement deeply ingrained in the national psyche,” writes Abhi Sikri T’24.
Global Insight Expeditions: Innovation in Chile & AI in China
By Ashwin Chandrasekhar T’24 and Fiona Frick T’24
Locations: Chile; China
“My interest in the GIX to China was multifaceted. As part of the leadership development program at Tuck, I articulated my leadership vision as enabling “diverse teams to harness the full potential of its diversity.” This vision fueled my curiosity about China's capacity for building a global business, as well as exploring the potential for bridging the gap between nations experiencing strained relations, particularly the USA, India, and China,” writes Ashwin Chandrasekhar T’24.
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