For those looking to succeed in an interconnected global economy, it’s not enough to learn international business in the pages of a textbook or in the confines of a Zoom call. At Willamette MBA, students meet face-to-face with executives at some of the world’s biggest companies — all while learning valuable networking skills and international business principles.
While other MBA programs send students abroad on pre-determined trips, at Willamette MBA, students are in the driver’s seat — arranging site visits, planning the itinerary, and networking with companies in the host country along the way.
“Most MBA programs have professional staff or hire consulting firms to set up trips abroad,” said Ashley Nixon, Professor of Human Resources and Organizational Behavior and co-facilitator of the program. “The students attend the program, but have no influence on which organizations are visited or executives are met.”
Since 2012, Willamette students have been traveling the world with International Management professor Gary Knight. A globally-recognized expert in international business, Knight has co-facilitated trips with Nixon to offer students a unique travel experience. Students have traveled to Asia, Latin America, Europe and more, seeing first hand how culture and geography can impact how business works across the globe.
Knight and Nixon help students maximize their time on the ground, teaching them about the business culture and environment in the country they are planning to visit.
By the time Willamette students land in another country, they’ve already done the work of a logistics firm and a business development team. They aren’t tourists; they are practitioners ready to take advantage of everything the international context can offer.
Managing a journey through Japan’s business capital
This spring, students spent their spring break visiting businesses and meeting with Willamette alumni in Japan. Students learned about the connections between business and government at the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the United States Embassy. They also met with business leaders during site visits at some of the biggest global companies like LinkedIn, Nike, and Intel.
For Edgar Cazaraz MBA’26, working with his classmates to organize the trip to Japan was an eye-opening experience. As he reached out to business leaders and helped arrange visits, he learned the importance of networking while navigating challenges like different business norms and the 16-hour time difference between Oregon and Japan. The experience took Edgar from student to project manager.
“I have always been interested in business in Japan,” Cazaraz said. “I grew up curious about the business culture there because of all the media stereotypes about how bureaucratic it is, as well as how demanding it is to be a ‘salaryman’, among other things. Being able to go there and personally meet with professionals, ask them questions, learn about the way they operate and how it differs or remains similar to business here in the US, and experience that culture I had heard so much about, albeit briefly, was something enticing that I couldn’t pass up on.”
An avid sports fan, a personal highlight for Cazaraz was visiting Nike Japan’s headquarters in Tokyo.
“Being able to sit in the meeting room and actually share ideas about approaches to future projects with key decision makers responsible for Nike’s marketing and strategy in a key market was an experience I don’t think I will be forgetting any time soon,” Cazaraz said.
Papa Amelemah MBA’26 was inspired by everything he experienced in Japan — from its business culture to its food and infrastructure. He took clear lessons from the trip that he can apply to his future career.
“This trip reshaped how I view global business,” said Amelemah. “Japan’s ability to blend tradition, innovation, and operational excellence was something I experienced firsthand, from getting lost in Tokyo’s energy to immersing myself in its culture and food. What I’ll carry forward is how intentionally everything is designed, reinforcing that the strongest systems are built not just on strategy, but on culture and discipline.”
With powerful study abroad experiences under their belt, Willamette MBA students like Cazaraz and Amelemah graduate ready to thrive in a globally-connected business landscape.
“Most organizations function in a global environment, whether it’s relying on global supply chains or existing in a globally competitive environment,” said Nixon. “Learning how organizations and industries differ across the world, provides a competitive advantage for our students as they navigate their careers in this global landscape.”
