“Through an immersive 3D simulation involving scripts and actors, participants can be plunged into a lifelike conference room setting with a debate in full swing, or a tense close-quarters negotiation with fraught power dynamics on display,” says Stern. “Just as they would in life, they must use their wits and powers of perception to come to grips with the situation and determine next steps.”

VR experiences help students learn about themselves. Students also take part in in-depth collective discussions to maximize those individual insights.

“We don't envision that virtual reality will replace existing executive educational tools and approaches, rather it will add a new dimension to the classroom – both virtually and physically – without taking anything away,” says Stern.

EMBA student Jill Yang was surprised to learn the accessibility of government officials and the many ways that private citizens can help drive change, such as joining special committees and contacting politicians.

“Prior to this trip, the only role I thought I had in politics was to vote and that was where my impact ended,” says Yang. “I feel so empowered after the trip knowing I can do so much more for my community.”

Students visited Silicon Valley next, where they met with executives and LMU alumni at some of the top innovative companies in the world including Google, Dell, Oracle, Jabil, and Absolute EMS. They also explored the Computer History Museum and Apple Park Visitor Center.

Overall, the students enjoyed hearing insights from government and business leaders working at the intersection of business and policy through the lens of innovation.

“I learned that a big part of innovation in government or business is about relationships, asking the right questions and building a creative team with diverse skill sets,” says Ruth Amanuel. “The trip brought to life the impact of both public and private sectors on driving this trillion-dollar California economy forward.”

For Mike McKenzie, the experience opened his eyes to a new approach for team collaboration and effectiveness that he plans to implement in the workplace.

“The time we spent with various companies and legislators created a different narrative for each of my classmates – very different takes from the same meeting,” says McKenzie. “Post-meeting takeaways are so valuable and will now be part of my team’s roadmap going forward. I want to take the time to learn from each participant to create a more collaborative and worthwhile experience.”

As part of the summer course, students must analyze a company and identify how that company does (and does not) foster and support innovation. After returning to Los Angeles, student teams completed a Trip Findings Report recapping what they learned and later presented an analysis of their data and recommendations for the company.

“We’re thrilled to be able to foster an experience like this for our students, that brings together learning and action,” says Beamer, director of Executive Programs at LMU. “Hearing and seeing our participants so engaged was tremendously reaffirming. A highlight was hearing students discuss how they planned on applying what they had learned into their communities and workplaces.”

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In September the new class of Charlotte students gathered in Chapel Hill for orientation along with the new entering Evening Executive MBA students. This shared orientation immediately expands the students’ networks in the Charlotte and Triangle areas. Classes began in Charlotte in October.

“For many years, the Charlotte business community has been deeply supportive of us offering our program there,” says Shackelford. “We will make the most of being in Charlotte: We don’t just view it as a new location to deliver an MBA program but as way to meet the needs of, engage with, and strengthen our connections with the Charlotte business community. We’re also excited to connect more deeply with our 4,437 alumni in the Charlotte region.”

While designing the UNC Kenan-Flagler Charlotte Executive MBA Program, school leaders used the opportunity to re-think the school’s other programs for working professionals.

They adjusted the schedules for the Charlotte, Evening, and Weekend Executive MBA Programs, keeping the number of credit hours (62) the same for all three programs, with 37 from required classes and 25 from electives. They adopted a consistent calendar across all working professional programs, as well. The new schedules allow for deep relationships in program cohorts, as well as broadening connections across all programs.

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Wharton Alumni Fellows represent industries such as health care, finance, technology and product development, venture capital, strategy and operations, and more. Career Advancement team members thoroughly vet fellows, who also complete training in career advising.

Current WEMBA students can access the ACF website to review the fellows’ bios and identify which alum offers the best fit for them. The students can choose to meet with a different Alumni Career Fellow each term, maximizing their opportunity to receive valuable advice from the dedicated alumni volunteers. 

Current EMBA students always can access the global Wharton alumni network through a myriad of other channels, programs, and offerings. With the launch of the ACF Program, Wharton is providing even more opportunities for current EMBA students to build meaningful relationships with alumni and enhance the strength of the Wharton alumni network, now 100,000-plus strong.

“With the help of our partners at Athens University of Economics and Business, the meetings and site visits greatly exceeded our expectations,” says Kohli.  “From meeting the Minister of Digital Governance to learning how OTE transformed its telecommunications business after the financial crisis to observing the digitization of the Athens Stock Exchange, we witnessed the ingenuity and resilience of the Greek people.”

Access to executive leaders and ministers brought the course work, lectures, and case studies on digital transformation to life.

“One of the reasons I selected William & Mary for my EMBA was the opportunity to experience two global immersions where classroom lectures partner with hands-on experiences,” says EMBA student Allison Berry. “The immersions were an outstanding learning experience.”

While the pandemic limited global travel for the past couple years, it also put global trade and supply chain challenges in the spotlight.

“The immersion to South Africa gave our students the opportunity to see the concepts explored throughout the program in a very interesting setting,” says Allred. “South Africa presents an interesting contrast of straddling both the developing and developed worlds. This immersion experience was a wonderful way to conclude the EMBA Program.”

Students appreciated the added element of studying global business in a post-COVID world.

“Experiencing another global market at this particular time was a great opportunity,” says EMBA student Tony Divaris.  “The global immersions put you on your path to making a difference for the betterment of those around you.”