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DALLAS, Texas (SMU) – The students have their country assignments, and Friday, November 22, marks the beginning preparations for the American Airlines Global Leadership Program (GLP), a mandatory two-week international trip for first-year Cox MBA students.

In its fourth year, the GLP continues its momentum to provide a global business education. The kick-off orientation, the first of six, begins with a roundtable discussion featuring former GLP participants and prominent representatives from each of the three regions – Asia, Europe, and Latin America, including Hu Yeshun, Consul General from the People’s Republic of China; Lu Jianguang, Commercial Consul from the People’s Republic of China; Wang Zhenshan, Vice Consul for the People’s Republic of China; Kunio Ishida, Deputy Consul General from Japan; Paul Martinez, Consul General from the United Kingdom; Bertrand Pelletier, Former Honorary Consul of France in Seattle, WA; P. Jay Werner, Director of American Council on Germany, Eric Warburg Chapter, Dallas; Ambassador Ezequiel Padilla, Consul General of Mexico; Mr. Alberto Ianiello, President of the U.S. Argentina Chamber of Commerce; and Mrs. Maria Thereza Neisler, Cox MBA 2001 from Brazil.
As the GLP veterans enlighten the 124 first-year MBAs about their upcoming adventure, the Consular Generals and representatives will cover information relative to each GLP country, including geography, culture, history, politics, and business policies. “Understanding the complex business, economic, and cultural environments in foreign countries is essential to success in today’s global economy,” said Linda Kao, director of International Programs at the Cox School of Business. “The GLP gives our students the opportunity to learn firsthand how different companies around the world are dealing with a range of issues, including the current economic slowdown.”

The GLP is an innovative international business experience, unique to the Cox School of Business. All first-year MBA students are assigned to one of three groups visiting major cities in Asia (Taipei, Shanghai, Beijing, and Tokyo), Europe (Frankfurt, London, and Paris), or Latin America (Buenos Aires, Monterrey, Rio de Janeiro, and Sao Paulo). During the two-week trips, students meet with business executives, managers, and government representatives while examining a range of issues – how marketing approaches vary among countries, how culture influences the manner in which business is conducted, and how government and trade regulation affect overall economic structure. At the conclusion of the trips, students participate in a three-day symposium on the SMU campus to share their observations with the Cox community, American Airlines’ executives, and the Dallas business community.

Funded by American Airlines, the GLP is offered at no charge to Cox students. SMU's Cox School of Business offers a full range of business education programs, from BBA and full-time MBA to Professional MBA (PMBA), Executive MBA (EMBA), and Executive Education. Cox is ranked among the top business schools nationally and internationally by major publications including Business Week, Financial Times, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and U.S. News & World Report. In addition, the school's Business Leadership Center (BLC), Caruth Institute of Owner-Managed Business, American Airlines Global Leadership Program (GLP), and Associate Board executive mentoring program are nationally and internationally recognized.