We Came, We Saw, We Learned!
The 2002 Villanova University Executive MBA International Experience
Justin Knabb ’05 C & F and Doug Dickel

Thirty-three members of the Villanova University Executive MBA Class of 2003 recently completed a nine-day international experience in China.  The international experience, which is an integral part of the Executive MBA 21-month program, develops the executives’ understanding of the complexities of doing business in a developing economy and their understanding of how to develop strategies to deal with these complexities. It also provides them an opportunity to immerse themselves in the exciting and unique culture of the People’s Republic of China.

The nine days were fast-paced, intense and challenging and at the same time exceptionally rewarding and fun. From plant tours to corporate presentations to informal discussions with Chinese business executives and expatriates to the journey up the Great Wall to walking through Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, every moment of every day made an invaluable addition to the personal and professional experience of each executive.  The executives gained a better understanding of the complexities of doing business in a developing economy, a great appreciation for their Chinese peers, and a great respect for the history and culture of China, which have an indelible impact on doing business in this developing economy.

Over the course of the nine days, the executives had the opportunity to visit and interact with the executives from a wide variety of organizations.  These included:

• the General Manager for the Southern China operations of Air Products Asia (This was arranged through John Paul Jones, III ’72 C.E., Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.)

• 3M’s Industrial Markets Manager for China and Hong Kong

• the Senior Vice President and East Asia Manager for the Philips Lighting Group in China, the Deputy General Manager of Philips’ joint venture Philips & Yaming Lighting Co., and his management team

• the Director of Alcoa’s China Fabrication Operations, the General Manager for Alcoa’s Shanghai plant and his management team

• the President of Boeing China and his senior management team

• the People’s Republic of China Country Manager of TMP Worldwide, the parent of Monster

• the Brand Director from D’Arcy Advertising for Mars in China

• the External Affairs Manager for Mars in China

• the Logistics Manager for the Mars operation in Beijing

• the Quality Manager for the Boeing joint venture BHA Aero Composite Parts Co.

• the Business Manager for the Motorola MOS 17 facility in Tianjin

After days filled with company visits, the students found time to wind down and enjoy the nightlife of Shanghai and Beijing.  In addition, two days were devoted to touring some of the more popular cultural and historical sites.  These included Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, The Temple of Heaven, The Summer Palace and the Great Wall of China.

Traveling with the students from the Executive MBA program were Wenhong Luo, Assistant Professor in the Department of Decision & Information Technologies in the College of Commerce and Finance and Doug Dickel, Associate Director, Graduate Studies in Business.  In addition, 13 guests of the students also accompanied the group.  While the students were participating in the company visits, the guests had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the culture, history and shopping of Shanghai and Beijing.

The 2002 International Experience for the Villanova University Executive MBA program Class of 2003 included opportunities for the executives to: network with their Chinese peers and the expatriates working in China, learn first hand from executives with extensive experience doing business in China about the challenges one faces in a developing economy and how to deal with them, talk with peers about alternative business strategies one can follow in China and the consequences of them, observe first hand plant operations in Shanghai, Beijing and Tianjin, discuss over lunch with expatriates what it is like to live, work and manage in China, walk through the streets of Shanghai and Beijing, haggle in the back alley markets with vendors, climb the Great Wall of China.  It was truly an experience of a life time.

The Villanova University Executive MBA program is a 21-month, fully accredited program that meets every other weekend in residence at the Villanova Conference Center.  The program is developed from the ground up to meet the unique development as well as deliver format needs of today’s executives.  The result is a relevant, dynamic program delivered in an integrative manner that helps executives continue to create business success for themselves and their organizations.  A new group starts the program each August.  More information about the program can be obtained at www.emba.villanova.edu, by calling 610-523-1793, or by sending an email to vemba_info@villanova.edu.

Justin Knabb 05’ C & F is a summer intern in the Executive MBA office.  Doug Dickel is the Associate Director, Graduate Studies in Business who works full time with the Executive MBA program.