From the fishcake factories of Busan to the white marble halls of the Taj Mahal, Bryant MBA students got a firsthand education in international business and culture during 2025 Global Immersion Experience (GIE) trips to India and South Korea — both first-time destinations for the school’s graduate experiential learning program.
Snacks and strategy in Seoul
Led by faculty advisors Associate Professor of Marketing Kacy Kim, Ph.D., and Professor of Marketing Sukki Yoon, Ph.D., the 48 MBA students who landed in South Korea in February were clad in parkas for much of the trip. But the winter chill on the Korean Peninsula did nothing to cool their enthusiasm for the country and its people.
Fishcakes are popular snacks in South Korea, and between noshing on western fast food like Korea’s unique spin on KFC (customers can bring their own beer to drink, for example) students brainstormed about how Americans could be sold on the idea of fishcakes the way that they’ve learned to embrace Korean barbecue and kimchi.
The GIE group also visited a local bakery, mingled with locals while shopping in Busan, explored the royal Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul, nibbled on live octopus, and met with leaders of prominent Korean companies.
At a family owned restaurant in Busan called Samhun, students pitched marketing strategies on how the owners could enter the U.S. market. For example, “Ours consisted of strong target segments, a distribution strategy, and a digital marketing strategy all tied together with a mock influencer video,” says Paige Zuberr-Weishaus, ‘25MBA, who was interviewed by the city’s largest newspaper about her group’s findings.
“From a business perspective South Korea has an interesting dynamic because it neighbors big countries like China and Japan,” says Yoon. Noting the rise of K-Pop and its epicenter in Seoul’s Gangnam district, he adds, “Korean culture is really huge now, and its economic boom is a big story” as well as an important learning opportunity for Bryant students.
From Bollywood to business
Bryant’s annual Research and Engagement Day (REDay) in April 2025 was equal parts presentation and celebration for the 36 MBA students who shared tales of Indian elephant rides and visits to temples, healthcare facilities, Parliament, and other experiences from a packed itinerary that ranged from New Delhi to Jaipur to Rajasthan.
Students clad in shimmering saris and flowing Sherwani jackets channeled the energy of one of the trip’s highlights: making a Bollywood-inspired video of dancing in traditional Indian clothing at the Taj Mahal. The Bryant group also walked in the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi on the famous Salt Satyagraha, a 24-day protest march against Great Britain’s colonial rule that was a pivotal step on the road to India’s independence.
“The visit sparked conversations about the nonviolent resistance movement and the broader freedom struggle led by Gandhi,” says Economics Professor Ramesh Mohan, Ph.D., who led the GIE trip along with Leila Zbib, Ph.D., assistant professor of Finance.
“From understanding global innovation at Global Capability Centers (GCCs) to exploring the fintech revolution, we gained hands-on learning that bridged classroom theory with real-world applications,” adds Mohan. “These experiences enhanced our perspective on international markets and global business strategies.”
“From understanding global innovation at Global Capability Centers (GCCs) to exploring the fintech revolution, we gained hands-on learning that bridged classroom theory with real-world applications."
Bryant’s India-based alumni community welcomed the students with open arms. Shivaan Sahni ‘15, managing director at Panorama Exports, led a tour of the company’s garment factory, giving students the opportunity to learn about supply chain management, efficiency optimization, bottleneck identification, and waste minimization. They also attended an alumni reception at the Delhi home of Chander Agarwal ‘01, managing director of TCI Express and the recipient of this year’s Nelson J. Gulski Alumni Service Award.
Exploring India and meeting with Bryant alums in their homes were highlights for Maximus Villar ’24 ‘25MBA, captain of the Bulldogs football team, who earned his undergraduate degree in Finance at Bryant after transferring from Georgetown University as a sophomore.
“We got to see a culture I've never been around and it was a great experience,” he says. “The people were so nice; they would come up to us and take pictures and were super personable. I’ll remember my MBA as my favorite year in college.”