Global Business Immersion
During the Easter semester, nine students examined the business trends and structures in the emerging markets of Singapore and Vietnam. Director of the Babson Center for Global Commerce Myles Elledge instructed students on the political, social, and economic histories of each country and explained the business practices, culture, protocol, and customs of Southeast Asia. After reading economic development texts and case studies of conglomerates and new start-ups in the region, the group traveled to Singapore and Vietnam for a three-week field study away.
During the high-energy summer program, students immersed themselves in the Southeast Asia business ecosystem, diving deep into understanding the emerging "tiger economies" of Singapore and Vietnam. They engaged in 16 business meetings in Singapore, Hanoi, and Saigon, meeting with government economic leaders, start-up firms, business researchers, and leading technology, sustainable finance, and hospitality firms in each country. Each stop also included days of exploration, with highlights including an executive tour of Singapore's historic Raffles Hotel, a two-night cruise on Halong Bay, a bike trip through Cat Ba National Park, and an excursion to Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City to watch vendors hawking their merchandise.
