South Africa Study Tour Expands Global Business Perspectives

For many MBA students, global business can feel like a distant concept until they gain real-world experience. FAU’s Executive Education programs offer students international study opportunities for this very reason. This summer, students immersed themselves in the culture of South Africa: visiting Robben Island, hearing firsthand from a winemaker who overcame poverty and now exports wine to the U.S., and speaking face-to-face with energy executives confronting Africa’s toughest infrastructure challenges and the transition to renewable energy.

Faculty member Dr. Yannick Thams led this experience, taking students to Cape Town and Johannesburg, where they explored business operations, telecommunication infrastructures, public health systems, and the historical and cultural dynamics shaping the country’s economy and vibrant business ecosystem.

“South Africa is part of Africa, but it’s incredibly unique,” said Dr. Thams. “There’s a richness in culture, history, languages, business practices, and industries that helped students develop a multidimensional view of business and further their global mindset… South Africa is a crossroads of the world.”

Students visited firms in telecommunications, renewable energy, and healthcare, all sectors with global reach but specific local challenges. At a telecom company, they heard about challenges in entering the U.S. market, where consumer trust barriers pose major hurdles. They also learned how Africa is far from being a homogeneous continent and discovered key cultural differences between tackling French-speaking African markets and English-speaking African nations in terms of attitudes toward time, language barriers, and more.

During an on-site visit to a public children’s hospital treating rare diseases and managing the impact of AIDS, they spoke with administrators and fundraisers, gaining insights into how public-private partnerships function in resource-limited environments.

“It was eye-opening and very humbling,” said Dr. Thams. “For students in healthcare, operations management, or business administration, this experience brought to life the realities of international healthcare systems and how interconnected issues related to politics (at the local and national levels), poverty, corruption, infrastructure challenges, and unemployment can be. The tour also spotlighted stories of innovation and resilience.”

One industry excursion to a woman-owned winery left a lasting impression. The owner, one of seven sisters from a family divided by poverty, shared her path to success, from humble beginnings to selling her wine on international airlines. “It was about more than wine,” Dr. Thams noted. “It was about overcoming systemic barriers. Her story helped students connect with the human side of global business.”

Students also engaged with energy business leaders and met with executives from Energy Venture Capital (a venture capital fund solely dedicated to sustainability) and Eskom, South Africa’s state-owned utility. Their conversations explored sustainable development, financing strategies, and the complexities of scaling renewable energy in emerging markets.

Throughout the trip, students absorbed the country’s rich contrasts, from townships and public hospitals to pristine beaches, penguins, lions, and New England-style architecture. Every encounter highlighted South Africa’s cultural fusion and business potential.

“There’s so much universality to what we saw,” said Dr. Thams. “It helped students compare and connect U.S. practices with foreign business practices.” From a personal standpoint, many students were touched by the universal and inspirational words of wisdom of leaders such as Nelson Mandela, recipient of the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize.

By the end of their international journey, students had not only witnessed the global economy in action, but they had also lived it. They returned with deeper cultural awareness, new business insights, and a stronger global mindset. In their own words, they shared how the trip impacted them and will shape their careers:

“We began in Cape Town, then traveled to Johannesburg—each city offering its own powerful lessons in culture, history, and business. I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn alongside such an inspiring group of classmates.”

~Kevin Choi, EMBA student 

 

“I had the opportunity to visit and learn about the healthcare system in South Africa. The Children’s Hospital Fund is doing amazing work, and they need support. This has been one of my favorite experiences in my career!”

~David Velasquez, EMBA student

 

“This experience in South Africa was very humbling. It surpassed all my thoughts. Visiting the country makes you realize what you have and the harsh reality of people.”

~Victor Panov, Online MBA student

 

“This was more than a professional learning journey; it was a great trip overall. I learned so much about South African culture, and I was truly moved by the warmth, resilience, and generosity of the people we met. Visiting Mandela House and the Apartheid Museum left a lasting impression, deepening my understanding of ethical leadership, social justice, and the power of collective resilience.”

~Kadian Goldson, Executive Master of Health Administration student

 

-FAU-