Heading Across the World

Yesterday, a friend sent me an email made up of a single quote:

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” – St. Augustine

It was one of those quotes that you have that brief moment of connection with because it seems as if someone else spoke exactly what was on your mind, but of course, said it more eloquently or with some sort of poignant metaphor. That quote is the reason for the IMC Global Trip heading to India and Singapore this September.

The Global Trip is a way for us put our academic knowledge into a global context as we engage with business leaders from other cultures. Past destinations have included London, Paris, China, Japan, etc. This year, our class decided to head to India and Singapore.

The trip is a way for us to see how the marketing toolbox is being leveraged outside of the U.S. and immerse ourselves in the everyday consumption patterns of a different culture. I think it will be an eye-opening experience, personally and professionally. Our goal is to focus on what is relevant when doing business outside the U.S.

I’m excited to head on this adventure that will be the ultimate juxtaposition of business and pleasure. India is a land where temple elephants exist amicably with data centers. The ancient monuments paint a gorgeous backdrop for the world’s largest democracy, and industrial development has brought the country witin the world’s top ten business nations. Singapore will be quite the transition and learning experience to compare the two countries. Singapore is a dynamic melting pot of culture and business and a leader in marketing communications and innovative technology. Singapore’s strategic location, state-of-the art facilities and fascinating cultural contrasts contribute to its success in the global market.

The trip is currently in the planning stage, but the initial decisions and contacts have shown that it is sure to be the experience of a lifetime – one that many of us will never again get in this capacity outside of IMC. We will travel to Delhi, then Mumbai and end in Singapore between the dates of September 1-13. Our hope is to visit a breadth of industries with companies headquartered in the U.S., companies that are native to the regions, and companies from other countries doing business in these areas.

I cannot speak for the group, but on a personal level, I have made a list of touristy things I must do while in these countries. India: shop at a bazaar or market in an attempt to find bangles large enough to fit my Czechoslovakian wrists, see a Bollywood movie, visit a temple, and see the the Taj Mahal at sunrise. Singapore: go to the Night Safari, visit Sentosa island, eat unhealthy amounts of the different types food from Singapore’s fusion culture, and compare Little India to the real thing.

……….Carly Kouba