Center for Global Business Participates in 2019 Smith in the City - DC, for International Business Trek

Santiago Luna, the coordinator for the Center for Global Business at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business, writes about SUSA's annual Smith in the City event, held this year in Washington D.C.

This past March, the Smith Undergraduate Student Association (SUSA) hosted its annual Smith in the City in Washington, D.C. for Smith students to learn about career possibilities in their area of study and to gain exposure to the culture of specific companies. The Center for Global Business supported the International Business (IB) major trek, to encourage students to learn international business concepts and career paths. Students visited the United States Department of State, World Bank, and the United Nations.

Smith in the City is designed to challenge students by encouraging them to thoroughly research site visits, prepare adequate questions for the speakers, and hone in on proper etiquette for the meetings. Senior student leaders are selected to coordinate the logistics and communication between the Smith School and the site visits. The IB trek is part of a larger portfolio of on-campus programs supported by CGB that helps students connect concepts learned in the classroom with real-world global opportunities. CGB worked with student trek leaders on identifying and connecting with companies in the DMV for site visits, as well as with staff support during Smith in the City.

Natalia Jamro, student leader for the International Business trek, said: “It was a great learning experience to organize and attend the International Business Trek with Smith in the City. We had the opportunity to meet staff and leaders within the State Department, World Bank, and United Nations. We asked many questions to really uncover and understand the scope and responsibilities of a career in this sector. It was also humbling to see the work behind all the initiatives and projects that are changing the world, from the commitment of a State Department's foreign servant to the research supplementing World Bank development initiatives. As for organizing the trip, I would recommend this experience to any junior or senior! It's great for pushing your time management, organizational, and professional outreach skills.”

Smith in the City is a biannual event of SUSA and takes place in Washington, D.C. in the spring and in New York City in the fall. This year’s Washington, D.C. trip was composed of six industry categories with 70 student participants. A total of 14 companies were visited.

“The IB trek in Washington, D.C. gives students the opportunity to explore the intersection of international business and international relations,” said Rebecca Bellinger, executive director of CGB, “We hope that this cross-disciplinary learning will inspire students to consider a broad array of options in their career searches.”

Learn more about the Center for Global Business.

The support for the Center for Global Business was provided in part by CIBE, a Title VI grant from the U.S. Department of Education.