Smith Creates a Passport to a Global Mindset

Smith student Philip Peker ’18 writes about the Global Young Professionals Institute on Nov. 11, 2016, at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. 

On Friday, Nov. 11, 2016, freshman at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business were invited to take part in the Global Young Professionals Institute as part of the Smith Start Program. The Global Young Professionals Institute seeks to provide preliminary tools for first-year undergraduates to begin thinking about the importance of a global mindset, both in academic and professional settings. The global mindset is more than just a tagline; it is an involved and deep way of thinking that touches every facet of life. There are seven global mindset competencies and they are:

1. Tolerance of ambiguity
2. Global business savvy
3. Cultural curiosity
4. Adaptability
5. Self awareness and humility
6. Relationship building
7. Passion for diversity

Keeping these in mind and actively developing each one as students grow through their years at Smith is an essential factor for success. Whether you’re working on a project with international students, analyzing global market trends, studying economics in Europe, or working on a micro financing project in an emerging market, being globally minded will help you impact your community and the people around you quicker and better.

The event commenced with Associate Dean Victor Mullins taking the stage and introducing the agenda for the day. Once the students were engaged and excited, Dean Mullins introduced the first of four guests for the afternoon.

Rebecca Bellinger is the managing director of Smith’s Office of Global Initiative and the Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER) at UMD. She sets the standard for global learning at the school and curates how students go about exploring global education. She briefed the students on how many different opportunities there are to get involved in the global community at Smith and on campus. From internships, service trips, and research projects, Smith is a global mecca for diverse and exploratory academics.

Next up was Anthony Calderazzi, a partner in the Assurance Practice at Ernst and Young, as well as a proud alumnus of Smith. He touched upon how crucial it is for students to have not only diverse experiences, but a diverse and adaptable mindset. Employers don’t care that you have been to 20 different countries; what did you do with those experiences that helped you develop as a professional?

Kristen Merrill, campus recruiter for T. Rowe Price, talked about how crucial a global mindset is in an increasingly globalized and interconnected digital professional community.

Finally, keynote speaker Kaplan Mobray took the stage. As an award-winning author, motivational speaker and the most energetic man you will ever meet, it wasn’t a surprise to see the students’ eyes light up when he began to talk. Mobray discussed the importance of self-activation and curiosity. It is essential to continue “stretching your curiosity to understand what’s happening in the world” he remarked. He had the students participate in team-building ideas and then evaluate what worked and what didn’t. Oftentimes, the best way to learn about yourself is to see how you work with others. There was no time for breaks as his nonstop interactive presentation had the students thinking, doing and reflecting.

Students were challenged to develop their global mindset through the Passport to Global Mindset. Introduced by OGI’s Chris Olson, the Passport outlines activities for each global mindset competency that can be accomplished during their four years at the Smith School. For example, someone might develop their adaptability through the Smith School’s Global Internship Program.