This spring, the Center for Global Business worked with two clients through the Maryland Global Consulting Program, a mainstay of the Center's ongoing effort to enhance the global competitiveness of Maryland businesses. This initiative is designed to support these businesses’ expansion into international markets, reflecting the Center's commitment to making a significant impact on the state and regional economy. By providing tailored, actionable strategies based on deep market analyses and culturally nuanced approaches, the program aims to not only extend the global reach of participating companies but also to strengthen Maryland's position in the global marketplace.
In this program, MBAs and Specialty Masters students, dubbed Global Consulting Associates, are matched with clients and empowered to apply their classroom knowledge to complex, real-world business challenges, engaging over 10 weeks with companies aiming for global expansion.
This spring’s clients, the Smith School of Business and Ceracool Inc., each with unique global aspirations, tapped into the fresh perspectives and rigorous analyses provided by the Global Consulting Associates. The Smith School, aiming to extend its educational influence within the MENA region and Turkey, received a tailored market entry strategy that pinpointed optimal markets for its diverse educational programs. One Global Consulting Associate remarked about how valuable the experience was for her, saying, “the program taught her the immense value of cross-disciplinary collaboration and communication. Working alongside students from various programs, she learned how to integrate diverse perspectives and expertise to develop innovative solutions for complex challenges.”
Ceracool Inc., innovators of eco-friendly Radiative Cooling Paint, aimed to tap into international markets with their technology that significantly reduces cooling costs and environmental impact. Engaging with the Global Consulting Associates, Ceracool sought to identify key global regions where their sustainable solutions could meet acute cooling needs. Ceracool’s CEO Brian Toll was impressed with the comprehensive market research from the student team, “The students were highly motivated individuals, and performed a substantial amount of market research that was presented back to us in a comprehensive and thoughtful way covering 3 potential first entry countries. The students were responsive to our feedback and suggestions as the project proceeded, making the final product even better. We strongly recommend this program to other startups looking for help with international go-to-market strategies.”
The center’s consulting programs are intentionally designed to be a win-win opportunity for the companies and the students that they serve. The Global Consulting Associate Program merges academic rigor with practical, impactful business engagements, fostering a new generation of skilled, globally-minded business leaders.
Companies interested in the Maryland Global Consulting Program can visit the website. Students also interested in getting experience through the Global Consulting Associate Program can check out the webpage or contact smithglobal@umd.edu for more information.
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About the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business
The Robert H. Smith School of Business is an internationally recognized leader in management education and research. One of 12 colleges and schools at the University of Maryland, College Park, the Smith School offers undergraduate, full-time and flex MBA, executive MBA, online MBA, business master’s, PhD and executive education programs, as well as outreach services to the corporate community. The school offers its degree, custom and certification programs in learning locations in North America and Asia.