Collaborative Engagement Set for UW and Pforzheim University MBA Students

Nineteen University of Wyoming second-year students in the College of Business Master of Business Administration (MBA) Program will receive global business experience by working with counterparts from Pforzheim University in Germany.

The UW MBA students will travel to Pforzheim Oct. 21-29 as part of their “Capstone Strategic Management” course, taught by UW College of Business management and marketing Assistant Professor Krista Lewellyn.

Lewellyn and Pforzheim University representatives have collaborated to provide an educational and experiential visit for the students, centered on the theme “Innovation and New Strategies in a Globalized World.”

Pforzheim is a town of nearly 120,000 people in the state of Baden-Württemberg in southwest Germany at the gate to the Black Forest.

One of the key components for UW students is to work with Pforzheim University representatives on a strategic analysis project. One of the unique aspects of the MBA Program is that UW MBA candidates collaborate on the project with Pforzheim University International MBA Program students.

“This allows UW students to gain experience working in multicultural and multidisciplinary teams, substantially benefitting their marketability in the job market upon graduation,” says Tanner Parmely, MBA Program coordinator.

While in Pforzheim, UW students will visit companies and discuss an array of topics, including OFDI (Outflow Foreign Direct Investment), digitalization, innovation and marketing, current challenges for doing business in Europe, and innovation and bringing ideas to fruition.

“In addition to speaking with these companies about their current operating environment, opportunities and threats, UW MBA students also will visit the European Central Bank,” Parmely says.

Lewellyn says she is excited about the opportunity her students will have to collaborate with the Pforzheim International MBA Program students on a project focusing on international strategy for entrepreneurial firms.

“This is a truly value-added aspect of our UW MBA Program compared to other MBA programs that provide international trips to their students,” Lewellyn says. “By working as part of a multicultural team on issues companies face when competing in today's global competitive arena, my students further develop important interpersonal and leadership competencies that will serve them well in their future careers.”

Parmely adds that the international experience provides UW MBA students with experiences that are invaluable in learning about global business, personal competency and effective teamwork in a multicultural setting.

Students attending the trip to Pforzheim, listed by hometown, are:

Auckland, New Zealand -- Alex Knowles.

Billings, Mont. -- Hamilton (Hamp) Smith.

Bixby, Okla. -- Tyler Cope.

Casper -- Brad Orr.

Centennial, Colo. -- Nicholas Reh.

Cheyenne -- Cora Craig and Joshua Meeks.

Evanston -- Keegan Haukaas.

Gillette -- Raleah Cisneros.

Los Angeles, Calif. -- David Hill.

Louisville, Ky. -- Joshua Allgeier.

Parker, Colo. -- Brooke Baker.

Queen Creek, Ariz. -- Michael Way.

San Jose, Calif. -- John Gorrell.

Sheridan -- Dylan Morin.

Star Valley -- Mitchell Schwab and Tyler Skinner.

St. Louis, Mo. -- Sean O’Leary.

Upton -- Dani Esquivel.

For more information about the UW MBA Program, call Parmely at (307) 766-2449 or email tparmely@uwyo.edu.