More than 7,200 students from 131 countries are currently Spartans pursuing degrees from Michigan State University. And each year, the university sends nearly 3,000 students abroad on more than 275 programs on all seven continents.
Sanjay Gupta, dean of the Eli Broad College of Business, took two weeks for a global experience of his own, traveling to two of China’s commerce hubs, visiting the world’s most innovative companies, and touring leading universities to meet with fellow business deans and faculty.
Over 50 attendees attended the first MSU Executive Forum, at which MBA alum and founder of FinTell Financial Services Dr. Jing Wang spoke.
“Each time I travel to China, I feel awestruck. The energy, the activity, the opportunities, and the culture are remarkable,” Gupta said. “Meeting our global alumni, partnering universities, and our corporate partners and friends brings a new perspective on the international business challenges and what we need to do to prepare our students to develop a more global perspective,” he said.
During Gupta’s visit, the university’s Office for International Advancement hosted its first-ever MSU International Executive Forum in Shanghai, which brought together Spartan alumni and business leaders for an evening with keynote speaker Dr. Jing Wang, a Broad MBA alumnus, and founder and chair of the board of directors of FinTell Financial Services. Over 50 attendees heard the executive address about Dr. Wang’s MSU experiences and how they have influenced his career. He shared lessons from his MSU experiences centered around four themes: global, community, kindness, and pride.
“Seeing our alumni achieving great things across the world is humbling, and we’re so grateful that they’re engaged and active participants in our global community,” Gupta said.
Among the universities Gupta visited included Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (SUFE).
Among the stops in his two-week trip were visits with Accenture, Apple, Deloitte, Disney, EY Consulting, GE and General Motors. He also visited Dalian University of Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai University of Finance & Economics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s Antai College of Economics and Management, and China European International Business School (CEIBS). With these global deans, Gupta discussed Broad College’s programs, strengths and innovations, and potential collaborations on initiatives in the future.
“Around the world, higher education is changing rapidly and transforming fundamentally to prepare the next generation of business leaders. Staying connected and cultivating relationships with fellow global leaders in business education will position our institution for success as we refine our curriculum and pursue new initiatives,” Gupta said.
