Morocco and Spain Bring Business Insight
By Caroline Kent
In October, Executive MBA (EMBA) students, class of 2026, embarked on their international immersion trip through Morocco and Spain — a journey that blended global business insight, cultural discovery and personal growth.
In Casablanca, students were immediately struck by the city’s balance of modern energy and deep tradition. Visits to landmarks like the Hassan II Mosque offered a powerful reminder of Morocco’s artistry and spirituality.
“Visiting the Hassan II Mosque was peaceful and grounding,” shared EMBA student Janine Newman Ezimoha, who works as the workers’ compensation claims team lead at Sedgwick.
The group’s day trip to Rabat deepened their understanding of Morocco’s royal legacy and modern identity. “Market negotiations taught me the power of collective bargaining — better deals come when buying as a unified group,” said Jessica Graff, who is founder and principal consultant of 14 Management LLC. “Moroccan culture shapes business fundamentally: Meals are communal and unhurried; markets prioritize conversation over transactions and relationships come before deals.”
In Skhirat, the cohort toured Fruit of the Loom to learn about global manufacturing and supply chains, visited Procter & Gamble to explore leadership development and concluded at Maghreb Steel, linking industrial innovation with sustainability.
The group then transitioned from North African markets to European innovation in Barcelona. The group’s European itinerary included a session with NIU MBA alumnus Chandru Shankar, who has built a career that spans continents and industries. Students were inspired by his talk
Students met with leaders at ACCIÓ Catalonia Trade & Investment to see how the region drives entrepreneurship and sustainability, explored the Port of Barcelona’s major logistics hub and ended at Familia Torres Winery, where environmental stewardship connected leadership, sustainability and legacy.
Professor Eric Michel accompanied the students on this trip, which is the focal point of the international management course in the EMBA curriculum.
“This trip gave NIU’s EMBA students invaluable insight into how business and culture intersect across borders,” Michel said. “The immersion experience underscored that effective global leadership begins with curiosity, learning and human connection — values this cohort of students embodied throughout their travels.
For more information about our Executive MBA program and our international immersion trip experience, visit go.niu.edu/EMBA.
