An Integrated Approach to Global Executive Education

The Massry School of Business building

By Siobhan Treacy

 

ALBANY, N.Y. (September 12, 2025) - In today's global economy, understanding international markets is essential for aspiring business professionals. Successful professionals stand out by understanding cultures beyond their own. Through a partnership between the Massry School of Business and the International Business School (IBS) Americas International College, aspiring leaders can participate in the Business Executive Programs to gain experience in an American business environment.

The Business Executive Programs offer three-week courses designed to broaden participants’ global perspectives. Combining academic training with firsthand experience, students earn a professional certificate, enhance their business English skills, and develop practical expertise through seminars, workshops, and visits to leading Albany businesses, including Plug Power, CDTA, and Broadview Credit Union.

A Triad of Transformative Learning

The program integrates three practical learning elements:
  • Business English study — ESL specialists provide instruction focused on vocabulary and communication skills for negotiations, presentations, and networking in a business setting.
  • Company visits — Participants gain an inside look at the American business landscape through visits to leading local companies such as Plug Power, CDTA and Broadview Credit Union.

Bridging Continents in the Classroom

The program features local and international faculty with global experience, including D.Sc. Marcus Nakagawa, IBS invited professor and academic leader, from Escola Superior de Propaganda e Marketing in Brazil . Nakagawa travels to Albany for the summer session and highly values the program.
Nakagawa highlights the program's cross-cultural exchange as a strength: “To be a professional, you need to see beyond your country and your company. The most important skill for young professionals is having a well-rounded view of business culture. Professionals need to see the internationality of business, and all of our program's courses showcase just that.”
“When you attend an international school outside your home country, you learn through the mindset of international professors,” he continued. “I think this is important for business professionals to experience. One of the biggest lessons for visitors, both students and professors, is not only to witness the structure that UAlbany has, but also to experience the perspective, mentality and mindset of professionals in the U.S.”
Nakagawa emphasized the practical value of company visits, saying, “With a professor in a class, you learn great basic tools and skills. However, on-site visits are crucial because they reveal all the processes within a business, from inspiration to concept to operations. When you go on-site and see people discussing the day-to-day work, you can see where the efforts become tangible, and students get a glimpse of what their future could look like. When students and professionals exchange experiences, they exchange dreams and motivations.”
He also called attention to an often-overlooked aspect of the program: the opportunity to develop useful soft skills. “I think the richest aspect of the program is training students’ soft skills. For some students, this is the first time they are going abroad. When joining the program, students have to deal with new rules, new laws in the U.S. and a culture different from their own. They need to learn how to go to the airport, how to ride a bus and how to explore a place they have never been. For some, this is the first time they are leaving their families and their first time abroad. This program provides them with the experience to strengthen the soft skills that are important to business but are not taught in a classroom.”

One Student’s Experience: Confidence Gained and Horizons Broadened

The true measure of the program's success is in the experiences of its participants. Paola Ferreras, a regional account executive at Newlink and a graduate of the Business Executive Program, shared her story.
“The IBS program at the University at Albany challenged me to step outside my comfort zone and gave me the confidence to lead in a multicultural environment,” she said. “It was the first time I felt like I was truly excelling, which made this experience deeply meaningful. Beyond academic learning, the program shaped my leadership skills, strengthened my confidence and gave me the chance to collaborate with students from all over the world. What I’ll carry with me is not just the knowledge I gained, but also the friendships, cultural exchange and personal growth that came with it. This experience reminded me that growth happens when you embrace new perspectives and step forward, even when you’re unsure.”

A Gateway to Global Business

The Business Executive Program is more than a summer course; it is an investment in the global future. By completing the program, participants gain recognized business credentials, advanced business English proficiency, real-world experience with U.S. companies, a professional network of global peers, and the interpersonal skills needed to thrive in international business. These outcomes help participants stand out in the competitive international business arena.
To learn more about the Business Executive Programs, visit our program information page for details.