During a five-day pre-MBA boot camp held at China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) in Shanghai, Coleman learned that Kraft Foods slipped up by not adjusting its classic cookie to suit taste preferences in Asia. 

Appreciation and respect for the nuances of foreign cultures was a prime takeaway of the pre-MBA program, according to Coleman.

“People [from different backgrounds] process information in different ways,” observes the former Marketing major. “That is something my eyes are open to now.”

As a program manager for the global marketing team at IT infrastructure company EMC Corp., Coleman has plenty of opportunity to put that international savvy into practice. The experience should also provide a leg up in applying to MBA programs.

“A lot of schools are asking, ‘What kind of international experience have you had?’” she explains. “That’s because corporations want well-rounded people who have that global view.”

About 70 students from around the world attended the CEIBS pre-MBA program in July 2015. A first- place finish in an essay contest sponsored by the National Black MBA Association funded Coleman’s travel and tuition. Her time in China demonstrated why the country is — and will likely continue to be — such a big player in the global economy.

“It has to do with their rate of adoption for new technology,” says Coleman. “They see an opportunity and they jump on board. I think that gives them a competitive advantage, which helps their economy grow.”