An MBA in France can expand your international outlook—here’s how

For global business, adopting an international outlook is essential for collaborating across borders and accessing global markets.

Around the world, employers find the greatest benefits of hiring candidates with international business degrees include increased workplace diversity, multilingual skills, and better cross-cultural communication, according to our latest Corporate Recruiters Survey.

Acknowledging this, the MBA at GEM Alpine Business School in Grenoble, France, provides a multicultural experience, helping to prepare students for global business opportunities through its international community, alumni network, and immersive study trips.

We spoke to MBA alumni from GEM to find out more.

Learn from diverse peers

While the MBA curriculum teaches you core skills, your MBA cohort can also teach you valuable lessons in networking and teamwork. An international cohort can provide exposure to different perspectives, cultures, and business markets.

“We all come from different cultures and different backgrounds, both professionally and personally, which impacts how we work,” explains Maria Albao, a Colombian MBA graduate from GEM.
“Working with people from different backgrounds can help change your way of thinking and analyzing things,” she continues. “I think that’s what’s good about an MBA—you get a little bit of everything from all the different departments, from how they interact to how they think, and then you can apply that knowledge.” 

This diverse experience means that each student takes away something unique from the program, shaped by their own goals and perspectives, which others can also benefit from.

“Everyone found different elements of the program more helpful to them personally, which is good, because you shouldn’t all have the same profile in an MBA class,” says Adrit Adhikari from India, also an MBA graduate from GEM. “This is what the international experience should look like.” 

Age is another factor of diversity, bringing professional experience, new perspectives, and distinct knowledge to the MBA cohort. 

“We had somebody in his sixties in the MBA class,” says Adrit. “Not only did he bring the experience of his work and professional life to the cohort, but the profound understanding that even at 62, you can do the MBA and still get things out of it. Nothing stops you from learning.”

Real-world learning opportunities

From business workshops to study trips, practical learning opportunities are a way to apply the knowledge you’ve built in the classroom, overcome challenges, and connect with professionals.
“We spent a week going through different workshops and companies around France—not just Grenoble—which connected us more with the real world than just being full-time students,” explains Maria.

“We also spent a week in Berlin, which included different workshops and connecting with various companies,” she adds. These experiences provide direct insight into real business practices, helping to bridge the gap between the MBA classroom and real-world environments, while developing a global outlook.

In addition to practical opportunities to network and build her skills across Europe, Maria also took a specialization in Paris during her MBA.

“During the specialization, we were mixed with students from the GEM Executive MBA,” she says. “It gave us the opportunity to meet new people, network with them, and connect at different events.”

International alumni network

One of the most valuable parts of an MBA is building a network which spans across industries and continents. From professional advice to job and internship opportunities, an alumni network is often essential to advancing your career.

“The international network of colleagues, peers that I have today is something that came readily available with the MBA. I just had to tap into it,” explains Adrit. 

“It’s something which, without GEM, would have probably taken years to build,” he continues. “I still regularly reach out to my network, both professionally and personally.” 

Beyond career development, these connections also play a significant role in shaping your personal growth and global outlook.

“It’s not just professional development—you also grow as a person,” says Maria. “You’ll grow a lot from having your perspectives challenged, going from working to becoming a student again, and collaborating with people from all around the world.”