As organizations strive to be agile and inclusive, cross-cultural aptitude is becoming critically important in business. The CEMS Master in International Management (MIM) offered through an alliance of leading business schools, including Ivey, is one of the most notable programs for developing leaders who can take on the challenges of a multi-cultural environment. A defining feature of the program is the opportunity for students to go on exchange for a term at one of 34 schools on six continents.
For Cason Bravener, an MSc and CEMS MIM ’22 candidate, the chance to be immersed in a different culture was the ultimate complement to a business education.
“In business school, we learn about the importance of cross-cultural relationships, but there is a big difference between learning in the classroom and applying it in real life. That’s the difference an exchange makes,” he said.
We spoke with two CEMS MIM students – Bravener, an Ivey student on exchange in Barcelona, Spain; and Gianluca Cantori Laera, a student who visited Ivey from Lisbon, Portugal – about what the experience meant to them.
Cason Bravener, MSc and CEMS MIM ’22 candidate, Ivey Business School
On exchange at ESADE Business School in Barcelona, Spain, January-June 2022
Bravener is no stranger to international experiences. In high school, he did a one-month exchange in Germany, which sparked an interest in international business. While doing a Bachelor of International Business at Carleton University, he studied abroad for a year at Universidad Europea de Valencia in Spain.
Eager to expand his international business knowledge and improve his fluency in Spanish, Bravener continued his studies through Ivey’s MSc CEMS MIM and chose ESADE for his exchange. At ESADE, he has been able to learn from students from many different countries.
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“ESADE is an international school with students from everywhere. I’ve met students from Germany, China, India, Turkey and more,” he said. “By working with people from all over, you learn to adapt and appreciate different mindsets.”
Two business education approaches
Bravener said ESADE’s academic program complements his Ivey education. While Ivey builds hands-on decision-making skills, ESADE offers more theoretical discussion. He has also had memorable moments experiencing Spain’s culture, including an outing to rural Catalonia and hiking at Montserrat.
After graduation, Bravener will begin a role with Accenture. And although he’ll be based in Canada, Bravener said he has no doubt his international business skills will be an asset at the multinational company.
“I may be interacting mainly with Canadians, but Canadians are from all over so that international experience really helps when you’re in group settings,” he said. “The CEMS program has given me the experience that you need to be flexible and willing to adapt.”
Cason Bravener's advice: Don’t be afraid to expand your boundaries.
“If you think it’s going to be the Canadian way all the time, that’s just not the case. You have to be flexible. Once you try it, you’ll find it’s quite fun to learn about a different culture and step outside of your comfort zone.”
Gianluca Cantori Laera, MSc and CEMS MIM ’22 candidate, Nova School of Business and Economics (Lisbon, Portugal)
Was on exchange at Ivey Business School, August-December 2021
Born and raised in Milan, Italy and having studied there as well as Vietnam, Singapore, and now Portugal, Cantori Laera wanted insights on North American business to complement his learnings from Europe and Asia. He chose to come to Ivey on exchange to experience Canada and the School’s Case-Method Learning approach.
“This was the missing piece in my CV (curriculum vitae) puzzle. From my international experiences, I think I’ve become a more well-rounded person. When approaching a problem, you can bring all these different perspectives to the table and I think that’s something very valuable and many companies look for that,” he said. “Having exposure to different cultures helps you to not approach things in a biased way. I look forward to bringing this into my work life.”
Real-world learning
While at Ivey, Cantori Laera said he learned to speak before an audience, something European students aren’t used to doing, and to apply theory to the real world.
“Having this more complete and hands-on approach is really helpful, especially as you prepare to enter the work world,” he said.
The close-knit relationships he developed with Ivey’s CEMS community won’t soon be forgotten. The CEMS cohort travelled together to the U.S. and within Canada to Vancouver and Quebec. A highlight of the experience was when Cason Bravener organized a group outing to his hometown of Port Dover, Ont. to attend a county fair.
“It was such a cool experience that I couldn’t have had by myself and it showed me the Canadian way of living. It’s something I will probably remember for the rest of my life,” said Cantori Laera.
Gianluca Cantori Laera's advice: Consider the entire experience.
“Some students choose an exchange school based on the ranking of the program instead of thinking about the culture and the experience. This experience will change your life and help you make valuable connections. Embrace everything that the program can give you.”
CEMS group outings
Experiencing nature
At the ice rink
A view of the waterfalls
Gianluca Cantori Laera
Yay CEMS!
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