Lee Business School | School News

MBA Students Have Eye-Opening Experience in Turkey

Current and former MBA students in the Lee Business School traveled to Istanbul, Turkey, May 13-20 to learn more about doing business in an emerging market. The group of about 30 included the International Seminar class (MGT 787) and a handful of other UNLV students.

The predominantly Islamic country was selected because it is located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia and is currently in accession negotiations with the European Union, said Dr. Keong Leong, trip coordinator and international business professor. The trip included corporate visits to the U.S. Commercial Service, Ülker, Mercedes-Benz Turk, and the Istanbul Stock Exchange.

Ülker is the largest, fast-moving consumer goods company in Turkey with exports to more than 110 countries. Ülker's parent company, Yildez Holdings, purchased Godiva Chocolatier from the Campbell Soup Company. Mercedes-Benz Turk is the 11th largest employer in Istanbul and exports more than 80 percent of buses produced in Istanbul to more than 70 countries, mostly in Europe.

 "Our students had the opportunity to learn about the Islamic religion and culture, visit world-class organizations, and see the historical areas of Istanbul (UNESCO World Heritage site), including Hagia Sofia, Blue Mosque, Sultanahmet Mosque, Basilica Cistern, Suleymaniye Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and Dolmabahce Palace," Leong said.

Bradley Mayer said the trip offered a unique opportunity to network with MBA students, past and present. "Sharing experiences together in an unfamiliar city stretches people outside of their comfort zone and allows for interaction and relationship-building that would be much more difficult to do in the course of daily life in Las Vegas," he said.

Chandler Pohl, a JD/MBA graduate, said learning about Islamic finance law at the Istanbul Stock Exchange was a highlight of the trip. "I had no idea that Islam had its own finance regulations, and I've continued to research more about that. I'm also very excited that my law studies were able to intertwine well with this program."

Christopher Barr said he appreciated how Turkish businesses emphasized punctuality and zero tolerance for inefficiency. "This was very clear when viewing the daily operations at Mercedes-Benz Turk and Ülker.  Streamlined processes are essential for these types of companies that have complex operations and supply chains that span the globe," he said.

Paul Gustilo found Istanbul surprisingly westernized, he said. "I certainly experienced first-hand why Turkey is viewed as the most business friendly Muslim country. Walking down the streets of Istanbul, mainly in Taksim Square, felt like walking down the streets of large U.S. cities such as New York, San Francisco, or Chicago."

Lynn Malloy said she learned that international companies such as Mercedes-Benz can help the local economy grow and flourish "if the proper business practices are put in place and continuous improvement is an underlying goal."