University at Buffalo School of Management

14 Buffalo Business Spring 2021 Last fall, undergrad Emily Piscitelli received a cooking demonstration from the co-owners of Yabo's Food Truck, based in Ghana. She toured Kakum National Park and a former slave castle, attended a Ghanaian dance class and even tasted jollof rice, a popular dish in West Africa. Best of all, in a world gripped by the coronavirus, she was able to experience all of it from her home, thanks to the inge- nuity and resilience of the School of Management's Global Programs team. "A global mindset is an important skill for any career," says Piscitelli, a junior account- ing student. "Being able to say that I not only expanded my global reach, but also did so virtually, will set me apart from other students aer this pandemic. Now, I can confiden- tially tell an interviewer that, whether in person or virtually, I have the knowledge to interact with others from different back- grounds and create meaningful relationships." Piscitelli is among more than 100 students who partic- ipated in the school's virtual global programs last year. Led by Dorothy Siaw-Asamoah, faculty director, the team shied four international and seven U.S.-based experiential learn- ing programs to a virtual platform, engaging with alumni, business leaders and partners on the ground to offer unique, engaging experiences for students. The shi has been so successful that, even aer COVID- 19 is behind us, the School of Management plans to continue offering virtual credit-bearing programs concurrently with in-person trips, allowing students to gain global experi- ence regardless of financial means, scheduling challenges or family obligations. Adapting to change For Ghana, local partners created custom video expe- riences to replace in-person visits, and video conferencing allowed students to engage, learn from and even dance with entrepreneurs, queen mothers and other Ghanaian leaders across the Atlantic. Students also completed semester-long projects with local organizations. Piscitelli and her teammates engaged with Ladybird Logistics, the first company worldwide with an all-fe- male staff of truck drivers. Tasked with helping Ladybird moti- vate its workers and increase awareness of its values, the team developed an employee survey and incentive program and presented to company leaders via Zoom. Tori Gosy, MD/MBA '22, was one of several health care students from four other UB schools who participated in the interprofessional Ghana program. Building off an idea from public health student Autum Carter, Gosy's team created a video series about cardiovascular health, HIV and COVID-19 to educate patients at Nsawam Government Hospital and students in Accra schools. To do so, the team consulted with UB faculty and public health experts, as well as Claudia Debrah, a friend of the program in Ghana who clari- fied cultural norms. "My takeaways are many: the chance to develop my leadership skills, the creativity that is sparked through collab- oration and the constant need for innovation to adapt to our changing world," Gosy says. "This last point was effortlessly executed by Professor Siaw-Asamoah and her team: Global impact need not be limited by inability to travel." Gosy Piscitelli EXPERIENCING THE WORLD FROM A SAFE DISTANCE

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