Over winter break, a group of graduate students from Iowa State University’s Ivy College of Business traveled across Spain and Morocco for an immersive study tour that blended global business insights with cultural exploration. Students navigated seven cities across two countries, gaining new perspectives on global markets, leadership, and their own personal growth.
The trip brought together students from different programs and career stages.
Full-time MBA students Ryan Flaskamp and Megan Fritz traveled alongside working professionals Dan Biersdorf, a student in the master of accounting analytics program, and Jane Angstman, an online MBA student specializing in leadership. For many participants, the study tour represented an opportunity to step into unfamiliar territory.
Flaskamp, a concurrent MBA and electrical engineering student, saw the trip as a chance to travel and connect more deeply with his cohort. “Morocco was a country that I had seen on a lot of travel pages, and this trip felt like the perfect opportunity to travel to a place I would be unlikely to visit on my own,” he said. “As a first-year MBA student, I also saw it as an opportunity to get closer to my peers and build lasting relationships within the cohort.”
For Biersdorf and Angstman, the experience carried additional meaning as working professionals and online students. Biersdorf, who is based in Atlanta, Georgia, applied for the trip to build a stronger in-person connection with Iowa State. “My program is online, and I wanted to connect with the school with an in-person opportunity,” he said. While he was excited to travel to two new countries, he admitted some nerves about joining a group that skewed younger. Those concerns quickly faded as the trip unfolded.
“Travel is the best way to have a deeper understanding of others’ beliefs, morals, and motivations. Programs like this challenge you personally and professionally in ways that are hard to replicate without an immersive experience.”
— Dan Biersdorf
Angstman echoed similar feelings. “As someone returning to school later in life, I was nervous about how the experience would challenge me and what I would learn from being in a completely different setting,” she said. “What I didn’t expect was how meaningful and rewarding it would become.”
Throughout the trip, students participated in a series of company visits and lectures that highlighted the economic and business landscapes of Morocco and Spain. Early stops in Marrakech, Morocco, introduced students to entrepreneurship and innovation in a developing economy. Visits included an emerging business incubator and Popham Design, a luxury tile company founded by U.S. entrepreneurs that built their business around Moroccan craftsmanship.
The visit to Popham Design resonated deeply with several students.
Fritz, a mechanical engineering and second-year MBA student, found the experience particularly inspiring. “Founder Caitlin Dowe shared her and her husband’s story of taking a year of sabbatical and traveling to Morocco, where they fell in love with the artisanal work,” she said. “It was a good reminder that we can have a plan in place for the future, but it is also okay to veer from it.”
For Biersdorf, the visit was unexpectedly personal. Having previously worked in tile manufacturing for The Kohler Company, he discovered a professional connection halfway across the world. “We realized we knew a lot of the same people, as their business relied on Kohler as their main distribution partner in the United States,” he said. “It was very cool to connect with someone on the other side of the world and see how small the world can actually be.”
In Casablanca and Rabat, Morocco’s capital, students met with leaders from multinational corporations, banks, and nonprofit organizations, gaining insight into Morocco’s role as a gateway to Africa and the challenges and opportunities facing developing economies. For Biersdorf, these conversations were tied directly to his accounting analytics studies. “Tax rates and differing government business conditions were directly applicable to my program,” he noted. “It showed how economic environments can influence financial statements and business performance.”
Flaskamp was struck by the broader implications of what he learned. “You cannot succeed in the global market with one blanket strategy,” he said. “There are inherent differences in consumers, producers, and facilitators that produce unique challenges and opportunities, best addressed by a thorough understanding and an empathetic outlook.”
The second half of the trip took students to Seville, Spain, where they explored industries ranging from aerospace to agriculture and financial services. Visits to organizations such as Andalucía Aerospace, Deutsche Bank Wealth Management, and a family-owned citrus farm highlighted the diversity of Spain’s economy and the importance of regional context.
Beyond business concepts, the study tour emphasized leadership and cultural awareness. Angstman found that seeing leadership in different cultural contexts reshaped her perspective. “One of the most valuable insights was realizing how deeply culture shapes leadership and decision-making,” she said. “Business practices are not one size fits all, and long-term success depends on understanding local values, history, and social structures.”
Several students pointed to experiences with social enterprises and nonprofits as particularly impactful. In Morocco, students visited a nonprofit organization that empowers women through workforce training in food and hospitality. For Biersdorf, the visit underscored structural barriers that exist in some cultures. “Oftentimes cultural structures don’t enable opportunities for leadership for segments of the population,” he said. “It was fascinating to hear how difficult it has been for women entrepreneurs to access funding and networks.”
Valentina Salotti, senior associate dean who traveled with the students, said moments like that were central to the trip’s purpose. “Students came to recognize that pathways to success are not equally accessible to everyone, which fostered a deeper sense of empathy and global awareness,” she said. “One of the most powerful takeaways was their growing appreciation and respect for individuals and businesses striving for excellence despite operating under very different constraints.”
“Experiences like this are invaluable for preparing our graduate students to lead in a global, interconnected business environment. By exposing them to different cultures, business practices, and challenges, we are equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed as future business leaders.”
— Valentina Salotti
She added that the experience also prompted meaningful self-reflection. “Students developed a stronger awareness of what it means to be part of U.S. and Iowa business ecosystems and the unique opportunities and advantages those environments provide.”
Language and communication also emerged as recurring themes. “Learning to communicate across language barriers was a very useful challenge,” Flaskamp said. “Cultural interactions highlighted the importance of empathy and the power of diverse language skills.”
Angstman added that the experience changed how she thinks about communication altogether. “Connection doesn’t always come from having the right words, but from paying attention to people and meeting them where they are,” she reflected.
While classroom learning and company visits formed the backbone of the trip, cultural experiences played an equally important role. One of the most memorable moments for many students was an evening in the Agafay Desert outside Marrakech, where the group rode camels, shared a traditional Moroccan meal, and watched a fire show under the setting sun.
“Our camel riding and dinner experiences in the Agafay desert were extremely impactful,” Flaskamp said. “That dinner really brought the group together as we shared hours of conversation and circled the table together in a joyous song and dance.”
Fritz agreed, calling it “such a cool experience,” from getting henna tattoos to enjoying traditional food and music. For Angstman, simply being immersed in daily life, navigating markets and sharing meals, stood out as especially meaningful.
These shared experiences helped bridge differences in age, background, and program. Biersdorf reflected on how refreshing it was to connect in person after years of online learning. “Despite the age differences, I was able to connect and learn from other Iowa State students,” he said. “I’m grateful that I met individuals I could see myself staying connected with for years to come.”
Each participant described a renewed sense of perspective and purpose. For Flaskamp, the experience built confidence and a desire to keep exploring. “It reminded me not to settle for monotony and to continue seeking out exciting new challenges,” he said.
Fritz plans to apply the insights she gained to her future career. “I have a new set of viewpoints that I can apply to my business through process in industry,” she said.
Angstman left the trip reaffirmed in her belief that growth and learning have no expiration date. “Meaningful professional growth can continue well beyond traditional career timelines,” she said.
Biersdorf summed up the experience as both humbling and motivating. “Travel is the best way to have a deeper understanding of others’ beliefs, morals, and motivations,” he said. “Programs like this challenge you personally and professionally in ways that are hard to replicate without an immersive experience.”
Salotti added, “Experiences like this are invaluable for preparing our graduate students to lead in a global, interconnected business environment. By exposing them to different cultures, business practices, and challenges, we are equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed as future business leaders.”
This study tour highlights the power of experiential learning and meaningful connection, with student stories demonstrating how traveling abroad can deepen academic understanding and challenge students to see global business and leadership through a different lens. As the Ivy College of Business continues to offer immersive learning opportunities around the world, students are encouraged to keep an eye out for upcoming study trips.
