The UW MBA Consortium hosted its annual international experience during Winterim 2026, giving MBA students an opportunity to explore business, culture, and global leadership across Panama and Costa Rica. Over ten days, students engaged directly with industry leaders, discovered regional approaches to innovation and sustainability, and applied their MBA skills in dynamic real-world contexts. From the strategic trade corridors of Panama to the sustainability-driven business landscape of Costa Rica, the program offered a rich and meaningful immersion into two of Central America’s most influential economic environments.
The journey began in Panama City, where students gained firsthand exposure to the region’s role as a global logistics powerhouse. A visit to the Miraflores Panama Canal locks set the stage, illustrating the immense scale, engineering sophistication, and economic significance of one of the world’s most essential trade routes. Meetings with organizations such as PANAMCHAM, Dell Technologies, and Medipan provided insight into the country’s diverse business landscape, highlighting international commerce, digital innovation, and regional healthcare operations. These conversations deepened students’ understanding of how Panama uses its geography, infrastructure, and international partnerships to connect industries across continents.
From there, the program moved to San José, Costa Rica, where students explored a country known for its commitment to sustainability, human development, and high-tech industry growth. Conversations with CINDE, along with visits within the American Free Zone that included time with leaders from HP, highlighted Costa Rica’s strategic approach to global investment and its evolution into a center for advanced manufacturing and digital services. At Hacienda Alsacia, Starbucks’ global research and innovation coffee farm, students examined ethical sourcing and agricultural innovation. A visit to Cooperativa Dos Pinos demonstrated how a member owned enterprise can make a regional impact while remaining competitive in international markets.
MBA student Poonam Kapadia, a product development and strategist from Wisconsin, reflected on how experiencing both countries deepened their understanding of global markets. “Exploring Panama and Costa Rica was an eye‑opening experience. Each country offered its own unique work culture, business landscape, and social environment. The combination of business visits, cultural tours, and personal exploration created a truly balanced learning experience. Hearing directly from global leaders, especially in Costa Rica’s thriving medical device sector, gave me insights I couldn’t get from a textbook.”
Beyond business, the program invited students into the cultural and human stories that shape life in Panama and Costa Rica. The visit to the Embera Drua Village quickly became a defining moment of the journey. Students traveled by boat to reach the community and learned directly from Embera leaders about shared governance and communal resource management, including how tourism income supports education, health, and local enterprise. Conversations about decision making, tradition, and resilience brought leadership concepts to life in a vivid and memorable way. Visits to Poás Volcano and the La Paz Waterfall Gardens highlighted Costa Rica’s strong environmental ethos, reinforcing lessons about sustainability and responsible leadership. Traditional dining experiences at Trapiche Restaurant and Mirador Tiquicia offered a warm introduction to local cuisine, music, and community traditions, helping students connect more deeply with the places they explored and the people they engaged with.
Experiences like these, both in business and in community settings, shaped a deeper understanding of the region for students. Stephanie Dazin, a consultant at Austral Education Group, which supported the program’s coordination, offered a broader perspective: “Immersing students in the different business models found in Panama and Costa Rica provides a clear picture of how adaptation works across the region. Moving from the Panama Canal’s high‑stakes logistics to Costa Rica’s triple bottom line approach to sustainability shows how geography and policy influence global trade. International study programs like this encourage students to tackle real‑world business challenges within unfamiliar systems and constraints, building both skill and confidence. This experience also demonstrated how engaging with two of Central America’s most forward‑thinking economies can broaden perspective and support the kind of global thinking today’s leaders need.”
The impact of these experiences was not only reflected in student insights but was also clearly observed by lead instructor Elizabeth Crosby. “It was a privilege to lead this international experience and learn alongside our MBA students throughout the journey. As they engaged with business leaders, explored emerging markets, and navigated new cultural environments, their global perspective expanded in real time. This program is truly transformative as students gain real-world insight into global strategy, sustainability, and leadership while building meaningful professional and personal connections. It was equally inspiring to witness their curiosity and confidence grow as they discovered new possibilities for themselves as global business leaders.”
The UW MBA Consortium extends its appreciation to Austral Education Group for its continued partnership in creating intentional and impactful experiences for students. Building on this year’s experience, the UW MBA Consortium remains committed to offering international programs that expand global awareness, deepen strategic understanding, and empower students to lead with confidence in an increasingly interconnected world. Details regarding next year’s offering will be shared as they become available.
Trip Photos
