The winter academic term at Miami University tends to be a quiet one at the Farmer School of Business. Almost all classes offered take place online.

But several FSB students spend all or part of the term taking part in study abroad or study away opportunities, ranging from Asia and Europe to Chicago and New York City.

A few examples:

The Wall Street Week program, FIN 320, reveals the inner workings of New York City’s financial district. Students gain a comprehensive knowledge of the intricacies of U.S. financial decision-making, then visit Wall Street during the last week of the term.

“I have some upperclassman friends who had done the program last year and spoke very highly of it. They couldn't express how great of an experience it was and encouraged me to apply. I also wanted to gain more exposure to career opportunities and have the opportunity to learn directly from top firms,” junior Economics and Finance major Rebecca Kibler said. “I had a lot of fun getting to know the other students and meeting high profile alumni. It was a very unique experience to be able to go inside a variety of offices and New York and tour places like the New York Stock Exchange and Bloomberg headquarters. I also learned so much about different areas of finance, specifically alternative assets. I feel like I have a much more holistic view of the industry now.”

“I got to do a real-life stock pitch in front of professionals in NYC, create connections that were much more powerful than doing it online, and better understand what kind of business is right for me,” senior Finance and Entrepreneurship major Mark Petrowsky said. “The class helped me learn about how to evaluate stocks, and the week in New York was packed with experiences to put that knowledge to the test. Overall, I had a great time and would recommend it to everyone.”

The 8th Annual Isaac & Oxley Center for Business Leadership Shade Family Emerging Leaders Consulting Experience took place in Chicago during January. The program is a two-week experiential, immersive experience living the life of consultants working for a firm. Students interact with three different clients to learn their needs as they are presented with client challenges. 

“I chose to attend the CBL Emerging Leaders Consulting Experience because it felt like a really cool way to grow professionally while actually being in a city environment. I love Chicago, and it’s a place I can genuinely see myself working in someday, so spending J-Term there while getting hands-on experience was something I was really excited about,” senior Accountancy major Ryenne Beird said. “I was also looking forward to working closely with my peers and gaining a better understanding of what a career in consulting actually entails outside of the classroom.” 

To emulate the atmosphere in actual consulting firms, students are encouraged to collaborate across projects and have access to prior projects involving the same clients or projects from other clients with similar challenges. The emphasis on inter-team, intra-team, and inter-program research and collaboration fosters a stronger sense of community and reflects realistic opportunities not available in the classroom.

“The experience was super motivating. Being in the city every day and working on a team consulting project made everything feel more real and fast-paced than a typical class. It honestly made me really excited about my future career and gave me something to look forward to,” Beird said. “I learned a lot about myself, especially when it came to how I work with others and step into leadership roles. One of the most impactful aspects was receiving feedback from EY consulting professionals during their review of our slide deck. Hearing their insights helped us improve our ideas and understand what goes into creating a strong, professional presentation.”

Students in Brenda Homan’s ESP 461 Entrepreneurial Consulting class took their skills to a new continent, working as consultants in Spain. The students embraced the consulting life as they worked on teams using their entrepreneurial skills while creating solutions for their clients.

“I chose this course because it combined academic learning with real-world cultural and business exposure, which is something I value a lot and is something that Farmer has always prided itself on. I had already studied abroad in Italy previously, and Spain felt like a great location to experience a different pace of life while also learning how business, communication, and culture differ from outside of the U.S. I was especially interested in seeing how European business environments operate and how culture plays a role in decision-making and everyday interactions,” senior Marketing major Jake Goudie said. “Each city we visited offered something unique including Sevilla, Córdoba, Granada, Barcelona, and Sitges. From the slower, more relationship-driven lifestyle in southern Spain to the fast-paced, global atmosphere of Barcelona, every location brought a different perspective. Through business visits to an olive oil company, a chocolate factory, and a 10th-generation family-run winery, along with cultural activities and daily life abroad, I was constantly learning.”

“We were able to get a full consulting experience with quick turnarounds and working with two clients to figure out what their next steps are to help them reach their targets. I really enjoyed the visits that we also had on the trip which made the cultural immersion even stronger,” senior Accountancy major Kelsey Gruber explained. “From this experience I have learned the importance of knowing different cultures when doing business internationally and how to work with different types of clients when consulting.”

“I embarked on this journey with zero expectations but infinite enthusiasm. Very quickly, that enthusiasm turned into a deep sense of gratitude as I realized how transformative the experience was becoming. I was getting to see the world, hear so many people’s stories, and learn about international business through firsthand experience,” senior Finance and Accountancy major Sophia Madden said. “This trip instilled within me a profound sense of belonging, which feels almost ironic given that it was made up entirely of unfamiliar people, unfamiliar places, and the discomfort that accompanies being thrown into the unknown. This sense of belonging stemmed from the overwhelming realization that I, despite being different from those around me, am undeniably connected to them. I am a part of this vast, incredible world, and I have the ability to engage with it meaningfully and make a genuine difference within it.”

A trio of Farmer School of Business supply chain operations and management students had the opportunity to attend the National Retail Federation Big Show in mid-January. The NRF offers a scholarship for supply chain students and specialized programming with speakers in various supply chain roles at major retailers.

“As an SCOM major with a strong interest in retail, I felt it would be a valuable opportunity to expand my knowledge and network within the industry,” Elizaveta Domrina noted. “The experience was extremely rewarding, especially since it was my first professional conference. The event was very well organized, and the keynote speakers were particularly inspiring as they shared their personal career journeys and industry insights. One of my favorite parts of the conference was the table discussions, where representatives from different companies joined us to talk openly about their experiences and answer questions. Additionally, the career fair provided a great opportunity to connect with potential employers, learn about internship and full-time roles, and begin building professional relationships.”

“I loved this experience. I genuinely enjoy talking to people and hearing their stories. It was especially unique because I was able to visit the New York City offices of Kohl’s and Best Buy and speak with employees about their career paths,” junior Supply Chain and Global Readiness major Sydney Soler said. “Some major takeaways were the importance of taking risks and talking to professionals outside of your specific area of interest, because you never know what you might learn. Another key point was the importance of staying up to date with AI and becoming familiar with it as it continues to advance.”

“The speakers emphasized that change is constant in the supply chain and retail industries, and those who remain adaptable and open to new opportunities are the most successful,” Domrina said. “This perspective reinforced my interest in the field and motivated me to continue developing the skills needed to grow in a dynamic industry.”