2012 - College of Business - Washington State University

New International
Internship Puts
Students in the
Hub of Global
Business
By Malia Jacobson
For today’s business students, spending a summer or a
semester learning abroad is a key aspect of a globally
infused college experience. Studying abroad is also a
significant component of the College of Business’ International
Experience Requirement. However, the study of international
business doesn’t necessarily end—or begin—with a
trip overseas, says Professor David Sprott, associate dean for
graduate, international, and professional programs.
Sprott champions international learning and has led
numerous CB programs abroad over the past decade. A
CB international experience is just one piece of the puzzle
for today’s students, he says. “In global study, the primary
emphasis is on studying, not on how work is done in a
global environment,” he notes. “We wanted to fill out that
work experience piece to give students the experience of
working in a global business.”
Bryan Weeks, chair of the CB International Advisory
Board, had a similar goal. President and CEO of Silver
Creek Capital Management in Seattle, Weeks was interested
in helping the college create an internship that would
complement the college’s global focus—an international
internship that would place students on the front lines of
global business in elite firms with well-established international
operations.
“The board’s goals were to create a new partnership
between global businesses and students studying
international business at WSU and offer an intensive
internship experience to qualified students,” says Weeks.
“The initial support from leaders in the business
community was impressive.”
It didn’t take long to put his plans into action. Last
November, Weeks connected with Janel Lang, director of
the Scott and Linda Carson Center for Professional Develop-
14 WSU COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
ment, at the third annual Dean’s Leadership Celebration in
Seattle. The following weeks brought more discussions, and
the International Internship Program was underway.
Weeks reached out to business leaders along the West
Coast and brought top companies on board: Domex Superfresh
Growers in Yakima, Seattle-based Slalom Consulting,
Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories in Pullman, and
Wilshire Associates in Santa Monica, California, along with
his firm, Silver Creek Capital Management LLC. Each participating
firm is based in the United States—which simplifies
student living arrangements and keeps expenses down—and
has significant overseas operations. The end result: a unique
internship program custom-built to give students hands-on,
real-time global business experience.
By December 2011, the college accepted student applicants
for the International Internship Program’s inaugural
session in summer 2012. Undergraduate, graduate, and
international business students with good academic standing
and a strong interest in international businesses were
encouraged to apply. Competition was intense; the Carson
Center received 50 initial applications for just five open
positions. By spring 2012, a handful of top candidates interviewed
first with the college and then with participating
firms. A couple of students were courted by more than one
firm, says Lang. “Each student ended up at the company
that was the best fit for them. It really worked out well.”
The paid internships started in May and averaged six
weeks. For Silver Creek intern Matt Landen, a senior majoring
in finance and economics, the experience combined
global business dynamics with a daily dose of hands-on
education. “The great people and fast-paced atmosphere had
me looking forward to coming in every morning and learning
more,” he says.