Courtesy of Bowie State Universty
Bowie State University business students visited the headquarters for the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Washington, DC on February 27, 2024, to get an up-close look at one of the world’s leading finance organizations.
The visit included a tour of the headquarters and a panel discussion featuring members of the IFC’s leadership staff from different areas such as the investment group, legal department and communications team.
Brandon Williams, an MBA student who will be graduating this spring, called the trip an amazing experience overall that opened his eyes to the possibilities of conducting business on a global scale. Williams not only appreciated getting to connect with members of the staff during the visit, but he was also pleased to see the IFC’s commitment to diversity reflected in the people he met in DC.
“It was great to see a mix of people,” said Williams. “It was amazing to see people of different nationalities on the different panels. Great experience. I’m glad I took the opportunity to go.”
The trip was organized by Dr. Kavita Kapur, an assistant professor in the Department of Management, Marketing and Public Administration with former professional ties with the global finance giant, which makes up part of the World Bank.
“We started this relationship with the IFC about a year back,” said Dr. Kapur. “They were wanting to diversify and develop future talent at HBCUs. It’s meaningful for us to get our students sensitized about this aspect of (economic) development in the world.”
Dr. Kapur noted that the trip, which she plans to repeat again, is open to students of all majors and believes it’s vital that students understand how and why organizations like the IFC exist and function in a dynamic global world.
“This is important for their understanding, growth and contributions as global citizens,” said Dr. Kapur. “Students got the message that ‘we need to aspire to join such organizations.’”
