For those looking to develop the skills to work across cultures or navigate international markets, business school offers a way to test the waters. There are opportunities to study abroad for a few months, take part in short-term projects overseas, or stay closer to home while working with multinational companies.
Shraddha Shristava, an MBA student originally from Mumbai, India, found the opportunity to gain international exposure during her MBA to be a defining element of her business school experience.
BusinessBecause spoke to her about how studying at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management has broadened her professional—and personal—horizons.
Here are three international experiences you’ll gain from an MBA in Canada.
You’ll meet a truly global mix of people
For Shraddha, location was an important consideration when choosing where to study. She prioritized studying in a city with international connections and real-world opportunities—somewhere that matched the global outlook of her hometown.
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Toronto, with its global business connections and multicultural identity, fit the bill. As she settled into her MBA, she found that the city’s international outlook was reflected in her classroom experience at Rotman.
“Diversity was really important for me,” she says, “not just where fellow students come from but also their backgrounds—what they have studied, what work they have done.”
The global mix of her cohort meant that Shraddha was exposed to different viewpoints and different ways of thinking—the same case study could prompt completely different conclusions depending on a student’s industry, country, or career experience.
But exposure to international perspectives extends beyond the classroom. Many students also gain cross-cultural leadership experience through student clubs, where they collaborate with classmates from different backgrounds and engage with global companies.
“I’m an executive member of two of Rotman’s student clubs,” says Shraddha, “I'm the president of the Human Capital Club and I'm the Vice President of the Management Consulting Association.”
The former, she explains, focuses on equipping new students with the skills and knowledge to do well in a consulting career, while the MCA aims to cultivate a deep understanding of careers in consulting or strategy.
“There are lots of different opportunities, from networking events to training or company specific events such as case prep and competitions.”
You’ll have the chance to study in different places
International exposure looks different for every MBA student. Some choose a full-term exchange, spending several months at one of Rotman’s 31 partner schools around the world. Others take part in shorter, intensive projects abroad, applying their skills to global business challenges while staying on track with their studies.
For Shraddha, a Global Practicum in London struck the right balance. Over three to four weeks, she assisted a research-based organization, gaining insight into business operations outside Canada while earning credits toward her MBA.
“I got to visit a huge trade show in Farnborough where hundreds of companies were exhibiting. It was really engaging,” says Shraddha.
Fellow Rotman students opting for the Global Practicum have joined trade missions in cities such as Paris and Barcelona, while others have worked on social impact projects in Costa Rica.
You’ll hone your soft skills and broaden your career options
During her MBA Shraddha learned people-focused skills that she will carry into professional roles. She believes that the program encouraged and enabled her to communicate and collaborate with not just current students but her program predecessors and outside organizations.
“I studied psychology, so I was good at connecting with people and building rapport,” says Shraddha.
But working in an international environment meant learning to navigate different communication styles and cultural expectations. One of the early adjustments she had to make was understanding how small talk and workplace interactions differed between India and Canada.
“In India, being concise is really appreciated—you don’t necessarily spend a lot of time building rapport first. But elsewhere, I realized small talk can be an important part of building relationships,” she explains.
The MBA also opened Shraddha to being more flexible with regard to career options.
“I was pretty set on the career journey I wanted to take. I’ve liked being a generalist, but at Rotman, I learned about other industries and different types of work.”
Now working as a principal consultant at Impact Consulting Group in Toronto, Shraddha continues to apply the skills she developed at Rotman—working with diverse teams, adapting to different industries, and building professional relationships across sectors.
Whether it’s through global classroom discussions, international consulting projects, or immersive experiences abroad, an MBA can expand your worldview in powerful ways. For Shraddha, studying in a multicultural hub such as Toronto offered the chance to build both global business acumen and lasting relationships.
