Exploring Global Business From Portugal and Spain

Business Beyond Borders 

For Beacom students, learning does not always happen in a classroom. This spring, students traded campus for an international classroom as they traveled through Portugal and Spain as part of the Beacom School of Business Global Immersion Program.

The group spent time in Lisbon, Madrid, and Barcelona, along with day trips to Sintra, Cascais, Segovia, and Girona. Throughout the trip, students experienced a combination of business visits, cultural excursions, and opportunities to explore independently, giving them the chance to see the world from a different perspective.

For Bryce Hult, the trip provided an opportunity to experience Europe while continuing his education outside the classroom.

“I have always been interested in going to Europe. I looked at it as a great opportunity to have some structure on the trip and get credits outside of sitting in a classroom,” Hult said.

The business side of the trip offered students an inside look at how organizations operate across different industries and countries. Visits included Grupo Brisa, a leading Portuguese company in road infrastructure and mobility services; the Port of Lisbon, an important gateway for international trade and logistics; Esteve, a global pharmaceutical company headquartered in Barcelona; and Endesa, one of Spain’s largest electric utility companies.

For Melanie Brozik, the visit to Grupo Brisa was one of the experiences that stood out most. The transportation company operates and maintains open-road and self-service tolling systems in Portugal, giving students the opportunity to learn about a business model that differs from what they are familiar with in the United States.

“I thought it was really interesting how their toll roads differ from the United States,” Brozik said.

Building Confidence Through Global Experiences

For Global Immersion Program leader Kyle Schoenfelder, one of the most rewarding parts of the experience is watching students grow throughout the journey.

“Everybody takes a little something different away from the Global Immersion trip,” Schoenfelder said. “Some people’s main takeaway is the information they learn from the companies we visit. Others gain personal skills like confidence or confirmation they are capable of traveling in a foreign country with a foreign language they do not speak.”

This year, Schoenfelder believes adaptability was one of the group’s biggest takeaways.

Traveling internationally naturally comes with unexpected moments, new environments, and unfamiliar experiences. For students, navigating those challenges became part of the learning experience, helping them develop confidence and skills that extend well beyond their time abroad.

For Brozik, the experience strengthened her communication skills and provided opportunities to network with business professionals and students she had not previously had classes with.

“It helped my communication skills by talking to business professionals and networking with other students that I have not had classes with before,” Brozik said. “It helped me understand the strategy of business better.”

For Schoenfelder, that personal and professional growth is what makes leading the program so meaningful.

“I enjoy witnessing the students grow personally and professionally while traveling abroad through the Global Immersion Program,” he said. “It’s an honor to have the opportunity to lead programs that create memories for students.”

The experience also gave Brozik an opportunity to think about what comes next after graduation. During a visit to the pharmaceutical company in Spain, students discussed industries they were interested in pursuing and heard from business professionals who were passionate about their work.

“Many of the business professionals there were passionate about the pharmaceutical industry, and that made their work fulfilling,” Brozik said. “After the trip, I have been thinking about what industry I want to work in upon graduation.”

The Global Immersion Program will continue in March 2027, when students will travel to Paris, France; Brussels, Belgium; and Amsterdam, the Netherlands, led by Michael Petersen and Nick Wilson.

These experiences would not be possible without the continued support of Beacom alumni and administration. Their investment helps students take their education beyond the classroom and experience firsthand the people, businesses, and cultures that shape our global economy.