UT Haslam’s Inaugural International Business Major Cohort Graduates with Honors

The first International Business (IB) Major cohort at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Haslam College of Business graduated in May, with members of the class earning a collective 3.81 GPA and achieving distinctions of Cum Laude, Summa Cum Laude and Magna Cum Laude. Haslam IB students complete two majors — international business and one of the other nine functional business majors offered by the college. Business is global, and graduates of the program will not only bring the skills learned from their functional major to their chosen industries, but also the mindset and experience needed to navigate global environments.

Leaving the Comfort Zone, Discovering New Perspectives

portrait image of Brayden Conn in blue suit jacket and white shirt. — Brayden Conn

Cleveland, Tennessee, native Brayden Conn, who will soon be using his functional major in finance as an internal auditor for HCA Healthcare in Nashville, says his time in the IB program equipped him for his new role.

“The IB program prepared me beyond exposure to international business,” explains the 1794 Honors Scholar and Volunteer of Distinction. “My study abroad experiences challenged me to go outside my comfort zone. Starting a career and entering the workforce is not an easy process, so I will lean on my experience in these environments to help me succeed.”

Conn adds that extended stays abroad interacting with people around the world and engaging with different cultures, languages and business practices improved his adaptability and gave him perspective into different points of views and ways of life.

“The experiences helped me understand the importance of looking beyond the surface of any person or situation, a skill that helps in any life situation, at home or abroad,” he says.

Practicing Languages, Learning Cultural Nuances

Jada Tun in an orange-brown kimono in Japan. — Jada Tun

In addition to pursuing double majors, IB majors spend a full semester abroad and complete an advanced foreign language collateral. Members of the inaugural cohort achieved fluency in Japanese, French, Spanish and Italian. IB majors also have the opportunity to intern abroad, immersing themselves in both the cultural practices and business standards of other countries, equipping them with a hands-on understanding of business activities at an international level.

During an internship in Osaka, Japan, Jada Tun, an IB and marketing major, translated marketing materials from Japanese into English. From this internship, the Chattanoogan gained an understanding of the subtleties of working in an international business environment.

“I was the only non-native Japanese employee, so I had to quickly learn cultural norms like how to exchange business cards respectfully and how meeting seating arrangements reflect company hierarchy,” explains Tun, a 1794 Honors and Business Fellows Honors Scholar. “These may seem like small details, but they carry a lot of meaning in Japanese business culture.”

Tun also became more conscious of her American cultural tendencies through her internship, which will enable her to adjust accordingly in the workplace.

“Now that I’ve experienced a more hierarchical workplace firsthand, I feel better prepared to navigate similar environments in the future,” she says.

Blazing a Trail for Others to Follow

Being a member of the inaugural class of any new degree program is a unique situation. While faculty and staff are there to guide and support students, these participants are entering new territory, clearing a path and setting an example for those who follow them.

Conn called it an honor to be a member of Haslam’s first IB cohort, describing his fellow students as open-minded, ready to learn and excited to take on new challenges.

“My classmates and I were afforded a special opportunity to seek out something new and help start a program that I know will be an important part of this school going forward,” he says. “I am certainly grateful to have been a part of the inaugural cohort of IB graduates, and I am excited to see where this program goes in the future.”

For students in future IB classes, Tun recommends taking international business electives abroad, where they can immerse themselves in the business practices and culture of their host country, making it easier to visualize and apply concepts taught in the classroom. Tun cites a course she took in Japan on creative and cultural industries in East Asia, which explored Japan’s mascot culture and its use in promoting places, events, organizations and businesses.

“To my surprise, I got to apply those concepts at my internship, when my boss asked that I design a mascot for the company,” she says.

It’s Hard to Say Goodbye, Sayonara, Adieu, Adiós and Arrivederci!

Sara Easler, Haslam’s assistant dean of International Programs and Partnerships, shared her pride and excitement for the graduation of Haslam’s first IB cohort.

“I have had the wonderful pleasure of getting to know this group well — on study abroad programs, in the classroom and during our cohort events — and I know they are going to do great things in the world,” Easler says. “These students will be dearly missed on our campus, but they will be out trailblazing for future cohorts.”

Nine students made up Haslam’s inaugural IB cohort, with 15 set for the second. As the pace of global commerce quickens, future cohorts will no doubt continue to grow, and the nine alumni of this first IB cohort can be proud of bearing a torch to light a path for others to follow.

Main photo: IB graduates, back row, left to right: Brayden Conn, Jack Lish, Collin Cates, Yoseline Cortes Martinez

Front row, left to right: Abigail Sanders, Riley Sapp, Jada Tun, Gannon Yocum, Dr. Sara Easler, Maeve Phinney

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CONTACT:

Scott McNutt, senior business writer/publicist, rmcnutt4@utk.edu

Contact

Scott McNutt

Business Writer/Publicist

rmcnutt4@utk.edu

Haslam College of Business - UT Haslam’s Inaugural International Business Major Cohort Graduates with Honors