Students at the Kogod School of Business at American University are redefining what modern MBA programs, business majors, and experiential learning opportunities can look like—leveraging global travel, industry immersion, and hands-on projects to strengthen their professional skills and accelerate career outcomes in Washington, DC, and around the world. 

How Does Experiential Learning Build Confidence and Career-Ready Skills? 

One of the clearest distinctions of a Kogod education is the way students learn by doing. For many, experiential learning moments are where classroom theory transforms into real professional capability. 

This spring, students in Kogod’s Business and Entertainment program traveled to South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas—an experience that pushed them to network, engage with industry leaders, and navigate a dynamic environment shaped by film, music, policy, copyright, and emerging AI technologies. Students described the trip as a moment when everything “clicked”: the professional polish gained from exchanging business cards, the fluency required to hold conversations with experts, and the assurance that comes from seeing industry pathways firsthand. 

Students returned from Austin having gained new competencies in communication, cultural fluency, adaptability, and self-directed learning—skills that serve as cornerstones of graduate business education and that employers consistently prioritize. 

Why Was SXSW a Transformational Career Experience for Entertainment-Focused Students? 

For students preparing for careers in entertainment, media, and creative industries, SXSW becomes a living classroom. Over the course of the trip, they immersed themselves in concerts, keynote sessions, mentorship meetups, and real-time case studies on innovation and industry evolution. 

Students noted that the independence built into the trip was as valuable as the structured sessions. While they connected as a cohort each day, they also charted individual learning paths—attending music mentorship sessions, exploring specialized talks, and initiating conversations with leaders from major organizations across the entertainment landscape. 

By meeting professionals from top record labels, streaming companies, live entertainment organizations, and digital media platforms, students practiced building relationships with the same creative communities they aspire to one day join. Several students have already continued these conversations post-conference, turning chance meetings into ongoing professional networks. 

Business and Entertainment program director and professor, Linda Bloss-Baum, emphasizes that SXSW offers something no textbook can replicate: the energy of innovation in action. Students witness live event operations, analyze industry shifts as they unfold, and connect directly with entrepreneurs and creative professionals. The result is a deeper understanding of how creative ecosystems function—and how they themselves might one day contribute. 

How Do International Study Tours Expand Students’ Global Perspective? 

While SXSW offers insight into the creative economy, Kogod’s Global Learning programs extend this experiential model across continents. These short-term international study tours provide students with access to leading organizations, executives, and operations rarely visible to the public. 

During a spring break travel course to London, students visited institutions like Borough Market, Bloomberg, and Selfridges—each offering a distinctive perspective on global business in a major international hub. Students described the experience as both professionally formative and personally meaningful, giving them a stronger grasp of how multinational organizations approach strategy, innovation, and customer engagement. 

The London immersion also emphasizes cross-cultural collaboration and global readiness. Students gain insight into how UK businesses respond to regulatory change, technological disruption, shifting labor trends, and growing sustainability expectations—insight they bring back into classrooms, internships, and future roles. 

Kogod professor Sheila Bedford highlights that the London experience allows students to “see strategy in motion.” Through leadership roundtables and operational tours, students observe how global companies measure performance, adapt to new technologies, and navigate increasingly complex international markets. 

How Do These Opportunities Strengthen Career Outcomes for Business Students? 

Across programs, a consistent theme emerges: experiential learning accelerates readiness. Whether exploring creative industries in Austin or studying global operations in London, students develop technical and interpersonal competencies that are crucial in today’s workforce. 

These programs strengthen career outcomes by helping students: 

• Apply academic frameworks to real business environments

• Develop confidence in professional communication and networking

• Build industry-specific insights and connections

• Strengthen cultural intelligence and global awareness

• Clarify their career goals through hands-on exposure

Employers consistently recognize Kogod graduates for their ability to contribute immediately—often citing their communication skills, adaptability, and readiness to navigate complex, multidisciplinary work environments. These are the qualities shaped not only by coursework but by the immersive learning that defines the Kogod School of Business.

Why Is Experiential Learning Central to Kogod’s Educational Philosophy?

Kogod’s educational model is built on a belief that students learn best when theory meets practice, and when they have meaningful opportunities to explore the world through a business lens. Experiential learning is deeply embedded across the curriculum—whether students are studying sustainability, entrepreneurship, business-government relations, or the rising influence of AI on global industries.

Experiences like SXSW and the London immersion demonstrate the school’s commitment to preparing students for leadership in a rapidly evolving global economy. Students gain not just information, but perspective: an understanding of how industries function, how leaders make decisions, and how they themselves can make an impact.

How Does Kogod Prepare Students for What Comes Next?

As business continues to evolve—shaped by digital transformation, sustainability imperatives, global interdependence, and new technologies—Kogod students will be ready. Their education is not confined to a classroom; it is built from conversations with industry experts, exposure to complex real-world scenarios, and immersive experiences that broaden their understanding of what business leadership can be.

Students return from SXSW and London with new skills, new networks, and a renewed sense of purpose. They gain clarity about the kind of professionals they want to become—and the communities and industries they want to shape.

And as they move forward—into internships, full-time roles, or continued study—they carry with them the values that define the Kogod School of Business: experiential learning, global perspective, cross-sector collaboration, creativity, and a commitment to impact.

Explore more global learning opportunities available to Kogod students.