BUS 390B: Leadership and Cross-Cultural Management

(4 credits)

1 week on campus and 3 weeks in the Caribbean

Prof. Jeff Shay

This course is open to students from all majors and focuses on developing both leadership and cross-cultural skills through immersing students in an intensive, leadership rich, and culturally diverse environment. Students and faculty live onboard a 54-foot bareboat yacht while travelling in the British Virgin Islands (Tortola, Norman Island, Virgin Gorda, etc.) and the Leeward Islands (St. Martin, St. Barts, St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, etc.). Living and learning on board a yacht for 21 days is quite a transformative experience. Students are required to adapt to new and unfamiliar surroundings, both in terms of the yacht and the cultures visited. Students are required to assume many roles and responsibilities on a daily basis, ranging from leading the crew as their skipper to utilizing newly developed navigational skills to plot the course to the next harbor and assure that the yacht arrives safely to preparing and serving meals for the crew. To enrich the onboard experience for participants, students complete readings and engage in discussions on leadership and cross-cultural management. At each location students engage with local business, education, and/or government leaders. Each student is required to maintain a daily analytical journal that applies the readings to their experience onboard. No prior sailing experience is required as students develop sailing, navigation, and yacht management proficiencies through living and learning onboard the yacht. 

Prerequisite: Pass W&L swim test and instructor consent. Open to ALL majors.

Program fee (paid to W&L): $4,950. This fee includes: airfare, shared onboard accommodations, land transportation, business and island tours, 3 meals/day onboard, two group meals ashore, weekly laundry, and custom fees.

Estimated Additional Expenses: Students should be prepared to bring approximately $300-500 in personal spending money to cover additional optional costs while on the program.

Please contact Prof. Shay at shayj@wlu.edu for more detailed information.