Big Bad Business? London Through an Ethical Lens
London is a global business hub, where students have the opportunity to observe firsthand the application of international business principles and gain exposure to a number of multinationals operating across diverse cultures, financial markets, and legal environments. One program taking advantage of these learning opportunities is the TCU Global Business with an Ethical Lens in London program. Under the direction of faculty Zain Ali and David Weltman, this past summer students explored the unique characteristics of the global trade environment, the role of culture in global business, and the application of ethical frameworks to global issues.
During their two weeks in London, the group met with local experts and visited several local businesses. One such visit was the multinational insurance company Aviva, whose headquarters is located in central London. Aviva staff members guided students through their offices in a detailed discussion of how the company works effectively in countries with different business cultures, adapting its practices according to each specific location.
The other focus of discussion was Aviva’s approach to ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) integration. Students explored specific examples, including how Aviva sustainability teams work with investment desks and how they strive to influence other companies to improve ESG behaviors like supporting women in the workplace. For instance, the most recent initiative is within the framework of the Women in Finance Charter, which encourages financial services firms to commit to supporting women’s progression into senior roles. By thinking critically about these examples, students learned how a large multinational corporation aims at incorporating ESG behaviors into their business and tied this first-hand knowledge back into their work in the classroom.
Both the visit to Aviva and to other businesses in London were closely integrated in the academic component of the students’ course, thanks to topical group projects. Through independent research and on-site questions, students reviewed and presented how companies manage business on an international scale and strive to incorporate ethical considerations into their strategic objectives.
Accent has extensive resources and experience in diverse customized business program models, including semester, quarter, and short-term programs, including programming designed for undergraduate, MBA, and Executive MBA cohorts.
