Notre Dame’s EMBA prepares leaders to succeed in a complex, interconnected world
The global economy is more dynamic than ever before. Even in an age of rising protectionism, the annual value of international trade exceeds $30 trillion dollars–and growing. The American workforce draws skills and expertise from around the globe, and U.S. companies export goods and services in virtually every corner of our planet.
To succeed in this fast-paced and fast-changing business environment, leaders need to understand the world beyond their own backyard. They need to know how business is conducted elsewhere, and how geopolitical and macroeconomic forces could affect the companies they lead. The global immersions in the Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) at the University of Notre Dame help leaders do exactly that.
Students in the 22-month EMBA program attend monthly weekend sessions at the Mendoza College of Business in South Bend, where they undertake values-driven leadership development and hands-on learning opportunities. They have the opportunity to go overseas for global immersion experiences in three very different business cultures: Dublin, Ireland; Santiago, Chile and Singapore.
The EMBA leverages Notre Dame’s worldwide alumni network, and Notre Dame Global, a network of partnerships with universities, libraries and organizations in 26 countries. Notre Dame Global has 12 physical locations, Dublin and Santiago among them. Singapore, for its part, is a major global financial centre where Notre Dame has strong alumni partnerships. The three cities were chosen for global immersion experiences because they provide maximum contrast in business context, culture, and market maturity.
“Even for domestic leaders, global exposure sharpens strategic insight,” says Brandon Erlacher, the academic director of the EMBA program. “It helps leaders recognize subtle cultural biases in their own decision-making, understand the geopolitical and macroeconomic forces that impact their U.S.-based company and it enhances their ability to lead diverse, cross-cultural teams.”
Read more about the EMBA immersion experiences
Originally published by at mendoza.nd.edu on February 15, 2026.