MBA Students Put Strategy into Practice in Peru
Fourteen Schulich MBA students travelled to Lima, Peru, for an immersive international business experience that brought strategy to life through consulting projects, company visits and conversations with senior business leaders.
Led by Professor Theo Peridis, the Global Immersive Option (GIO) took place from September 2–9, 2026. Equivalent to the 601 Strategy Field Study, the program combined applied consulting with international business learning and cultural experiences.
Students worked on two strategic consulting projects for Peruvian companies, applying their MBA learning to real-world business challenges. Working with a leading manufacturer and distributor of electrical and electronic equipment and components serving clients across industrial, commercial, construction and mining sectors, students focused on developing digital infrastructure and decision support systems utilizing data analytics and incorporating artificial intelligence.
For MBA student Jonathan Zhou, meeting senior leaders and visiting corporate head office and field operation facilities provided a deeper understanding of the business and its operating environment.
“Seeing the business operate in its real-world environment provided valuable context that simply is impossible to be replicated in a classroom,” said Zhou.
Exploring local markets and learning about Peru’s culture, history and customers also enriched Zhou’s appreciation for family businesses and their client’s growth from zero to a 100 million corporation. Having missed the opportunity to participate in an undergraduate exchange, he described the GIO as a valuable experience for both business learning and personal growth.
A second project challenged students to identify strategic actions for one of Peru’s largest garment manufacturers, in response to evolving trends in the global apparel industry. Its clients include some of the world’s premier labels.
For MBA student Rabie Tarakji, the experience required his team to navigate uncertainty, reconcile different leadership perspectives and translate observations from the factory floor into strategic options.
“It’s one thing to analyze a market from a case study; it’s another to stand on a cutting-room floor, watch the operation firsthand, and build a strategic recommendation the client will actually act on,” said Tarakji.
Tarakji said the project sharpened his ability to define ambiguous problems and deliver useful recommendations under time pressure.
Students also visited ESAN Graduate School of Business, the host institution for the consulting projects and one of Schulich’s distinguished partners in the region. Alongside their project work, cultural experiences offered opportunities to explore Peru and strengthen connections within the group.
“Our field trip encompassed some unique learning opportunities enveloped within fantastic cultural experiences and a great prospect for cementing new friendships. It was incredibly rewarding observing the students as they embraced the experience with enthusiasm and delight,” said Professor Peridis.
