Business Is Global was a two-week program for rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors interested in exploring the intersection of business, language, and culture.
Students who participated in Business Is Global gained familiarity with and interest in critical languages as they explored career options. They learned the importance of cultural proficiency and cultural awareness in business, developed public speaking and networking skills, and were exposed to international opportunities that helped them become thoughtful citizens of the world.
The accelerated Business Is Global curriculum was based on the top-ranked undergraduate program at the Kelley School of Business. With support from the IU Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies, the program introduced students to less commonly taught foreign languages and their associated cultures, including:
Student teams applied their new business and cross-cultural skills in a hands-on team competition where they were challenged to create a small business set in one of the countries studied and present to an external panel of judges.
From 2013 to 2025, 506 high school students from 32 states, 1 U.S. territory, and five countries participated in Business Is Global. Participants ranged in age from those beginning their sophomore year through their senior year, with 54 incoming sophomores (11%), 207 incoming juniors (41%), and 245 incoming seniors (48%).
Female
All minorities
Underrepresented minorities
From communities of less than 50,000
From low-income families
From Indiana
According to the 2025 program survey, participating in Business Is Global led to the following participant outcomes:
Since the program’s first cohort, 105 program alumni have gone on to attend Indiana University. Many of these students pursue studies in business, foreign languages, and international studies.
“I not only got to work on skills that forced me to work with unfamiliar people, but I made some of the most genuine friendships with people part of the program that I'll cherish forever. Through the scholarship, my amazing 2-week experience was paid for, and I show so much gratitude to IU for providing this great opportunity.”
2024 BIG Participant