The Berlin Experience

Go Beyond the Classroom. Go Global with the Berlin Experience.

The Berlin Experience: Your Gateway to Global Business Leadership

Expand your business mindset. Solve real-world challenges. Experience business without borders.

The Berlin Experience—offered through MGMT 885G—is more than a trip. It’s a dynamic, real-world business consulting opportunity built through a true joint partnership between the Barton School of Business and the HWR Berlin School of Economics and Law.

MBA students work in international teams alongside peers from HWR Berlin to solve real business challenges for companies based in Wichita, across the United States, and throughout Germany and Europe.

The program begins with a one-week immersive visit to Berlin each January, where students meet their international teammates, visit client companies, and launch their consulting projects.
Throughout the spring semester, teams collaborate across borders to develop strategic business solutions.
In April, HWR Berlin students travel to Wichita, where teams deliver their final recommendations to company executives at a formal presentation event.

It’s not just about studying global business—it’s about leading it, living it, and building a professional network that spans industries and continents.

What You'll Do

Tackle Real-World Business Challenges:
Join international student teams to consult for companies expanding into new global markets.
Collaborate Across Cultures:
Work alongside students from HWR Berlin, gaining critical cross-cultural communication and leadership skills.
Experience Business in Action:
Visit global corporations, local startups, and cultural landmarks that showcase Berlin's thriving business ecosystem.
Strengthen Your Global Perspective:
Learn firsthand how business strategies differ across borders—and why global thinking is a must for tomorrow’s leaders.

Why It Matters

In today's connected world, business leaders must be able to think globally, adapt quickly, and lead across cultures.
The Berlin Experience gives you the competitive edge employers are looking for by combining academic rigor with immersive, hands-on international learning.

You’ll walk away with:
✔ Real consulting experience for your portfolio
✔ International teamwork and leadership experience
✔ A stronger, global professional network
✔ A new way of thinking about business—and your future

Program Highlights

International Business Consulting Project with companies based in the U.S., Germany, and Europe
Company Visits and Executive Panels featuring leaders from diverse industries
Cultural Excursions to historic sites, museums, and iconic Berlin neighborhoods
Collaboration with HWR Berlin Students and Faculty on cross-cultural consulting teams
Final Presentation of strategic recommendations to industry clients and academic leaders
Travel Grants Available to help offset travel costs for students participating in the Berlin Experience

Eligibility & Application

Open to second-year MBA students at the Barton School who are in the final semesters of their program.
Students enrolled in the Master of Human Resource Management (MHRM), Master of Science in Supply Chain Management (MSSCM), or Master of Arts in Economics & Quantitative Analysis are also eligible to take the course as an elective with program director approval.
Students must complete an application process and participate in an interview.
Limited spots are available each year.

Applications for Spring 2026 are now open!

Your global consulting journey starts here—apply for Spring 2026

Contact Stephanie Cockrell at stephanie.cockrell@wichita.edu for more information or apply now.

Apply Now

Company Participation: Partner with Our Global Consulting Teams

Wichita State’s Berlin Experience course (MGMT 885G: Advanced Strategic Management) connects MBA students from Wichita State and the HWR Berlin School of Economics and Law to work on real-world business consulting projects.

We invite companies—based in the U.S. or Europe—that are interested in expanding into new markets to participate.
Partnering companies gain strategic insights, fresh perspectives, and access to global business talent.

What to Expect

Kickoff Meeting (Early January): Meet with student teams to share business objectives and project goals.
Project Development: Students work across borders to research, strategize, and develop recommendations.
Final Presentation (Mid April): Receive a formal report and presentation, with feedback provided by faculty experts.
Flexible Attendance: Company leaders can attend the final presentation either in person in Wichita or virtually.

Company Commitment

Approximate time commitment of 2–3 hours over the project duration
Share relevant data and insights to guide the student teams
Attend or join virtually for the final presentation in Mid April

Ready to Collaborate? Let’s Talk.

If your company is exploring international growth and would benefit from fresh, research-driven insights, we’d love to connect.
Email Stephanie Cockrell at stephanie.cockrell@wichita.edu to learn more about participating in the Berlin Experience as a project partner.

Global Collaboration Begins Here. Leadership Grows Everywhere.

Real consulting. Real teamwork. Real impact.
In the Berlin Experience, Barton MBA students team up with peers from HWR Berlin to solve real-world business challenges—building global connections and leadership skills that last far beyond graduation.

Berlin and WSU students holding the wichita flag in a group photo

Bridging Wichita and Berlin: One Global Team

Barton and HWR Berlin students come together to build real-world solutions—and lifelong friendships.
The Berlin Experience isn’t just about business consulting. It’s about creating connections that cross borders, industries, and cultures.

Real Companies. Real Conversations. Real Impact.

Company visits are a key part of the Berlin Experience, giving students a firsthand look at how businesses innovate, grow, and lead in their industries.
By engaging directly with executives and decision-makers, students turn theory into practice—and build insights that shape their future careers.