UNM Anderson EMBA cohort spends an immersive week in Lisbon

In March, UNM Anderson's Executive MBA students embarked on an immersive week in Lisbon, Portugal, engaging with local institutions and business leaders. The experience extended their EMBA coursework beyond UNM, offering a global perspective on leadership, strategy, and innovation.

Immersion Week is a highlight for students, as they have the opportunity to explore new cultures and build meaningful connections with international executives. This year's experience was hosted by Autónoma Academy, a postgraduate school of the Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa (UAL).

Students in the EMBA program are asked to choose between an international residency focused on global business practices or a domestic residency that emphasizes public affairs and public policy. Previous international immersion weeks have taken place in Italy and Japan.

Throughout the week, students explored Lisbon's dynamic startup ecosystem, including presentations from emerging ventures at the Lisbon Unicorn Factory. They also gained insight into AI and cloud strategy in southern Europe through sessions with Global Azure Portugal. Toward the end of the program, the cohort met with the National Entity for Energy Sector where they examined Portugal's energy strategy, including developments in hydrogen production and mobility.

"The community of Lisbon was great. They had a lot of passion, especially the companies that we visited. It wasn't about profits or ego; it was just about doing what they love. That was very inspiring to me," said Germaine Jones, a class of 2026 EMBA student.

Jones serves as the deputy contracting officer for the Navajo Nation Office of Management and Budget (OMB). He was motivated to apply to the EMBA program with the goal of bringing back what he learns to help uplift and strengthen systems within the Navajo Nation.

"Portugal and the Navajo Nation share a lot similarities. (Portugal) is a young country like the Navajo Nation, so it got me thinking like, how can I share our culture with the world."

Jones is set to graduate this spring alongside his cohort, a group of 11 individuals representing a wide range of industries and professional backgrounds.

"(the cohort experience) made me think out of the box, especially the team that I was assigned with. We all have our own specialty and we all think differently. It showed me that there are more ways than one to shape a business or organization," said Jones.

He emphasized that the program has not only inspired him, but also his peers, to apply what they've learned within their respective communities and industries. Jones strongly encourages other working professionals to consider enrolling in the EMBA program.