UMKC Students Work To Bring International Business To Kansas City, Missouri

Eight students from the UMKC Study Abroad program now have a taste of business overseas. Narbeli Galindo, the EDC International Business Development Initiatives Coordinator, also a UMKC International Business Professor, recently brought students from UMKC Bloch School of Business undergraduate and graduate-level programs to Barcelona and Madrid, Spain to meet international connections and learn from her expertise.

The Board of the Institute of Architects of Madrid invited Galindo to present an overview of the KCMO architecture industry, and discuss ways to unite both city mayors and find ways to find projects, where both cities and architects could learn from each other’s cultural and industry expertise, possibly through an exchange program.

While there, Galindo presented to global Spanish companies and institutions about KCMO capital investment opportunities. The group visited also several international businesses who want to collaborate and enter the United States market through KCMO resources.

The group met with several international businesses, including:
Logoplaste, Barcelona Activa, IBM Client Center Barcelona, QBOX, Banco de España (Bank of Spain), The Institute of Architects of Madrid and Foundation Cesar Manrique.

Galindo was also invited by QBOX, a Spanish company now looking to enter the US market for the first time through KCMO this summer. Additionally, Galindo presented and promoted KCMO to the Foundation Cesar Manrique in Lonzorante, Spain. The goal was to find ways to work with their community and government interested in partnering with the KCMO art industry.

The IBM Client Center of Barcelona, collaborated with UMKC and the EDCKC by presenting their new innovation products and services and discussed with Galindo ways for their Spanish clients to know about what KCMO has to offer for US expansion opportunities. The group returned with first-hand experience of business cultural differences and the conduction of international business.