This February, Darden’s Executive and Global Executive MBA students had the opportunity to explore Cuba through Darden’s Cuba at the Crossroads: How Culture and Business is Adapting to Transition course led by Barbara Millar.

Over the course of the week, students had the opportunity to learn about the transitions taking place within the Cuban economy from local faculty members and business leaders, discuss foreign direct investment frameworks,  visit a museum, cigar and rum factories, visit Port Mariel and Las Terrazas, learn about the Cuban healthcare system and visit a hospital, connect with local entrepreneurs, and hear about how the tourism industry continues to evolve.

Some highlights of the Darden Worldwide Course to Cuba for Executive MBAs are illustrated below:

Old Havana Tour
Meredith Donegan (EMBA Class of 2017), Dona Edwards (EMBA Class of 2017) and Barbara Millar at Las Terrazas, a biosphere reserve.
Learning about Cuban culture and history from a local scholar and expert.
Buena Vista Social Club Concert
Classic car tour: EMBA Class of 2017 students from left to right Jennifer Burns, Danielle Walker, Rodney Clemente, and Meredith Donegan
Discussing the outlook of the Cuban economy, monetary and exchange rate unification with a local scholar, former ministry member and senior researcher.
Old Havana Tour
Darden Professor Paul Simko and a student in discussion.
Las Terrazas
Museum of the Revolution