In October 2024, we – 18 students from two MBA classes – came together for the first time in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our destination? The THM Global Conference on Advanced Business Development, hosted by Belmont Abbey College. What began as an academic endeavor soon became a journey of collaboration and connection. The week-long conference, led by Dr. Mary Beth Chambers, an expert on advanced business development and strategy, was all about diving into advanced business development with a focus on sports management while building strong relationships between us students, who most of us had not met before. From the first day we knew this week would have a significant impact on our personal and professional development.

Day 1: Getting to know each other and diving into Charlotte’s vivid cultural life

For many of us, this was our first time meeting each other and our first time in the US. Understandably, there was excitement and a hint of nervousness. The first day began with a warm welcome from our host, Dr. Mary Beth Chambers, and Professor Jan Freidank, the THM MBA program director, who accompanied us students throughout our time in the U.S. We then participated in icebreakers to prepare for a week of close collaboration. Dr. Chambers led a workshop on critical thinking, urging us to challenge our thinking in preparation and to ask the right questions to set the stage for meaningful discussions. We then applied this in the following presentations of great guest speakers from the City of Charlotte and the surrounding County, the Charlotte Sports Foundation and the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority. Welcome drinks and dinner at the Fahrenheit Rooftop bar and restaurant in Charlotte brought an interesting first day to a great end.

Day 2: Insights from the motor racing industry

On the second day, we explored business strategy tools such as the Balanced Scorecard and the Strategy Pyramid to learn about the importance of reflecting on a company's mission, values and goals to make it successful. The day continued with a special presentation on these strategies in the motor racing world of NASCAR, a theme that stayed with us throughout the week. The next and final official stop for day two was a visit to Champion Wheel & Tire, the only company that supplies the NASCAR cars wheels for their races. After a tour and a drink together, some of us students went to a pre-season NBA game between the Charlotte Hornets and the Miami Heat to experience professional basketball for the first time.

Day 3: Real world applications

A visit to Charlotte Douglas International Airport gave us an insight into the strategic planning and operation of this airport, which acts as a hub for countless domestic and international flights. After a tour of the airport grounds, we stopped for a barbecue on our way to Dr. Mary-Beth Chambers' house, where we discussed and reflected on the past few days together, before starting group work in preparation for our final project for the module. The evening was spent with Dr. Mary-Beth Chambers and her family, who welcomed us into their home and made sure that everyone had a great time. For putting so much effort into giving the students the opportunity to experience an American home and bond over burgers and beer tasting, we students cannot thank her enough.

Day 4: Team Building at Its Best

Day four was all about team building and getting us out of our comfort zones. The US National Whitewater Center provided the perfect environment for team building exercises in the great outdoors. Workshops on active listening emphasized the importance of communication, while the students developed different strategies for working as a team in different areas of the center. The day ended with a highlight for any motor racing fan, as we were given the special opportunity to visit the headquarters of Stewart Haas Racing, a title winning NASCAR team based in North Carolina, where we were given a tour of the facility and even saw a Formula 1 car used by one of Haas' current Formula 1 drivers, Kevin Magnussen. A long day of knowledge and recognition ended with some preparation for the final projects on day 5.

Day 5: Showcasing our skills

The morning of our last day together in Charlotte was used to focus on our projects. The task, worked on in groups of 3-6, was to create an event that would have an economic impact on the region and be related to either the City of Charlotte or the Charlotte Sports Foundation. The students had to put their knowledge and skills to the test by preparing interesting presentations on their creative ideas. After travelling to Belmont Abbey College, the students had the opportunity to present their ideas before taking a tour of the campus. The day ended with a cocktail hour and dinner with closing remarks from Professor Jan Freidank and Dr. Mary-Beth Chambers. We students expressed our gratitude to Dr Chambers with a gift to her and her family for making this week a memorable experience for everyone.

The Takeaway: Collaboration over competition

Throughout the week, we built strong relationships that will carry us through the rest of the MBA. These relationships are more than just academic; they are a network of like-minded individuals who challenge and support each other. The conference was about learning new concepts, but it was also about understanding the power of working together. By sharing ideas and supporting each other's growth, we left North Carolina not only with new knowledge, but with valuable life experiences and an understanding of the power of working together.