During one of my recent International Business classes for adult learners, we had the opportunity to discuss the concept of political risk for businesses developing operations overseas.  In that context, we were reviewing a list published by Foreign Policy magazine which ranks countries by political risks and other threats.  Not surprisingly, Sudan and Iraq topped the most recent list.   Then I heard a student ask why the state of Georgia was included on a list of countries!   Quite frankly, I did not know how to respond.   Add to that the fact that one of my close friends mentioned a son’s classmate (granted, it was 4^th grade) asked if you had to have a passport to go to California.   It started me thinking.   Are we doing enough to educate our up and coming generation and future business leaders about our global world today? 

Are elementary school students taking and understanding world geography?  Do we offer adequate foreign language training at an early age in all our school systems?  Are we encouraging university students to spend a semester abroad?  (In fact, according to Allan Goodman, president and CEO of the Institute of International Education, states that despite the doubling of study-abroad enrollments in the past decade, only 1% of college students study abroad each year).  Are we fostering a global mentality in our workforce today?    Are we offering cross-cultural communications training to executives traveling overseas? 

Today’s business leaders need to push for all of these things in order to ensure the future success of American business.   Let’s “go global” today to meet the challenges of tomorrow. 

To learn more about Cassel International and its international seminars, go to http://www.casselinternational.com/seminars.html.