>>>>Dean Grillot: As we continue our discussion about different careers paths in the international
field, joining me today is Daniel Pullin. He's the Dean of the Price College of Business
at the University of Oklahoma. Thank you for joining us, Dean Pullin.
>>Dean Pullin: Oh, thank you, Dean Grillot.
>>Dean Grillot: So let's start talking about what international business really means.
Before we even get into the career path itself, what does that mean? Does it mean working
for private enterprise that maybe works around the globe, across borders, or what should
we think of when we think of international business?
>>Dean Pullin: Well, today in many respects, international business may have just one word
too many as a descriptor. Really, you could shorten it to "business" because I think essentially
all business is international. Certainly there's the conception of companies working across
borders, you know, building elaborate international supply chains, moving goods and services,
talent and information, cash flows from border to border. There's, there's that, that brand
of international business. But in many respects, even if you are a a wholly owned, wholly contained
operation that sources goods from say, a state like Oklahoma, markets, goods to people like
Oklahomans, using Oklahoma labor -- it's still very international because in every respect,
whatever that product, good, or service may be, in in in in each case, it competes against
alternatives, substitutes, competing products, goods, and services that will be subjected
to an international supply chain, international talent. And so perhaps it is a, you know,
a maybe a a piece of corn grown in a in a particular state. Well that corn has to be
of a nature and quality that can effect—that can compete effectively versus corn that may
be imported abroad. And so even if it's a, you know, the product of one particular geography,
the business has to be able to be responsive and competitive internationally.
>>Dean Grillot: So in that case then, if somebody is interested in a career in international
business, what would they want to study? So it sounds me like they should, they should
definitely be studying something in the business field in order to understand international
business. If we're not going to think about it in the international sense, but just as
business. I mean, what are some of the things that they should study and understand?
>>Dean Pullin: Yeah, well there's a variety of of, of skill sets as well as life experiences
that go into being able to to have an effective international business career. Certainly having
an appreciation for other cultures, whether that is firsthand, perhaps through study abroad
programs, or whether it is working very hard in in our classrooms and actually leveraging
technology that allows the world to come to you and and you to to go to the world without
having to perhaps travel or incur those expenses. Being very aggressive very, being very eager
to to learn about the broader world and how it impacts where you are and where you want
to go is is is essential. Certainly time-honored notions of having language skills if there's
a particular geography in which you want to work, or perhaps one that you want to to to
sell to the to end consumer. Having appreciation for how business is conducted in those environments
while never—while appreciating the differences, making sure that you are still a very grounded
in your in your own value system, recognizing that the way business may be conducted in
other countries could be could be different, and the practices could be challenged in many
respects, but making sure that you stay very true to your to yourself. And and and also
being very open-minded, you know, recognizing that you don't have all the answers and that
you can't necessarily project your instinctive views on a on a on place, on a people, on
a marketplace-- you can't view yourself as the referenceable customer. So being very
open to other ideas and perspectives. Understanding what that end customer might might really
want or the context in which they would they would interpret your your good, value, or
or service, and being willing to to engage people in in whatever your target environment
is, in the, in the value creating process and and and sort of the ultimate delivery
of of your good or service.
>>Dean Grillot: So global awareness, clearly, foreign languages and international experience
of some sort. But just open-mindedness and other types of of personal characteristics
perhaps, that would be helpful. But what about communication skills or other types of of
things? Being able to write well or speak publicly-- are these also important things
that one might need in order to have a successful career in business?
>>Dean Pullin: Oh absolutely. Whether it is it is speaking publicly or writing well in
a in a different in a different language, or it's just being able to articulate a position
or a purpose even in your in your native language to a a company that may even be located in
your in your home country. Still the basic building blocks of business success, whether
it's, you know, traditional functional expertise in finance, accounting, marketing, supply
chain management, and others, or it's the ability to articulate your facility with with
that expertise. That functional expertise to to to motivate the other folks in your
company or other people in your value chain to to behave in accordance with with how you
would like the, the business to be conducted. In all respects those skills are still very
valued.
>>Dean Grillot: So obviously you mentioned finance and accounting, so maybe a few math
skills wouldn't hurt as well--
>>Dean Pullin: Oh sure.
>>Dean Grillot: --in in terms of being able to go into business, being able to, you know,
engage, and be able to read a spreadsheet or something like that?
>>Dean Pullin: Mmhmm, absolutely. I think that having a an understanding of the financial
underpinnings of any business opportunity, whether it's at the conception stage when
you're writing a business plan and trying to determine whether or not a market would
pay a sufficient price for the the product or good that you're you're providing such
that you could cover your cost, or as you move that into production, as you move that
into reality, making sure that what you have projected, what you've estimated is something
that is is borne out in fact. Having a good facility with numbers and attention to detail
to manage the resulting financial reality is is important.
>>Dean Grillot: So you mentioned now, just now management as well, being able to manage
projects. So in on the management side, perhaps skills like personnel management or leadership
might also be relevant in the field of international business?
>>Dean Pullin: Oh, it is, as it is in in in in business at large. You know, the challenges
are are a bit different. Even in my own personal experience, having been in a management role
in an international environment, one in which I I didn't have a great command of the of
the of the local language, you know, I had to actually work very hard to to recruit and
and motivate and retain complementary leaders who could could perform those translation
skills while still making sure that sort of the strategic direction and the managerial
priority stayed intact. But but ensuring that you have alignment from some your vision,
your management style, the way to what may occur at, you know, the production floor or
may occur in the way a product gets marketed -- you you have to be very comfortable working
with with with additional people.
>>Dean Grillot: So finally then, what would you suggest students do if they want to pursue
a career in international business or in business in general? Internships perhaps? Maybe exploring
a little bit in this field in order to determine if this is the right field for them?
>>Dean Pullin: Yeah, there's a few things you should do. Fundamentally, since all business
is international, you have to to to really focus on having a at least one core business
skill set. And so we always recommend that a student have a traditional business background,
say in accounting, say in finance. And if they want to pursue and layer on top of that
exposure to international business from a curricular perspective, then they will be
better prepared to to move throughout their career into increasing levels of responsibility
and increasingly internationally intense and environments. There are two pathways. The
first is if as a student, you acquire not only that core business skill, say finance,
but also take advantage of international opportunities. Perhaps studying abroad for a period of time,
and while studying abroad not only going to class and maybe soaking up some of the cultural
opportunities, but maybe taking it a step further, exploring an international internship
in conjunction with your study abroad. That really, when it, when it upon graduation that
really gives you a leg up when you're making the case that even at a junior tenure in your
career to an employer, who you're you are hoping will will select you for employment
in an international environment. You can say, not only do I have, say, the foundational
business skill. Not only do I hopefully have the foundational language skill. Not only
have I been to the the environment in question and studied in that international context,
but I've actually done some work in that international context. I know what it's like to conduct
business there, and here's what I did, and here are the impacts, and here's how I've,
in a way, derisked the hiring decision for you, employer, and here's how I've previously
demonstrated my commitment to a career in international business. That's one way. You
have to be very aggressive, and you have to be very purposeful to do that, but it can
be done. The other way is to pursue, following graduation, a a position with a company that
is is largely international, has a variety of business units or other other outlets across
the globe. And as you work through through your career, you can be very open about volunteering
for international assignments, working with your supervisor, manager, perhaps an informal
mentor, to talk about your long-term aspirations to transition within say that company to an
international business unit, for example. And in a way that also allows the employer
to derisk their decision of sending you abroad, because they know who you are. You have a
track record within their company. You've proven yourself, and now they view it as an
opportunity for them not only to for you to add value to their company in international
context, but they're now starting to think of you as a future leader of the company.
And if you're going to lead a a company, you have to be able to lead internationally. Again,
all business is international these days, and if you have that exposure then you will
have the opportunity to move up into the senior levels of management, because you you've proven
that you can conduct business in a very effective way, both domestically as well as abroad.
>>Dean Grillot: So if one has experience in international business, what other opportunities
might be opened because of that experience? Does it lead perhaps to other options for
students and then professionals that want to seek other careers beyond a career in business?
>>Dean Pullin: You know, it it does. First of all, it certainly makes you incredibly
marketable across, you know, all all sorts of of enterprises, both private and and and
public. And and what we we see oftentimes are even opportunities in public service being
opened. Because if you've demonstrated a track record in an international environment, if
you've been able to operate under real-world cost and deadline constraints, worked with
people unlike yourself toward productive ends, those are the types of of of life and professional
experiences that even places like the State Department really, really value. And so if
you're considering a long-term career in public service, if you have the opportunity to benefit
from a a a stop along the way in international business, you become very desirable to to,
to serving in a public fashion.
>>Dean Grillot: Well Dean Pullin, thank you so much for being with me today to talk about
this career field. It's very, very helpful for our students. Thank you for your advice.
>>Dean Pullin: Oh, you're very welcome.
>>Dean Grillot: So students, there you have it. If you're interested in a career in international
business, you might check out how some business courses might help you along the way in your
field of international studies. See how they work together.