“Business leaders send a powerful message when they demonstrate commitment to diversity.” i
At GBSB Global we embody diversity, and it stands as one of our three core values.
“GBSB Global Business School is an educational institution that celebrates diversity at each level of the learning process through inclusiveness, empathy, and internationalism. Our students and alumni include representatives from over 70 countries. GBSB Global’s faculty members are business leaders from over 20 different countries with a variety of international backgrounds and professional experiences. Our programs prepare students to work and live across the globe and successfully overcome the challenges our gloabalized world faces today. Students develop a cultural intelligence and awareness that empowers them to work effectively with people who have vastly different values and behaviors. The diversity among our students, alumni, and faculty is a valuable educational tool which promotes greater creativity, problem-solving, and peer to peer learning.”
With a student body hailing from over 70 nations and a faculty of professors from over 20 different countries around the world, it is no surprise that the staff that supports academics is also diverse, with employees coming from Russia, Peru, Uruguay, Columbia, the United States, Romania, Armenia, Mexico, and Kazakhstan. It truly is amazing, the diversity the whole institution possesses, from the admissions department to our graduates.
Why is diversity important from a company standpoint?
Although we are a business school focused on academia, we also function with a support staff working in admissions, marketing, and career services, providing the necessary information for current students and alumni and work to attract prospective students.
A diverse workforce prevents a company from becoming too insular and out of touch with their heterogeneous customer base. Considering GBSB Global Business School prides itself and is known for embracing diversity as a key asset to the institution’s success, it is no wonder that the staff and faculty reflect this trend in company diversity. Businesses need to mirror the individuals or customers they serve, and in this case the diverse array of employees emulates our student body.
Diversity is an advantage. It pushes individuals to challenge one another, to think freely, to be creative, open-minded, reflective, and innovative.
Company diversity gives each employee the space to be comfortable being genuine. They do not have to fit a particular mold because it is that individuality, their background that serves to benefit the establishment. Everyone’s personal experience and values vary, but there are more similarities within a singular society or culture. When a company brings together people from a wide variety of nations that span the globe you get much greater variations and insights that add value to the overall company.
Fostering an Inclusive Culture
Companies that hold diversity as a steadfast value and way of doing business nurture those individuals that work day in and day out. Creating an inclusive culture whether it be at work or school is about framing a culture in which everyone feels he/she can contribute to the success of the company or the institution as their genuine selves. The company has the responsibility of respecting and leveraging their talents in a way that promotes an overarching connectedness whether between the staff or students.
“Irrespective of gender, race, creed, sexual orientation, physical ability, the employee or student can fulfil their person objectives by aligning the with the company or the institution.” ii This creates a richness in character and value for the individual and the establishment.
GBSB Global Business School
Internationalism is a fundamental component that makes our school great. Our students, faculty, and staff come from Europe, North and South America, Africa, and Asia. This highly cosmopolitan, multilingual, multicultural community generates an eclectic and vibrant academic and work environment.
At GBSB Global Business School, we are committed to the principle of embedding diversity in the academic curriculum through classroom lectures, workshops, professional visits, network events and social engagements. We capitalize on the richness and variety of the linguistic, cultural, and educational backgrounds of our students, faculty, and staff because it fosters an added value that is not only seen in the professional sphere but also impacts every individually personally.
We whole-heartedly believe that future success of businesses around the globe and the leaders that propel them forward in the 21st century is most effectively done by fostering a diverse culture among all those involved. Being one of the international business schools that teach in English in Spain, GBSB Global Business School is a bridge connecting people from different nationalities, providing them with the tools and understanding to bring change to the way the world views business.
[i] [ii] Groysberg, Boris and Connolly, Katherine. September 2013. Great Leaders Who Make the Mix Work. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2013/09/great-leaders-who-make-the-mix-work
