Studying business in Middle Earth

Over winter break, Roger Howard embarked on an adventure straight out of a Tolkien story.

The quest led him over the grassy hills of the Shire, through a brilliant bioluminescent glowworm cave and to a hospitable Maori village offering food cooked by volcanic steam.

And while he didn’t encounter hordes of orcs or a giant spider, Howard did conquer a bungee jump off the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

Howard, an economics and political science major, had been eager to study at a university abroad and observe first-hand how a country’s geography and cultural identity influence its politics and business practices.

So when he saw a flyer for a study abroad program in New Zealand through the IU Southeast School of Business and Global Academic Ventures, Howard jumped at the opportunity. The 11-day program based at the University of Auckland focused on the study of starting, owning and running a business in New Zealand.

An Instagram gallery of photographs taken in New Zealand. Click the arrow to the right of the picture to navigate through the gallery. (Credit: @rogerhoward4)

Roger Howard, a proud pug owner, meets Cedric the “Wild Pug” while hiking in New Zealand. (Photo supplied by Roger Howard)

“New Zealand is a country that is renowned for its focus on preserving the environment, while also being viewed as an attractive place to do business,” said David Eplion, dean of the School of Business. “It was an excellent opportunity for students to learn how they are able to pursue both goals simultaneously.”

“This was a major sign this trip was meant for me,” Howard said. “Plus the thought of going to the wonderful country of New Zealand presented itself as an adventure and truly exotic location in the South Pacific.”

New Zealand is an interesting case study for a student like Howard. The Oceanian nation was recently ranked the easiest place in the world to start a business by The World Bank and International Finance Corporation, but the country’s infrastructure and isolation present its own share of challenges to compete in a global economy.

Over the course of 11 days, Howard and seven other IU Southeast business students listened to presentations from University of Auckland faculty, local CEOs and country managers of companies like Johnson & Johnson, Uber, GE and IBM. They learned how these companies structure human resources, business law and finance in New Zealand’s growing economy.

“The fact that they got to meet top executives from both local firms in New Zealand as well as large multinational companies provides them with insights that cannot be gained from classroom study alone,” Eplion said. “Virtually every presenter offered suggestions as to how our students could pursue international careers, and I feel confident that some of our students will indeed pursue those opportunities.”

Students were then challenged to consider which New Zealand business practices American companies could feasibly adapt. Howard’s answer: “We could be more laid back.”

It’s no wonder the Kiwis are so easygoing. Stepping outside of the classroom, Howard observed a country full of people hiking, swimming, surfing and climbing the surreal, bountiful paradise around them.

(Credit: @rogerhoward4)

Southeast of Auckland lies the misty town of Rotoura, where indigenous Maori tribes live among the steam pools and mud vents of an active volcano. Away in the countryside, the sheep farm used for filming Hobbiton scenes in The Lord of the Rings movies remains frozen in time. Deep inside the Waitomo Caves, glowworms radiate a sky of living lights onto the black waters below.

To that end, Howard notes New Zealanders are also a proud people committed to preserving the land’s beauty and natural resources. National parks post signs instructing visitors to disinfect their shoes before entering areas of flora susceptible to disease.

“I learned it’s not a one-size-fits-all when it comes to starting a business and approaching business practices,” Howard said. “I learned about what it takes to get over some of those barriers of business and trade in New Zealand, especially with their focus on green energy.”

After a week and a half of living among the people who call the Land of the Long White Cloud home, students were tasked with drafting proposal to bring a new business to the country. One group pitched Chick-fil-A. Howard’s proposed senior care services for the elderly in Auckland.

“After listening to different speakers talk about New Zealand’s shifting demographics — 25 percent of the population will be 65 years old or older by 2020 — we suggested something that would meet that demand,” Howard said.

Because Howard learned that property is so expensive in New Zealand,  the proposal specified that this would not be a brick and mortar nursing home. Instead, Howard suggested training caregivers and working directly with families to create individual service plans based on need.

“A family could hire someone three days a week to drive Grandma or Grandpa around, do groceries, take care of errands, whatever it is they need,” he said. “It gives the elderly person some empowerment to stay inside their own home.”

The proposal was a hit, and Howard’s professor expressed interest in investing.

“I took that as a good sign,” Howard said with a laugh.

The successful venture to Middle Earth marked a promising future for business students seeking learning opportunities abroad.

“Ideally, we would like to offer an international trip every year.” Eplion said. “We are actively seeking out trips for our students and hope to have an announcement by the end of this semester.”

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