Over 50% of business activity is global. Despite shifts in international trade laws, global business strategy won’t be going away any time soon. Firms that tap into international business partnerships and resources enjoy new markets, more customers and lower their overall risk through diversification. With this host of benefits from global strategy, every aspiring professional should make learning it a priority.
Gathering the right international experience can’t happen in the wrong environment. Gateway cities like San Diego are perfectly positioned to give both new and experienced professionals a taste of global business. International business expert Eileen Daspro now calls San Diego home, where she mentors students at the Knauss School of Business and helps prepare the next generation of global business leaders.
Join us as we explore the importance of international business in modern strategy and hear from Professor Daspro on current and future trends in global business.
International business is the production and sale of goods and services internationally. A “global business” is one that uses international business strategies and has facilities in multiple countries around the world. As globalization affects both domestic and international businesses, being aware of the right strategies can make the difference between struggling to stay afloat and thriving in a global economy.
A strong global business strategy helps future professionals navigate the complexities of international markets, from cultural differences and regulatory environments to supply chain logistics and competitive positioning. It equips leaders to identify opportunities across borders, adapt to shifting economic conditions and build resilient organizations. Whether you're working for a multinational company or launching your own venture, understanding how to think and operate globally is essential for long-term success.
Want to explore where an international business focus could take your career? Download our MBA Career Guide to get started.
Eileen Daspro is the Faculty Director and Clinical Professor of International Business at the Knauss School of Business. With over 25 years of international experience—primarily in Latin America—she brings a global perspective to the classroom, backed by her work as a professor, researcher, and consultant in Brazil, France, Venezuela, and Mexico. A NASBITE Certified Global Business Professional, her expertise spans global strategy, international competitiveness, and cross-border consulting with companies like P&G and KidZania.
We sat down with Professor Daspro to hear her perspective on the evolving world of global business, discuss the benefits of international business partnerships and find out how cities like San Diego give business professionals a step up in developing global business strategies.
Professor Daspro: Partnerships, specifically or relationships more generally, are the foundation of the global economy. Relationship-based cultures represent about 2/3 of the world economy and dominate in Latin America, Asia and the Middle East. In these cultures, trust, personal connections and long-term reciprocity are the foundation for successful business, whether in negotiations, sales, or distribution.
Since the 1990s, countries have increasingly embraced preferential trading agreements as a means to capture the benefits of free trade through collaboration. In the 1950s, regional trade agreements were barely in existence. Today, there are over 370+ globally, including the USMCA and the European Union. Similarly, multinational firms that partner with local companies can accelerate their entry into the international market and enhance their value creation potential by sharing risk, accessing local market knowledge and leveraging valued capital, technological or labor resources.
Firms that partner with local companies often succeed in faster foreign market entry by leveraging local knowledge, distribution networks and regulatory understanding.
Partnerships are equally relevant in higher education. The University of San Diego has valued partners in over 44 countries who share our commitment to cross-cultural understanding and global learning. This makes possible our diverse portfolio of international program offerings, including study abroad, double degree programs with European partner universities, international consulting projects abroad, international student exchange and short-term faculty-led programs abroad. The Knauss School of Business faculty, administration and the Ahlers Center for International Business faculty carefully cultivate these partnerships with global institutional partners to benefit our students' global learning experience.
Professor Daspro: The costs of the tariffs themselves will be paid by importers to the U.S. government. These additional costs will most likely be passed on to businesses and consumers who will face higher prices for goods that are imported or for goods that contain imported materials. Experts estimate that tariffs could cost U.S. households $4,900 per year. They could be crippling for U.S. small businesses. U.S. tariff uncertainty as a whole could lower global GDP by 1% and damage long-term trade relations between the U.S. and its global trade partners.
Given the pervasive nature of the administration’s current tariff policy, firms face limited options. They can source from lower-tariff countries, which is particularly critical when sourcing from China, whose goods now face a 145% tariff. However, supply chain reconfiguration cannot be done overnight. Firms may choose to leverage cost-sharing mechanisms between the importer and exporter to avoid passing down costs fully to the consumer. Moreover, they can reshore production back to the U.S. and avoid the tariffs altogether, assuming that local production is possible. Politically connected firms like those in the electronics industry have lobbied the U.S. government for exemptions to the tariff policies with some success.
Professor Daspro: San Diego is a gateway city whose strategic location offers global companies cross-border efficiency, innovative leadership, skilled talent, and strategic access to North American and Pacific markets.
San Diego specializes in high-value, globally traded industries including the Life Sciences, Telecommunications, Technology and Cybersecurity, Aerospace and Defense and Clean Tech. San Diego’s Life Science Cluster is 3rd in the nation and is home to 1,200 life sciences economies, including global players in genomics, diagnostics and medical equipment like Ilumina, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Dexcom. Moreover, San Diego prides itself on its dynamic, innovation ecosystem and boasts a thriving startup ecosystem, a robust tech startup scene and is home to world-class institutions of cutting-edge research and innovation.
In today’s interconnected world, a business education that prioritizes international experience is more than a competitive edge—it’s a necessity. No matter your industry or career path, developing a global mindset prepares you to lead with agility, cultural intelligence, and strategic insight.
Located in San Diego, an international hub at the crossroads of the Pacific Rim and Latin America, Knauss School of Business offers a truly global learning environment. Through international consulting projects with companies in San Diego and immersive study abroad opportunities, students gain hands-on experience solving real-world business challenges across borders.
Whether you're looking to advance your career, pivot into a new role or build your own global enterprise, Knauss School can provide the knowledge, connections and experiences to help you succeed.