Sam Coleman-Shapiro, an HBA ’24 candidate, had a chance to embrace a new culture, make friends from around the world, and apply his Ivey learnings while on exchange at WU Vienna (Vienna University of Economics and Business) this past summer. Coleman-Shapiro spent 20 days studying abroad through WU Vienna’s International Summer University program, which he says gave him a taste of Vienna without having to commit to a traditional four-month semester exchange, and evolved into being one of the best experiences of his life. In his blog below, he writes about his experiences – everything from learning the German language to learning to waltz.
Expectations vs. reality
Before this trip, I only knew Austria for its snow-capped mountains, wiener schnitzel, and The Sound of Music. I was ecstatic when I finally checked into Milestone Student Residence at Vienna University of Economics and Business and had the chance to explore a city with such rich history. Seeing the Neue Burg Terrace up close was surreal, along with the imperial grandeur of the structures in the city square. Beyond the aesthetics, Vienna is incredibly safe, which enabled me and my peers to walk and take the subway around the city to experience the vibrant nightlife. I will say, I was not aware of the close historical relationship between Germany and Austria and had a hard time picking up on the not-so-intuitive German language!
The importance of international experiences and exposure to international teams
My first class was negotiations management, which entailed lots of group work to simulate potential workplace disagreements. My group was challenged early on because of our cultural differences. We came from Ukraine, Trinidad, Vietnam, and Canada, which represented a mix of problem-solving approaches and led to a clash of opinions. While I thought about commanding the team towards my point of view, I remembered one of my learnings from Ivey: harnessing team strengths leads to more group success. I learned to embrace the nuances within our team, and we ultimately produced successful solutions that our professor appreciated. This experience highlighted the true importance of an international exchange. I was proud of how much I learned from my groupmates.
Highlights of Vienna
Each day after class, the program leaders enhanced our Viennese experience by organizing a unique social program. Some of my favourite activities from these were visiting a local brewery, an amusement park, and swimming in the Danube River. But learning how to waltz in a group lesson was certainly the most memorable activity. I took the liberty of participating in as many social programs as possible, pushing me to forge new friendships and bond with classmates. By the end of the first week, my peers and I were already organizing pick-up soccer games, weekend travels to Prague and Budapest, and learning about each other’s unique backgrounds over an Ottakringer (Vienna lager) draft beer.
My short-term study abroad in Vienna was nothing short of fantastic. I managed to learn a great deal about business on an international stage, of which I can certainly carry with me into my early career. It was fun connecting with strangers from across the world, experiencing novel activities together, and leaving as close friends. I am jealous of the next group of Ivey students who will have the privilege of visiting Vienna in the future.
View more photos below.
The adventure begins
Time for sightseeing
Enjoying an Ottakringer
Visiting an amusement park
Taking a break
Vienna at night
