Poland Business Week is an exciting and unique experience for high school students from Poland. Mentored by a volunteer from the Washington State business community, students spend an intensive week in a simulated “corporate” environment learning business, teambuilding, leadership and critical skills essential for today’s global economy. It is a crash course in the challenges and opportunities of life in a free-enterprise, entrepreneurial society, such as preparing for a career, workplace issues, managing money, networking skills, brainstorming, teamwork, business ethics and so much more!
The program is an amazing opportunity for all involved. Given our regions importance in the global economy (we are number #1 nationally for exports per capita), students, volunteers and business partners have a unique opportunity to practice diplomacy, educate others about free enterprise, and form new personal and professional relationships abroad. The Polish students and educators learn, in English, about the practice of capitalism beyond theory. They view this collaboration as sharing America’s long history of free enterprise and democracy with their region, and want to establish a long term relationship with Washington Business Week and the sponsoring corporations.
View Chris Campbell’s Poland Business Week 2011 Testimonial
Kristie English, one of our 2009 Gdynia Company Advisors, shared photos and a little about here experience at Gdynia Business Week on her blog here.
“I am positive that international business week will help me in the future it was the real tipping point that made me want to work in international business.”
“Anyone can go to a different country but it takes something special to say that you've taught kids in another country all about business.”
“I think that most important thing that I have learned here was how to take risk.”
“Teamwork is very important; it saves times, brings more ideas, improves the company.”
“I learned the importance of international friendships and how important it is to understand how other countries work in order to succeed.”
“It has changed my approach towards teamwork. I can distinguish the difference between a leader and a manager.”
As a Company or Student Advisor for Poland Business Week, you will enjoy one of the best professional/personal growth experiences of your life by joining a group of 8-12 English-speaking Polish high school students in our program. Throughout the week, students will be working their way through our BizSim business simulation, addressing everything from daily HR issues to project based work under a tight deadline. As a Company or Student Advisor, your challenge is to encourage the students to take the lead, share your experience and help answer questions along the way.
Participation in an International Program provides hands-on experience that will contribute to your future – both your educational and professional life. Involvement in an international program will help you grow and learn, and teach you how to behave and succeed in the global workplace of the future. Organizations and colleges seek top employees and students with the character and dedication to excel. This is your opportunity to challenge yourself and gain valuable leadership and communication skills in diverse cultural surroundings.
Above all, it is a wonderful international adventure and exceptional opportunity to visit the foreign country and have cross-cultural experience.
Each program will include: one hundred Polish high school students, ten business volunteers from the US, ten American high school students, Polish Educators and 2 Business Week/Seattle-Gdynia Sister City staff. All of the students speak English.
Company Advisors and Student Advisors (and their parents) will be required to attend program planning meetings in the greater Seattle area to work on parts of the curriculum. These meetings are typically held on weekends starting in April. Your personal commitment to these meetings prior to the program will contribute to the overall success of this unforgettable experience.
Company Advisor - Online or pdf / CA Information
Student Advisor - Online or pdf
Student Financial Assistance Information and Application
Poland Business Week, Washington Business Week and the Pathways are programs of The Foundation for Private Enterprise Education, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. We provide equal opportunity to participate in all the rights, privileges, and activities sponsored by the organization regardless of the participant’s race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin, religion, or sexual orientation. The Foundation does not discriminate in the administration of its educational scholarship policies and strives to provide every student full opportunity of participation in all scheduled activities.