YSU Student Places Second at International Symposium
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Youngstown State University’s Zakria Chandio, a junior majoring in finance in the Williamson College of Business Administration, placed second with his team at the 2023 X-Culture Global Symposium in Atlanta, Georgia.
He’s grateful for the experience.
“Representing YSU against top international student teams from other universities and creating a business development project for YKK, a billion-dollar manufacturing company, is something I feel proud of,” he said. “It was a great experience working with people and top faculty from all around the world.”
Kelly Cruz, a senior accounting major, also participated at the symposium on a separate team. Omer Genc, associate professor of management and marketing, assisted both students with their preparation for the competition.
X-Culture, an international experiential learning project sponsored at the local level through the WCBA, provides the opportunity for students from various countries to work in global virtual teams and complete a business project. Students gain exposure to the challenges and best practices of global cross-cultural collaboration.
Approximately 6,000 students from 140 universities in more than 50 countries participate.
The X-Culture program included a variety of sessions, such as meetings with entrepreneurs, academics and community leaders, as well as access to all Academy of International Business Southeast conference events. Events included scholarly presentations; panel sessions; professional development workshops; networking; and social events. It concluded with an invite for top student group performers to attend the corporate challenge known as the Global X-Culture Symposium.
Leading up to the symposium, the teams of five to seven students collaborated virtually for four weeks, finishing their assignments face-to-face in Atlanta.
On the last day of the symposium, all teams presented their findings and recommendations to executives from corporate partner YKK, the world’s largest zipper manufacturer, and X-Culture professors. Winning teams were awarded certificates and a cash prize.
Pictured at top: YSU students Zakria Chandio, left, and Kelly Cruz participated in the 2023 X-Culture Global Symposium.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
