Global Immersion Week: Visiting Amsterdam

3 min read

Global Immersion Week at IE Business School is a one-of-a-kind, international learning experience. Participants travel to global business hubs to gain firsthand exposure to international business dynamics, attend academic sessions and engage directly with senior executives at world-renowned companies. Visiting Amsterdam is just one way out students get hands-on experience with leading professionals around the world.

Let’s find out more about this unique opportunity for students for students in Marketing, Communication & Sales and Talent Development & Human Resources programs.

Hands-on experience while visiting Europe

Set against the vibrant backdrop of one of Europe’s leading innovation hubs, the Global Immersion Week in Amsterdam offers students a unique opportunity to explore the real-world application of global business principles. Throughout the week, participants gain insights from top executives. This means visiting companies across diverse industries with a number of academic sessions. 

The experience blends high-level learning with cultural exploration. Students can therefore expand their perspectives and build meaningful professional connections that go beyond the classroom.

As a well-connected global business hub, Amsterdam offers an ideal backdrop for this journey. Home to established multinationals and agile startups alike, the city blends forward-thinking business strategy with a rich cultural atmosphere that stimulates creativity and connection.

How does Global Immersion Week benefit students? 

For Daniela Garcés, an Ecuadorian student with a background in digital and retail marketing, the week she spent in Amsterdam was a powerful reminder that ambition knows no borders. “When it comes to your professional journey, there are really no limits—as long as you are aware that it takes time, effort and a willingness to make connections,” she tells us.

Listening to IE Business School alumni share their own global journeys helped Daniela reframe what’s possible. Many had also come from overseas and were now thriving in top-tier organizations across Europe and beyond. “Seeing people with similar backgrounds to mine—coming from small, faraway countries—driving real impact in some of the world’s most recognized companies… made what once felt out of reach suddenly feel possible.”

What were the highlights of visiting Amsterdam for Global Immersion Week? 

In just one week, Daniela took part in a whirlwind of activity. She moderated her first industry panel, explored Amsterdam, connected with peers from around the world and even led an Instagram takeover for IE Business School. “I never imagined I could learn, grow and push myself so far outside of my comfort zone in just one week.”

One of the week’s highlights was a visit to WeTransfer. Here students explored how meaningful content and value-driven messaging allow companies to connect with consumers. Daniela says, “It was a great reminder that grabbing attention isn’t enough—what really matters is creating meaningful engagement.”

This message hit close to home for Daniela, whose experience spans content strategy, SEO and digital community building. It reinforced the importance of timing, relevance and platform alignment when building marketing strategies that truly connect with people.

How does Global Immersion Week shape professional identity?

Global Immersion Week is more than corporate visits. It’s an experience that helps students clarify their professional goals. For Daniela the experience certainly helped her get closer to defining her purpose. “One key takeaway for me was the importance of self-awareness: when you truly understand who you are, what you bring to the table and what your purpose is, finding the right role becomes not just possible, but intentional.”

Global Immersion Week is more than a study trip—it’s an invitation to see the world through a broader lens. This helps you form real-world connections and reimagine what’s possible in your career. Global business hubs like Amsterdam show students the creativity, strategy and global impact that define success.