AI Supercharges MBA Study Tour to Berlin and Amsterdam

Technology Management MBA students experience the future of tech at company visits, including startup Omio and IBM Netherlands

The Technology Management MBA International Study Tour in March 2026 included a visit to the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands.

Written by: Mai Ling Slaughter, contributing writer, Foster School of Business

As they approached the final stretch of their 18-month MBA journey, students in the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business traveled to Berlin and Amsterdam for an immersive International Study Tour exploring innovation, AI, entrepreneurship, and global business culture.

In March 2026, students in the UW Foster School’s Technology Management MBA program spent a week of company visits, workshops, and cultural exploration in the two European capital cities, as global lessons learned throughout the program came to life.

“It’s an experience that’s hard to plan when you’re a working professional,” said Danilo Bize (TMMBA ’26), Senior Technical Program Manager at Amazon. “During the day, we visited companies as professionals, and we also had time to explore the cities and historical sites with our great tour guides. Then at night, it was a little bit like being a teenager again, spending time with friends and even making new ones.”

Foster MBA Teaches Global Approach to Business

The International Study Tour is an optional elective for Technology Management MBA students that takes place before the final quarter of the program. Each of the UW Foster School of Business MBA programs offers a similar opportunity to travel abroad, allowing students to examine their MBA studies through a global lens.

“Overall, this trip has both reshaped and reinforced my perspectives,” said Prix Ramos-Clemente, MSIM (TMMBA ’26). “Across both Berlin and Amsterdam, I saw firsthand that there are effective organizations that do not just blindly optimize for speed or scale. Instead, they are incredibly intentional about how they build while balancing cutting-edge innovation with strict compliance, long-term sustainability, and the fundamental human experience behind it all.”

IBM Netherlands host Theodoor van der Klaauw, Senior Managing Consultant AI Strategy, far left, with UW Foster MBA students (l-r) Christopher Wong, Prix Ramos-Clemente, Danilo Bize, Ryan Combs, Daniel Lee, Thi Van, Lucy Grubbe, Arlo Magpoc, and Patrick Cottell.

The company visits in both cities started at organizations dedicated to promoting economic growth, innovation and investment: Berlin Partner für Wirtschaft und Technologie and Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency. Their presentations went beyond providing an economic overview, helping students understand how each government supports continued growth through partnerships and outreach.

“I found it especially interesting how intentional both organizations were in balancing investment in local companies with deciding which foreign companies to partner with, particularly which American companies,” said Patrick Cottell (TMMBA ’26), Finance Analyst at Blue Origin. “There was a clear sense of thoughtfulness behind those choices, which challenged my assumption that globalization is simply about maximizing openness. Seeing this balance firsthand made it clear that geopolitical factors play a meaningful role in shaping business decisions, rather than everything being driven purely by efficiency.”

Company Visits Throughout Europe Fueled by AI

A consistent theme woven throughout the visits was how each company was implementing AI into its workflows and organizations. As the founder of a startup that integrates AI in assistive technology, Arlo Magpoc (TMMBA ’26), was particularly impacted by the Berlin visit to Omio, which he described as a “highly charged AI-based startup.”

Ryan Combs, far left, and Michael Yu present after working as a team during a company visit at the travel startup Omio in Berlin.

“They were transparent in how AI optimized their workflow and communication,” said Magpoc, also a Product Data Management Specialist at Boeing. In addition to a robust presentation at Omio, students also had the opportunity to directly experience how the global travel platform solves problems and develops efficiencies through hands-on workshops.

“The exercise helped cement some of the principles we’ve been learning in our MBA program,” Magpoc said. “It was such a valuable experience to get an inside look at what they do and flex our MBA skills.”

Career and MBA Experience Relatable Across the Globe

The visit at Omio also stood out for Christopher Wong (TMMBA ’26), Senior Technical Program Manager at Uber. “As a company with a similar aggregation and platform business model,” he said, “the way the company is leveraging AI to improve their workflows mirrors the same initiatives I’m implementing at Uber.

“For each company we visited, somebody on the trip could relate it to their own career.”

Students in the UW Foster Technology Management MBA program visit CBRE Netherlands during their International Study Tour in March 2026.

Students also experienced hands-on workshops at IBM Netherlands’ Innovation Studio, which Ramos-Clemente said she appreciated because of the feedback the teams received after their presentations.

“Afterward, they said our proposals were ideas they had also thought of,” she said. “They validated that what we’re learning at business school can actually be applied in the real world.”

Company Visits Highlight Europe’s Focus on Precision vs. Efficiency

“Royal Coster Diamonds has been polishing stones since 1840 and they don’t chase scale,” said Michael Yu, far left. “They chase precision.”

Despite the focus on AI and technology during the International Study Tour, the visit also included what Ramos-Clemente called a “fun, sparkling end to the trip,” when students closed out the tour at Royal Coster Diamonds in Amsterdam.

“Here in the U.S., we always optimize revenue, we move fast,” she said. “But seeing their exclusive 201-facet Royal cut was a great reminder that true value, whether in a gemstone or a corporate strategy, requires immense precision, time, and craftsmanship.”

Michael Yu (TMMBA ’26) echoed those thoughts: “American business culture tends toward a kind of default aggression — if you’re not first, you’re losing. Over there, I noticed something subtler. Royal Coster Diamonds has been polishing stones since 1840, and they don’t chase scale. They chase precision. BMW Group Plant doesn’t optimize for volume — they optimize for craft. There’s real pride in being excellent without needing to destroy everyone else in the process.”

Technology Management MBA students toured the BMW Group Plant in Berlin, a facility that produces as many as 900 motorcycles and e-scooters per day.

Impact of History Felt Throughout Tours

Before the company visits even started, students gained deep knowledge about history and culture to help immerse themselves in their new environment. In Berlin, the experience started with a food tour that offered both diverse food options and business models, from the more traditional German restaurant Zum Schusterjungen to more modern, small-scale businesses including Symple Coffee Roasters and pastry shop Du Bonheur.

Throughout Berlin, tour guide Asaf Leshem, PhD, MS, blended the city’s unique history into every step, including a walking tour that spanned the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, Holocaust Memorial and Potsdamer Platz.

International Study Tour guide Asaf Leshem, second from right, explains the historical relevance of Checkpoint Charlie.

“Berlin especially was a rich tapestry of statues and buildings from all periods of history,” said Ryan Combs (TMMBA ’26), DevOps Engineer at Salesforce, “and they really worked hard to remind the citizens and visitors of all of it, whether it was good or bad.”

Combs particularly enjoyed a street art tour that started at the Berlin Wall’s Eastside Gallery.

“This portion of the Berlin Wall that was kept up and given to artists to decorate presented a stark contrast from what the Wall meant for people when it was a barrier,” Combs said. “It gave the artists a canvas to express their feelings about the dichotomy of the two sides of the wall, how it felt when it was brought down, and how people felt afterward.”

History and art intersect on a street art tour from the Berlin Wall to “Astronaut Cosmonaut,” shown.

Time to Explore Culture and Deepen Friendships

Although much of the week abroad is structured, students also took advantage of their free time to explore world-renowned historical sites, including the Van Gogh Museum and the Heineken Experience in Amsterdam.

“One of the most memorable experiences for me was the Heineken factory,” said Brenton Mizell, MS (TMMBA ’26), Principal Product Manager at Oracle. “It showed how history, technology, and business strategy can all connect.”

The International Study Tour offers cultural experiences like an Amsterdam Canal Cruise. Students in the front table are (clockwise from left) Prix Ramos-Clemente, Christopher Wong, and Danilo Bize.

Beyond the business lessons and company visits, many students said the most meaningful part of the experience was the time spent together outside the classroom. As one of the Foster School’s MBA programs for working professionals, students have limited time together with classes on Wednesday evenings and alternating Saturdays. On top of their MBA program, students also are balancing challenging careers and — in many cases — young or growing families.

“Most of the time when you travel, you always hit the landmarks,” Ramos-Clemente told the next class of Technology Management MBA students, as they explore options for their own International Study Tour in 2027. “But one thing you will never replicate is the bond you’re going to make with the people who you travel with. The side conversations that you never would have had, even in your 18 months in the program.”

To learn more about International Study Tour opportunities, visit UW Foster School of Business MBA programs or the Global Business Center.