Alum gives generously to Kellogg GIM program

by Deborah Leigh Wood

Jacqueline Harris Hochberg ’95 says she benefited so much from GIM that she is giving back to Kellogg through her family’s philanthropic organization, the J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Foundation.

“Global Initiatives in Management is one of the best and unique parts of Kellogg,” Hochberg says. “It adds to the cache of Kellogg being an international business school. We felt we could help further enhance that position through our contribution. We want Kellogg to be recognized for offering its students this valuable experience.” To that end, the foundation has its very generous contribution directed to marketing the program, establishing a resource room and funding guest speakers.

Hochberg says visiting China with her GIM group to conduct a market entry study for Gatorade was unique.

“You can travel as a tourist and never have the exposure to the country that we had,” she says. “We met with people at the Politburo, other government officials and the country’s top business executives, all of whom gave us a lot of their time. It was wonderful the way we were welcomed into the companies and agencies.”

Such access, she notes, would be almost impossible in the United States.

“Students should know that you don’t have to be pursuing a career in international business to reap the benefits of participating in GIM,” Hochberg says. “The learning gained through completing a GIM project and having such access to the ‘outside world’ improves a student’s education exponentially.”

So does the opportunity to put into practice business skills learned in the classroom, she says.

“We worked on a real project for a consumer products company, developing strategy and gaining knowledge about the marketplace, the distribution system and the peculiarities of entering a country as complex as China. The experience was meaningful, rewarding and fun, Hochberg says, adding “I hope every Kellogg student takes the opportunity to participate in the GIM program. It is truly phenomenal.”