To ensure students are prepared to lead in an increasingly complex global business environment, UCLA Anderson’s portfolio of global management electives continued to expand during 2025–26. Three new courses were introduced to address critical dimensions of international business practice: global legal and regulatory systems, international market strategy and global business expansion. Together, these offerings provide students with practical frameworks and hands-on learning experiences that strengthen their ability to navigate cross-border opportunities, manage international risks and make strategic decisions in diverse global markets.

New in winter 2027, Strategy for Global Markets, taught by Ambassador Frank Lavin, complements Professor Romain Wacziarg’s Global Trends course by equipping students with practical tools to evaluate global growth opportunities, enter new markets and navigate the challenges of international expansion.

Strategy for Global Markets

Strategy for Global Markets will be introduced in winter 2027 as a new two-unit elective course. Taught by Ambassador Frank Lavin, former U.S. Ambassador to Singapore, former Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, and an experienced international business executive, the course examines the strategic, operational and political dimensions of international business expansion. Through case studies, practitioner insights and applied frameworks, students explore the drivers of international growth, market selection, customer and competitive dynamics, market-entry strategies, organizational capabilities, and political and regulatory risk. Complementing Professor Romain Wacziarg’s Global Trends course, which focuses on the macroeconomic and geopolitical forces shaping the global economy, this course emphasizes the firm-level decisions required to successfully enter and compete in international markets. Students gain practical tools for evaluating global growth opportunities, adapting business models for new markets, and developing strategies for sustainable international success.

Launching Your Business Globally

New in 2025–26, Launching Your Business Globally was introduced as a two-unit elective course during the EMBA Block Week in August 2025. Taught by Professor Gonzalo Freixes, adjunct professor and academic director of the UCLA-NUS Executive MBA program, the course provides students with a practical roadmap for expanding companies into international markets. Topics include country selection and market-entry frameworks, global regulatory environments, trade and investment policies, intellectual property protection, international contracts and dispute resolution. Through case studies, simulations and applied country analyses, students learn how to evaluate opportunities and risks, navigate cross-border legal and cultural considerations, and develop strategies for successful global expansion.

International Business Law

International Business Law was introduced as a two-unit elective course in spring 2026 and is taught by Paul Park (J.D. ’98, ’11), lecturer, senior faculty advisor at UCLA Anderson and principal at Bethel Counsel. The course equips students with a practical understanding of the legal frameworks that shape global commerce. Students examine the institutions, regulations and legal systems that govern international business, including cross-border contracts, dispute resolution, intellectual property protection, and labor and employment law. Through case analyses and discussions of real-world legal disputes, students develop the ability to identify legal risks, compare regulatory approaches across jurisdictions and apply structured legal reasoning to international business challenges.

Global Marketing Strategy

Strategic Global Marketing was also introduced in the spring as a new four-unit elective course. Taught by Professor Shi Zhang, associate professor of marketing and an expert in consumer behavior and marketing strategy, the course prepares students to develop and execute marketing strategies in an increasingly interconnected global marketplace. Combining case studies, practitioner insights and an international marketing simulation, the course examines market assessment, market entry, localization, global branding, pricing and distribution strategies, and cross-border innovation. Students gain hands-on experience evaluating international growth opportunities and making strategic decisions that balance global scale with local market realities.