As Director of the Business Sustainability Collaborative, Professor Jessica Yinka Thomas brings together students, faculty, and the business community to cultivate sustainable business practices. Her passion for global learning was shaped by her study abroad experiences as an undergraduate at Stanford University and during her MBA at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. Today, she leads graduate students through immersive global experiences, including her Business Sustainability in Emerging Markets Practicum in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

International Experiences

• 2026 Maymester: Business Sustainability in Emerging Markets Practicum – São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Graduate, Faculty-led)
• Ecole Superieure de Commerce de Paris in Paris, France (Undergraduate, Faculty-led)
• Global Academic Travel Experience in South Africa, Zambia and Botswana (Graduate, Faculty-led)

What inspired you to lead a study abroad program?

I’ve always loved travel as an opportunity to learn more about different cultural, political and business perspectives and reflect on my priorities and values. As a student, I had an opportunity to study abroad in France and South Africa and those courses had a significant influence on my personal and professional trajectory. I wanted to lead a study abroad program to create a rich learning opportunity for our students to have that kind of life-changing experience.

Why do you enjoy teaching abroad with students?

Teaching in a different country provides an opportunity to explore business strategy from a new perspective. In our case, Brazil’s unparalleled natural capital and deep-seated social complexity provide a context to explore innovative business models and solutions to systemic social and environmental challenges.

What are you most excited about for the upcoming program?

Every year, we strengthen and deepen our connection with the faculty and students at Insper Business School in Sao Paulo in new ways. For this upcoming program, I’m most looking forward to the new opportunity for our NC State students to collaborate with Insper students on their practicum projects. Our students will gain valuable insights and experience working with their Brazilian peers.

What can students expect to learn from this experience?

The Brazil study abroad practicum will enable students to gain insight into global and regional business sustainability issues in emerging markets, using Brazil as a case study. Academically, students will define sustainability’s role in business, evaluate sustainable business models, and apply strategies to improve sustainability performance in a global environment. The course will provide an opportunity to explore the country’s complex and rich cultural context from food to music to art.

Any favorite local experiences or recommendations for students?

My favorite experience from our Summer 2025 course was the scavenger hunt created by our staff advance, Rachel Haynes. The scavenger hunt took place over the course of our time in Brazil and provided a fun, engaging opportunity for the students to work collaboratively in their practicum teams to explore and experience sustainability, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, B Corps and Brazilian culture.

What advice would you give to students preparing to study abroad?

I would encourage students studying abroad for the first or tenth time to embrace cultural agility. Be ready to suspend preconceptions about development, bureaucracy, and business models. Actively engage with the local community, not just to complete deliverables, but to genuinely understand how Brazilians navigate the country’s business and social complexities. Develop some basic Portuguese language skills, as immersion is your best tool for grasping how sustainability challenges and solutions are fundamentally intertwined with local community dynamics.

How does international experience enhance a student’s business education or career prospects?

Studying business sustainability in an emerging market like Brazil offers a powerful career advantage by fostering real-world competency. This experience transitions concepts from theory to practice by creating opportunities for students to confront the complexities of the Brazilian market. This hands-on work differentiates a graduate by demonstrating contextual problem-solving skills and a highly valued global mindset in stakeholder management, making them an ideal candidate for competitive roles in international consulting, ESG investing, and global corporate sustainability efforts focused on high-growth regions.

Why You Should Go!

Join us in Brazil for a transformative experience!