Dr. Kyle E. Ingram is a seasoned world traveler. At age 19, he took a solo trip to Southeast Asia. As assistant professor of teaching in management, he has led several cohorts of UCR’s London Leadership Experience.
None of that prepared him for what he found when he attended a conference on sustainable leadership last year in Brazil.
“It's a world I've never seen,” Ingram said. “From the moment I arrived, it was enchanting. The land speaks to you. I can’t emphasize enough how warm and friendly the people are.”
Those aren’t Brazil’s only enchanting qualities. It also boasts stunning architecture, incredible food and vibrant culture. And it’s a growing economic powerhouse that is home to one of the most respected business schools in the world, Fundação Dom Cabral (FDC).
Now, thanks to a partnership with FDC, School of Business students have an opportunity to gain a first-hand perspective on this South American marvel through The Brazilian Leadership Experience.
Led by Ingram, the Aug. 3-21 program will provide an exploration of leadership and sustainability, company visits and roundtables, and cultural and culinary experiences. Applications are being accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. The deadline to apply is Feb. 14. (See details below.)
Eye-opening opportunity
The program includes two weeks in Rio de Janeiro and a week in Belo Horizonte, home to FDC. Plans include case studies in partnership with FDC graduate students and judged by FDC faculty; a session on inspirational leadership at the famed Sugar Loaf Mountain; and a visit to a favela — one of the impoverished neighborhoods FDC is helping to thrive as self-sufficient communities.
FDC, which often partners with Ivy League universities, has developed an impressively rigorous learning journey for UCR students, Ingram said.
This is a rich opportunity for students to understand the role of business and leadership within the emerging economic alliance known as BRICS — originally consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. With recent additions of Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, BRICS is developing into an economic counterweight to the West. Brazil’s economy alone is projected to become the world’s fourth-largest by 2050.
“U.S. students cannot afford to be naïve about the fact that other markets are emerging very quickly,” Ingram said. “We need to not only recognize the momentum but be integrated with it as well.”
Ingram, who teaches courses on designing and leading teams, looks forward to students observing the approach in Brazil to sustainable leadership.
“That’s something that needs to be recognized more by students in the U.S. — to see the impact that an organization’s leaders have on their communities,” he said.
Broadening horizons
As part of UCR’s Faculty Led Education Abroad Programs (FLEAP), The Brazilian Leadership Experience is a an eight-unit program with two upper-division management electives: BUS 145 Designing and Leading Teams, and BUS 190 Special Studies.
Experiencing these courses in an international context will highlight the challenges students will face in an increasingly globalized world. Courses are designed to take students out of their comfort zone to inspire personal development and growth — one of the greatest advantages of studying abroad, Ingram said.
“As with all these trips, my goal is to enable students to experience firsthand the things that have motivated me on international journeys,” he said. “There’s a moment when you can see it in their eyes. It happens in real time throughout the journey.”
Students can expect to feel safe and welcomed by the Brazilian people, Ingram said. Language will not be a barrier — many people speak English, and the group will be accompanied by people fluent in Portuguese.
For students concerned about the cost, Ingram notes that multiple scholarship programs are available and listed on the program’s website. (Applications should be completed before applying to the program.)
“This trip is worth it for the change it will make in your life,” Ingram said.
“Be prepared to be blown away in a very good way, around every corner — cathedrals, samba music coming from cafes, massive outdoor markets. The food is incredible,” he said. “You should be ready for beauty many people have never had the opportunity to see.”
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Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Travel Dates: August 5-26, 2025
Deadline: February 14, 2025, or until the program fills
Questions? The UCR Education Abroad FLEAP office is hosting virtual office hours at 10 a.m. on most Mondays from Jan. 6 through March 10. See the program website for details. Or schedule an appointment with Assistant Director Sonja Lind on calendly.com/sonja-ucr/meeting or contact her by email at sonja.lind@ucr.edu.
Education Abroad / FLEAP Brazil