Dillard's representative Nina Newsome speaks to students at the "Dress for Success" event on Oct. 8. In addition to sending associates to campus, Dillard's hosted IBS students for a tour of the business in Little Rock, Ark., on Oct. 3. Matt Dobson Seniors Ryli Snider and Lauren Holland discuss the agenda for the Accounting Society meeting Oct. 16. Participation in the society allowed students to gain insight about future careers and to network with accounting professionals. Matt Dobson BRANCH OUT IBS CONNECTS WITH BUSINESSES The Business Department exhibited an incredibly diverse student population. Because of the Walton International Scholarship program, students were drawn from all over the world to participate in the rich campus experience. The International Business Society was one of many ways for students to take advantage of the college's focus on worldwide business. IBS started in 2002 after an international business class traveled to Europe to learn about the culture and meet other students. By witnessing businesses in a foreign context, students gained a more complete understanding of their future careers. IBS sought to extend the kind of benefits offered by the trip, helping students develop the skills needed after graduation while forming relationships with students from different backgrounds. "IBS has been a wonderful opportunity to embrace a complete learning from different cultures and how they interact with each other to create the current business world in which we all are part of,11 junior Midory Martinez, president of IBS, said. After the trip to Europe, IBS was formed as a hands-on experience for students of many majors and cultures. In 2012, the organization went through a difficult time when it could not find a sponsor for the 2012-2013 school year. As a result, the group did not attend business trips or activities. This reduced the organization to about seven members. In the fall, Director of International Business Mike Allen joined IBS as the new sponsor and revitalized the organization. IBS expanded from seven members to about 35 members under the new leadership. According to Martinez, Allen developed an action plan for boosting participation in the organization. More importantly, he added a sense of direction to the group and acted as a mentor to the members. "He has been offering his guidance and support to all the members, creating a nice environment which allows the IBS to become stronger as a group," Martinez said. Allen's action plan included trips to businesses such as Wal-Mart, Nike and Dillard's. On Oct. 3 the group took a tour of Dillard's department store guided by Julie Bull, a Harding alumna. These trips usually took place twice a semester, and they focused on the business environment directly surrounding the students. Members also sought ways to learn about other cultures, particularly in ways related to the global business world. "My major is international business and global economic development, and I feel that as Americans we are not very culturally aware," junior Anna Ruhl said. "I think it's just important to be culturally aware and also to just focus on making connections and learning about business ... the business community is becoming more global." IBS also taught students how to be Christians in the business world and make God the main focus in everything. Reaching out into the world meant encountering many non-Christian influences, and the organization was concerned with the integrity of its members. "If you ever run a business, you have to have Christian values," sophomore Kristhel Vargas said. "If you want to be successful you have to put God first over everything else. He has to be the center of your business. He is going to be the one that is going to help you be successful, to keep working hard for your benefit and company." Amber Houston 231
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