Before coming to Fuqua, I had never seriously thought about sustainability as a business priority. It wasn’t that I didn’t care, I just hadn’t been exposed to what sustainability really looked like in practice. So, I signed up for Fuqua’s Global Academic Travel Experience (GATE) to the Nordics to learn about sustainability in one of the world’s most progressive regions. What I got was so much more: 12 days visiting three cities in two countries, 24-hour daylight, and nonstop learning. We experienced unforgettable moments, from meeting business leaders at the forefront of climate innovation to standing inside a power plant that runs on imported trash and wandering through Arctic towns without a sunset.
Our journey kicked off in Copenhagen, Denmark, a city that felt like it was built for the future. Biking culture to public infrastructure to energy systems — everything seemed designed with sustainability in mind. The more time you spend in Denmark, the more you wonder why the rest of the world isn’t doing the same. We visited a waste-to-energy facility that powers and heats more than 500,000 homes AND doubles as a public ski slope.
Even more mind-blowing? Denmark doesn’t generate enough waste to run the plant, so they import trash from the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Norway. Sustainability, here, isn’t an initiative. It’s an ecosystem. We dove into conversations about circular economies, urban design, and how bold ideas actually become real infrastructure.
Our GATE cohort at Copenhagen Business School
Then we headed way north to Tromsø, Norway, a quiet Arctic town that offered a very different kind of lesson. There, I saw how climate change directly impacts people and communities. In a tiny fishing town, we visited a family-owned business that tracks every fish it pulls from the sea. Not because of regulatory requirements, but because their livelihood depends on the ocean surviving for the next generation.
We also got a crash course in Viking history, Arctic policy, and the cultural tensions around renewable energy development. It was the first time I fully grasped that climate transition isn’t just about carbon — it’s about communities, land, and legacy.
Our final stop, Oslo, Norway’s capital and a hub for systemic, financial, and environmental innovation, showed us what happens when big money meets big vision. We met with the team behind the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund and learned how climate risk is now being factored into global investment decisions, not as a nice-to-have but as a necessity for long-term value and resilience.
We also explored the rising importance of the blue economy, where oceans, data, and venture capital intersect to drive sustainability on a global scale. This includes ocean mapping, ecosystem preservation, and funding startups building marine tech. Sustainability here is a market shift, and capital is a lever, if you use it wisely.
Beyond the academic and professional insights, what made GATE unforgettable were the people. Traveling with classmates made everything better. We navigated cities, shared meals, had deep conversations, took thousands of photos, and laughed harder than I expected. There’s something about being far from home that brings people closer, and I left with stronger friendships, inside jokes, and stories we’ll probably still be telling at reunions.
And none of it would’ve happened without Professor Dan Vermeer, whose deep relationships and vision turned this into a true learning journey, and Annie Floyd, director of Fuqua’s International Programs Office (IPO), who flawlessly orchestrated every moving piece.
Visiting Orsted, a multinational energy company specializing in offshore wind power
So… should you do GATE?
If you’re coming to Fuqua and wondering whether it’s worth it — YES. A thousand times YES.
You’ll leave with more than knowledge. You’ll leave with perspective, connections, stories, a whole new way of looking at the world and a camera roll overflowing with unforgettable moments.
One last tip for international travelers: If you need a Schengen visa for the GATE trip, here’s the insider scoop: that visa is your ticket to hop around Europe. Before applying, plan ahead by including extra travel days/weeks in your itinerary beyond the official GATE schedule. That way, you’ll likely get approved for a longer stay. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself later. After soaking up sustainability strategy in the Nordics, you might just want to celebrate with a European adventure of your own.
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Stop 1: Copenhagen’s Green Infrastructure
Our journey kicked off in Copenhagen, Denmark, a city that felt like it was built for the future. Biking culture to public infrastructure to energy systems — everything seemed designed with sustainability in mind. The more time you spend in Denmark, the more you wonder why the rest of the world isn’t doing the same. We visited a waste-to-energy facility that powers and heats more than 500,000 homes AND doubles as a public ski slope.
Even more mind-blowing? Denmark doesn’t generate enough waste to run the plant, so they import trash from the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Norway. Sustainability, here, isn’t an initiative. It’s an ecosystem. We dove into conversations about circular economies, urban design, and how bold ideas actually become real infrastructure.
Our GATE cohort at Copenhagen Business School
Stop 2: Tromsø’s Future-Focused Businesses
Then we headed way north to Tromsø, Norway, a quiet Arctic town that offered a very different kind of lesson. There, I saw how climate change directly impacts people and communities. In a tiny fishing town, we visited a family-owned business that tracks every fish it pulls from the sea. Not because of regulatory requirements, but because their livelihood depends on the ocean surviving for the next generation.
We also got a crash course in Viking history, Arctic policy, and the cultural tensions around renewable energy development. It was the first time I fully grasped that climate transition isn’t just about carbon — it’s about communities, land, and legacy.
Stop 3: Oslo’s Sustainability Ecosystem
Our final stop, Oslo, Norway’s capital and a hub for systemic, financial, and environmental innovation, showed us what happens when big money meets big vision. We met with the team behind the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund and learned how climate risk is now being factored into global investment decisions, not as a nice-to-have but as a necessity for long-term value and resilience.
We also explored the rising importance of the blue economy, where oceans, data, and venture capital intersect to drive sustainability on a global scale. This includes ocean mapping, ecosystem preservation, and funding startups building marine tech. Sustainability here is a market shift, and capital is a lever, if you use it wisely.
And yes — it was also a blast!
Beyond the academic and professional insights, what made GATE unforgettable were the people. Traveling with classmates made everything better. We navigated cities, shared meals, had deep conversations, took thousands of photos, and laughed harder than I expected. There’s something about being far from home that brings people closer, and I left with stronger friendships, inside jokes, and stories we’ll probably still be telling at reunions.
And none of it would’ve happened without Professor Dan Vermeer, whose deep relationships and vision turned this into a true learning journey, and Annie Floyd, director of Fuqua’s International Programs Office (IPO), who flawlessly orchestrated every moving piece.
Visiting Orsted, a multinational energy company specializing in offshore wind power
So… should you do GATE?
If you’re coming to Fuqua and wondering whether it’s worth it — YES. A thousand times YES.
You’ll leave with more than knowledge. You’ll leave with perspective, connections, stories, a whole new way of looking at the world and a camera roll overflowing with unforgettable moments.
One last tip for international travelers: If you need a Schengen visa for the GATE trip, here’s the insider scoop: that visa is your ticket to hop around Europe. Before applying, plan ahead by including extra travel days/weeks in your itinerary beyond the official GATE schedule. That way, you’ll likely get approved for a longer stay. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself later. After soaking up sustainability strategy in the Nordics, you might just want to celebrate with a European adventure of your own.
The post A Journey Through the Nordics: How GATE Changed My View on Business and Sustainability appeared first on Duke Daytime MBA Student Blog.
More...
How does this impact your International MBA decision?
I'd be glad to learn your thoughts on this story : A Journey Through the Nordics: How GATE Changed My View on Business and Sustainability