Global learning starts here: First-year Kelley students Apply inclusive design with international client

By Benjamin Ale-Ebrahim, PhD

From coursework to consulting

This spring, I had the privilege of teaching a dynamic group of first-year business majors in BUS-X190: Hot Topics – Building a Better World through Inclusive Design. This eight-week course is an applied introduction to inclusive design—practical, equity-minded strategies for creating systems, products, and services that work for all people, inclusive of their identities, abilities, and backgrounds.

To bring these concepts to life, we partnered with Sarah Zineb Boumouja, a Kelley alum and CEO of Global Premium Events, an event planning firm based in Morocco. Supported by the Client-Based International Project (CLIP) grant from IU Global, students served as consultants to Sarah’s company, working in teams to design more inclusive events that could empower women, engage older adults in new technologies, and enhance accessibility for people with disabilities.

International collaboration in action

Throughout the course, students learned from inclusive design principles and case studies across industries, including Microsoft, Adobe, Fenty Beauty, IKEA, and OXO. They applied these frameworks to the real-world challenges Sarah posed, meeting virtually with her across time zones and developing concrete, research-based proposals.

Their final recommendations included:

• A mentorship exchange program between Moroccan university students and older professionals, where young participants could offer digital and AI training while receiving career mentorship in return.
• A virtual speaker series aimed at advancing English literacy and professional development for Moroccan women in the workforce.
• Accessibility-focused event design, including improved seating layouts to accommodate wheelchair users and inclusive registration systems that collect attendees’ mobility and dietary needs in advance.
  As one student reflected in a post from the IU Global blog:

“This was my first time working with a real client,” Andrew Vendt, BS’28, said. “There’s so much going on outside of Indiana University, or wherever you are from. This project really gives you a broad perspective. It was very beneficial to me, but honestly super fun working with a real-life client as a freshman in college, and it’s a fantastic opportunity.”

Showcase & lasting impact

Students presented their work at the Global Learning Showcase, organized by IU’s Center for the Study of Global Change. This was a culminating moment—not just for the class, but for many students’ first year at IU. They demonstrated professionalism, curiosity, and creativity, navigating the real complexities of cross-cultural business consulting.

For many, this was their first time engaging directly with an international client. Several students plan to continue working with Sarah beyond the semester to help bring their proposals to life.

Global learning, early and often

Thanks to support from Kelley Global and our partners across IU, this experience gave students a window into global business leadership that was both hands-on and meaningful. It showed them that inclusive design is not just a “nice to have”—it’s a critical business competency. And it empowered them to begin building that better world we talk about—starting right here, in their first year.

I highly recommend that other Kelley faculty consider applying for the CLIP program and incorporating international learning opportunities into their classrooms where possible.

Benjamin Ale-Ebrahim, PhD, is a lecturer in the Department of Communication and Professional Skills at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.