An award-winning women-owned consulting firm, The Academic Leadership Group (ALG) provides higher education consulting and coaching services that support transformational leadership in higher education. Founded in 2019, ALG's passion lies in partnering with organizations that want to unleash the potential of their mission and people and bring humanity to this work. ALG’s inclusive and human-centered approach involves building partnerships with these core values: We meet you where you are and partner over the long term; we work with you to balance the important and the urgent and to succeed at both; we put people and relationships first; and we celebrate learning and excellence.
An educational travel organization, Bschool Travel partners with the top MBA and EMBA programs to execute high-quality global experiential learning programs and international residencies in more than 100 countries worldwide. Founded by two Michigan Ross MBAs, Bschool Travel takes a strong pedagogical approach to its immersions, which is why it not only supports travel management services, but also provides expertise in program development, company sourcing, project scoping, and speaker engagements.
Immersion India guides students, corporate executives, faculty, and professionals on study-centric, experiential learning programs in urban and rural India. The only company to win the prestigious UNWTO Global SDG competition in the Quality Education category, Immersion India customizes and tailors all programs to meet learning objectives with a key element of travel and cultural immersion experiences.
TalentSage integrates evidence-based learning tools in its personalized learning experiences to help develop individuals, teams, boards, and organizations. TalentSage uses technology to simplify access, save time and money, and create scalable solutions for learning programs that its clients or its network of academics, practitioners, and executive coaches design and deliver. As a team of leadership development experts, TalentSage brings decades of experience in all aspects of learning, leadership, and talent development for executive students and corporate clients worldwide.
In Spain, 55 EMBA students concluded their consulting engagements by presenting final deliverables to 10 companies and NGOs in Madrid. The projects covered a wide range of industries, including electric mobility, healthcare, law, energy, pharmaceuticals, construction, and human rights advocacy.
Another group of students focused on logistics and supply chain issues in Southeast Asia, visiting Vietnam and Singapore. They completed a major consulting project with final onsite presentations to C-suite executives of a major Vietnamese consumer goods manufacturer.
EMBAC corporate member Southbridge Access designed and executed those global opportunities – and many more – for EMBA Programs. The company develops customized faculty-led immersion programs and international consulting projects for MBA and EMBA student worldwide.
“Our programs connect students with real-world business leaders, emerging entrepreneurs, and innovative companies across Asia, Europe, Africa, and Latin America,” says Eric Ostermeier, managing director of Southbridge Access. Other examples of immersions include:
- An in-depth exploration of the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries for a large-scale physician EMBA Program in South Korea and Japan.
- Nine simultaneous programs for an Ivy League client in locations on four continents in major economic markets including Japan, China, South Korea, Ireland, Spain, and Mexico, among others.
Southbridge Access services cover all aspects of the student global experience: Itinerary design, company visits, consulting project placements, ground transportation, accommodations, and cultural immersion.
“Every program is curated to align with our clients’ academic goals and industry interests, whether it’s exploring Vietnam’s booming startup scene or understanding the financial landscape of São Paulo,” says Ostermeier.
“While we handle every detail of an immersion program seamlessly, our real value lies in our consulting expertise, our deep local networks, and our ability to create experiences that aren’t found in a travel guidebook. Our programs offer EMBA students insider access to the industries and people shaping global business today.”
Founded in 1996, The Southbridge Group initially specialized in market entry consulting for companies expanding internationally. In 2006, Southbridge Group launched Southbridge Access to meet the growing demand from MBA and EMBA Programs for on-the-ground support and travel services beyond the market intelligence and company visits that Southbridge already provided to several EMBA Programs at the time.
Throughout the years, Southbridge Access has grown along with the programs it serves, expanding into new markets, building relationships with industry leaders throughout the world, and strengthening its team – all with the aim of ensuring the most meaningful, high-impact experiences.
In 2010, Southbridge Access joined EMBAC based on the recommendation of its clients.
“The EMBAC community is special because it’s built on collaboration,” says Ostermeier. “Despite working in a competitive space, members genuinely support each other, sharing best practices, insights, and challenges. It’s the kind of professional network where everyone wins, and we love being part of it. EMBAC is a true example of ‘a rising tide lifts all boats.’ ”
Southbridge Access has noted some trends throughout the years, including more customized programs with a growing emphasis on emerging markets, sustainability, and the intersection of business and social impact, as well as a shift toward more collaborative learning, such as flash consulting or full-scale consulting projects embedded in global programs.
“Students and executives want real, transformative experiences – not just classroom learning in a different country,” says Ostermeier.
True to the emerging market trend, Southbridge plans to expand its presence in Asia and Africa, where demand for immersive business education continues to grow. Also on tap – development of new partnerships for greater access to key industries and decision makers.
“The future is about deeper engagement, stronger partnerships, and hands-on learning that delivers real-world impact,” he says.
Ostermeier finds watching students step out of their comfort zone and grow the most satisfying aspect of his work. “There’s something incredibly rewarding about seeing someone shift their perspective after a conversation with a local entrepreneur in Jaipur or a visit to a microfinance initiative in Latin America. That’s what makes this work exciting.”
For more information about the Southbridge Access, contact Eric Ostermeier at eric@southbrideaccess.com or visit https://www.academicleadershipgroup.com/
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Managing Director, Southbridge Access
| 3550 S. Sterling Court |
| Gilbert, AZ 85297 |
| Phone: 562.458.9205 |
| Email: info@embac.org |
