Institute for International Business at The University of Iowa

02/26/2026

Now, throwing it back to Senegal in 2022 🌍
Experiences like these allowed Senegalese entrepreneurs to prepare their businesses to go global.
Grateful for the partnerships with the U.S. Embassy in Senegal, Supdeco, CESAG, and the international experiences that continue to shape IIB today.

02/19/2026

Throwing it back to Belize in 2016 🌎

Experiences like these gave University of Iowa students the opportunity to expand their global perspective beyond the classroom.

Grateful for the memories and the international experiences that continue to shape IIB today.

02/14/2026

Love looks different around the world 💕🌍 Cultural values shape how affection is expressed—and the same is true for how relationships and business are built globally. Understanding these differences is at the core of international business.

01/27/2026

Hello friends and colleagues,

Please save the date for an evening with Stefon Harris this spring, in partnership with JPEC and the School of Music. We will host this four-time Grammy-nominated jazz vibraphonist, composer, and educator for a night of music and entrepreneurship.

🎶 SAVE THE DATE 🎶

Stefon Harris a four-time Grammy–nominated jazz vibraphonist, entrepreneur, and educator — is coming to the University of Iowa!

📅 May 4, 2026
📍 Tippie College of Business

Join us for an inspiring evening focused on music, leadership, and entrepreneurship.
More details coming soon — mark your calendar!

01/26/2026

Professor Dimy Doresca recently returned from South Africa, where he engaged in substantive, forward-looking conversations grounded in a shared commitment to leadership development, entrepreneurship, and economic growth around the region.

The Institute for International Business is enthusiastic about the potential collaboration with the Southern Africa Regional Leadership Centre at UNISA. His partnership holds strong promise for meaningful programming, enhanced institutional connections, and tangible impact for emerging business leaders and entrepreneurs throughout South Africa.

While on the continent, Professor Doresca also visited Zambia for the first time in 10 years. The country’s continued energy, marked by infrastructure development and innovation, highlighted the strength of its evolving economy.

As we look ahead to 2026, the Institute for International Business remains committed to deepening partnerships to create a lasting impact for emerging business leaders and entrepreneurs worldwide.

01/21/2026

This morning, it was announced that our Mandela Washington Fellowship Iowa 2022 Alumnus, Freedom Mukanga, has won the 2025 Leadership Impact Award! This prestigious award is given annually to recognize the individual achievements of an outstanding member of the Alumni Network who demonstrates leadership in advancing the Fellowship’s goals and strengthening relationships with American partners. Freedom is the first from Zimbabwe to win, the first from the Leadership in Business track to win, and the first from a University of Iowa cohort to win! We are proud to have Freedom among our outstanding Fellowship Alumni and look forward to continuing alongside him, and all our Alumni, to strengthen the connections between Iowa and Africa.

Congratulations, Freedom Mukanga!

More information about the award on the fellowship website: https://www.mandelawashingtonfellowship.org/2026/01/21/meet-the-2025-leadership-impact-award-winner-freedom-mukanga/

Winner announcement video: https://youtu.be/BGKh6FCf0Kc

Congratulations to our 2025 Leadership Impact Award Winner Freedom Mukanga, a 2022 Fellowship Alumnus from Zimbabwe. The Fellowship honors Freedom for his o...

12/16/2025

IIB is focusing on the future of the Regional Leadership Centers (RLCs) across Africa! In December, Executive Director Dimy Doresca paid a courtesy visit to Prof. Paul K. Wainaina, Vice President of Kenyatta University, and RLC Director Prof. George Kosimbei to discuss the path forward for RLC East Africa, which has trained over 6,000 young leaders from 14 East African countries.

This meeting furthered IIB’s commitment to our partnerships across Africa and established Dimy as the Chair of the task force to establish an endowment fund that ensures long-term financial stability for the four RLCs across Africa. Click the link to learn more about the East Africa RLC and its mission to shape Africa’s future! https://www.rlceastafrica.org/

11/21/2025

Today, we recognize Freedom Mukanga, the 2025 International Entrepreneurship Impact Award recipient, for his outstanding entrepreneurial achievements, leadership, and innovation, which have created a lasting impact in his community. In Zimbabwe, he turned knowledge into action by founding FreedPer Scientific, a weather and water data instrument company. Additionally, he has expanded his poultry farm, Madanha Trust, and co-founded Hozi Innovator, an accelerator program for youths across the region. Mukanga has maintained his relationship with the UI as a client for the JPEC International Business Consulting course. Freedom and the other award winners will be recognized on April 8th, 2026, inside the Old Capitol Museum.

10/31/2025

What a fantastic evening in London!

Our Executive Director, Dimy Doresca, had an engaging evening of conversation and connection with a wonderful group of globally minded professionals. Discussions covered international business trends, working overseas, and preparing the next generation of international business leaders at the Tippie College of Business.

Dimy truly enjoyed meeting with such an internationally focused group and sharing insights from his global experience.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at The Gin Palace. Your energy, curiosity, and global perspectives made the night truly special!

And a special thanks to Sam Crow and Deborah Eicher for putting together such a fantastic event. We couldn’t have done it without you!

For the rest of our IIB community — stay tuned! We’ll be taking over Tippie’s social media in the next few days to share stories, insights, and behind-the-scenes moments from our global adventures.

04/25/2025

We had so much fun celebrating the IIB student employees along with the rest of Tippie's student employees last week!

04/10/2025

We are thrilled to share that the Institute for International Business (IIB) at the University of Iowa has been honored with the 2025 Advancing International Trade Award at the NASBITE International Annual Conference!

This prestigious recognition celebrates organizations that demonstrate excellence and innovation in expanding international trade. We are proud that our commitment to global business education and trade development has been recognized on a national stage.

A special congratulations to Dimy Doresca, Executive Director of the IIB, who accepted the award on behalf of the institute. His leadership continues to drive impactful global engagement and open doors for businesses and students alike.

Thank you to NASBITE International for this honor — and to our partners, students, and supporters who help make our work possible every day.

03/27/2025

THANK YOU for making One Day for Iowa a success! With your help, we exceeded our $10,000 goal and raised $15,755! With this money, we will be able to enhance our student programs and create more unforgettable experiences for our scholars and Fellows. We couldn’t have done it without you!