International Trip to Croatia with Chicago Booth’s Part-Time MBA Program

Madeline was raised in Arlington, Virginia, and attended the University of Virginia (UVA) for undergrad, where she double majored in Foreign Affairs and Middle Eastern Studies. Upon graduating from UVA, she worked for a professional association supporting entrepreneurs all over the world. After several years working in the Washington, D.C. area, she met her partner and they decided to move to Chicago in 2018.

Since that time, Madeline has worked at Smithbucklin, an organization that specializes in professional services and management, in various roles to advance the missions of healthcare associations. As she was promoted, her role grew to include working more closely with the Board of Directors, managing a cross-functional team, and owning the client budget process. To support her professional growth, Madeline decided it was the right time to pursue her MBA. She was drawn to Booth’s Evening MBA Program and believed Booth would offer her the opportunity to amplify her impact in three ways:

1. Equipping her with the leadership skills needed to be a better team leader and inspire others
2. Helping her enable client growth and success through knowledge gained from academic coursework and extracurricular experiences
3. Allowing her to improve her knowledge of the healthcare ecosystem and key players within it

This past summer, I spent eight days traveling to three cities in Croatia with other Chicago Booth students. The trip took us through Dubrovnik, Hvar, and Split—three cities with distinct histories and experiences. We traveled to Dubrovnik first, which was the primary filming location for “King’s Landing” in Game of Thrones. Dubrovnik is filled with rich history and character, as well as beautiful cliffside views (photographed here). After Dubrovnik, we traveled to Hvar, a quaint town with artistic influence, lined with cobblestone streets and unique shops. We ended our trip in Split, which was a nice balance of beaches and Roman history. During the trip, we ate a lot of good food and did a lot of sightseeing!

Shaped by Balkan, Central European, and Mediterranean influences, Croatia is a true cultural crossroads reflected in its people, cuisine, and architecture. Against this backdrop, there was always something to spark conversation among Boothies as we explored the country together. We shared long dinners filled with fresh seafood, risotto, and hearty stews at local restaurants, capped off by more gelato than any of us care to admit (how could we resist?). We wandered through side streets to find tucked-away pubs and spent one of my favorite days wine tasting at a family-run winery in the heart of Croatian wine country. In a place where gathering around food and drink is central to the culture, we happily embraced that tradition and made it our own.

Croatia is a stunning country filled with beautiful landscapes and architecture that take your breath away at every turn. Our trip was packed with unforgettable experiences, from challenging hikes to refreshing swims in the Adriatic.

One of the most challenging activities was hiking from the Dubrovnik city center up Mount Srđ to see the panoramic view from Fort Imperial. The climb up those stone steps was not easy, but it was well worth the view from the top. For the way down, we took the cable car, which offered a stunning aerial perspective of the city sprawling below us. We also climbed up, around, and under castles and old forts in Dubrovnik and Hvar. We also walked along the beach from our hotel to the city center in Split, enjoying fresh breezes and quick dips in the sea along the way.

We also explored the cities of Trogir and Maslinica as part of a boat tour, each with its own distinct charm. Every city in Croatia revealed small streets lined with boutiques, coffee shops, restaurants, and unique places to discover. I really appreciated the sightseeing and the chance to stumble upon hidden gems around every corner.

Chicago Booth’s Evening MBA Program comprises many students with different interests, career paths, and journeys. While I have been fortunate to meet many other students outside of my classes, traveling to Croatia gave me an opportunity to meet many more Boothies who I had not met before, and build stronger relationships with those I had met.

Since traveling together in September, several of us have celebrated birthdays together, danced the night away at Fall Ball, enjoyed fireworks at the Mag Mile Parade Watch Party, and enjoyed hot pot (twice). These moments might seem small, but they are the foundation of lasting friendships. Traveling to a new country with other people allows you to develop deeper connections and gives you an opportunity to get to know each other better. There is something about navigating cobblestone streets or sharing a boat ride to the Blue Lagoon that helps you develop special relationships built on fun and spontaneity.

What started as a week in Croatia has turned into ongoing friendships that extend well beyond the trip itself. My Evening MBA experience is richer because of these connections, and I am grateful that a simple decision to sign up for a trip led to so much more.

Inviting my partner to experience the Chicago Booth community has been an important part of my time at Chicago Booth. During the trip to Croatia, he lost his only pair of glasses while we were swimming in the Adriatic Sea in the evening. Within moments, several Boothies jumped in the sea to help search for them and asked staff for anything that might assist—flashlights, magnets—and even woke up early the next morning to dive back in and look again. We never found the glasses, but the generosity, camaraderie, and genuine care that everyone showed those days and throughout the rest of the trip perfectly captured the spirit of the Booth community.

When you're juggling a part-time MBA with work and family, the idea of adding more to your plate can feel overwhelming. But here's the thing about Chicago Booth's travel opportunities—there is something for everyone, whether you want academic credit through an international business course or just a chance to explore somewhere new with fellow students.

I had already studied abroad for a semester during my undergrad at UVA, so I was looking for a low-lift way to see a new country, immerse myself in a different culture, and actually get to know other Boothies outside the classroom.