THE COALITION FOR
AMERICAN BUSINESS SKILLS
The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Alumni Association (CBYXAA) unites Americans who have participated in high school, vocational, and young professionals CBYX programs to create a strong network of people who have experienced this life-changing exchange program.
ABOUT
Every year, more than 35,000 motivated and talented individuals come to the United States for internship and training programs through the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program and make invaluable contributions to the U.S. economy and the growth of organizations in all 50 states.
These cultural exchange programs provide individuals with unique exposure to U.S. business practices and perspectives through structured and guided work-based learning experiences. Equipped with enhanced skills and expanded networks, international interns and trainees return home, where their newly-acquired abilities are magnified, often reshaping careers and communities.
At the same time, American businesses, from Fortune 100 companies to startups to family-owned businesses and NGOs, benefit from access to emerging talent around the world. They bring international perspectives to their operations. Their knowledge and networks help to ease and expand opportunities for U.S. companies overseas.
International interns and trainees exposed to American host organizations, products, and services regularly reach back for them when they’ve returned home, directly supporting the U.S. economy.
Bolstering Business + the U.S. Economy
Interns and trainees exposed to American host organizations, products, and services regularly reach back for them when they’ve returned home, directly supporting the U.S. economy. Moreover, host companies consistently cite a multitude of short- and long-term benefits, among them:
- Creates a more dynamic workplace
- Promotes economic competitiveness and innovation
- Builds a talent pipeline trained in key U.S. business practices for operations abroad
- Establishes and maintains partnerships in key overseas market
- Enhances business functions and productivity of U.S. staff
- Fosters communication and collaboration between American companies and overseas markets
78% of internship and trainee alumni report they’re more inclined to buy or recommend American products or services as a result of their time in the U.S.
50% of alumni helped create new business connections between their U.S. hosts and home countries
Advancing Skills + Building Careers
Alumni of J-1 Intern and Trainee programs report a variety of career-related benefits as a result of their U.S. exchange experiences, including improved problem solving, adaptability to cultural differences, and working more effectively in a team.*
80% gained new skills and experience in their field
74% increased their career prospects upon returning home
News + Events
In the coming weeks and months ahead, the Coalition will continue this important conversation through a series of events and engagements.
Women Entrepreneurs Benefit from U.S. Internship | Cultural Vistas President and CEO Jennifer Clinton, Ph.D. joined Bloomgberg’s Rishaad Salamat and Bryan Curtis to discuss the importance of internships in the U.S. for women entrepreneurs from around the world. She stressed how much they benefit the participants as well as helping develop international trade ties.
Iraqi Architect Duo Aspires to Start Own Firm After U.S. Internship | Elation. Gratitude. Pride. These were the emotions Dalia Raad and Shams Qais, two architecture students from Al-Nahrain University in Baghdad, felt when they learned they won the Bridging the Gap design studio competition and earned internships in Washington, D.C. at Gensler, a leading global architecture, design, and planning firm.
WATCH: Global Skills and the Future of Work | Recent discussion on the value of global skill development and the future of work, featuring McKinsey’s Florian Peter and Cultural Vistas President and CEO Jennifer Clinton, Ph.D. Held July 5, 2018 in Berlin.
WATCH: American Business Skills and the New French Economy | What do President Emmanuel Macron’s efforts to reform the French economy mean for U.S. businesses? Hear directly from our panel of experts, including Laura Haim, President Macron’s former spokesperson, and Bruce Andrews, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce.
U.S. Internships Make a World of Difference for Women in Business | The Coalition hosted a special roundtable discussion on March 28, held at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, focused on how internships with American companies can be a game-changer for aspiring women entrepreneurs around the world.
A Conversation on Global Mobility + Exchange Programs | Business leaders came together for a Coalition kick-off call and luncheon on February 28 to discuss the program’s benefits, chart next steps for this initiative, and recognize stellar a pair of stellar host companies.
Related News
SHRM: What Employers Need to Know About the J-1 Visa for Interns and Trainees | Bloomberg Daybreak Asia: Women Entrepreneurs Benefit from U.S. Internships | Op-Ed: American Internships Play a Key Role in Helping Women Entrepreneurs | CBS News: Ivanka Hopes to Help Foreign Entrepreneurs But May Be Undercut
Get Involved
Are you interested in supporting the Coalition for American Business Skills?
There are several ways you can join and support our efforts to grow the Coalition into a powerful advocate for American businesses and their continued engagement around the globe through the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program.
Sign Up Now
Sign up now to learn more about upcoming events and opportunities to support our efforts.
