Gumbo of Opportunities | An International Business Podcast

Season 3 opens with a look back at the Center for International Business’s recent achievements, including the success of Creative Spark New Orleans 2.0 and the growth of the CIB Fellows Program.

In this episode of Gumbo of Opportunities, we preview Loyola University New Orleans College of Business’s upcoming conference on the geography of innovation, knowledge spillovers, and entrepreneurship. Building on ideas from last year’s discussions, we explore how timing, place, and policy shape the way investment turns into entrepreneurial opportunity.

In this episode, Nina Drozd ’27 joins guest host Samantha Guillotte ’26, CIB marketing intern and Rome Summer Session alum, to reflect on Nina’s first-ever experience traveling outside the U.S. and studying abroad in Italy.

Nina shares how family played a key role in her decision to study abroad, and why the Rome Summer Session felt like the perfect stepping stone on her path toward becoming a lawyer. From pre-departure nerves to daily life in Rome, she offers an honest look at what it’s really like to live, learn, and grow abroad for the first time.

Curious what your own experience in Rome could look like? This episode gives a firsthand perspective on taking that leap.🎧 Learn more about the program at studyabroad.loyno.edu. Applications for 2026 close March 1st!

In the final episode of the Fellows Podcast series, Eldana Tesfaye and Isabella Castillo compare the beauty industries in Honduras and Ethiopia, uncovering why major cosmetic retailers like Sephora still aren’t there. They discuss affordability, cultural beauty norms, and the barriers shaping access to makeup.

In the fourth episode of the Fellows Podcast series, International Business Fellows Pablo Marquez Martinez and Santiago Lorenzo Gallo discuss the main differences between Spain and the U.S. through the eyes of college students. They compare food, college life, work–life balance, social culture, and more in this fun and insightful debate on what it really means to be a student on each side of the Atlantic — and what both countries can learn from each other.

In the third episode of the Fellows Podcast series, International Business Fellows Amber Harp interviews Mr. Craig Howat discussing how study abroad programs can impact global competence and career prospects of college students.

In the second episode of our Fellows podcast series, International Business Fellows Daniela Mogollon, Marco Gurdian, and Luis Nunez sit down with Dr. Walter Block, professor of economics at Loyola University New Orleans and one of the world’s most recognized libertarian economists. Dr. Block has written extensively on voluntary exchange, private property, and the moral foundations of free markets.

Together, they explore how economic freedom and private initiative attract global investment across three interconnected lenses:

• Private-sector sustainability in developing countries
• Global real estate investment trends
• Free trade policies in Central America

Throughout the conversation, they return to one central question: Can voluntary, market-driven choices achieve what government regulation often promises?

A thought-provoking discussion on freedom, investment, and the forces shaping global economic futures.

In this premiere episode of the Fellows Podcast series, International Business Fellows Ben Romanstein and Amelia Sicko interview Dr. Frankie Weinberg, Chase Minority Entrepreneurship Distinguished Professor at Loyola University New Orleans’ College of Business and co-owner of Pomelo and Good Catch, two Thai restaurants in New Orleans.

Dr. Weinberg offers a candid look into the challenges New Orleans restaurants face as they work to stay sustainable—both environmentally and financially. From reducing food waste to making intentional operational decisions in a fiercely competitive market, he explains what it really takes for a restaurant to survive and thrive in America’s most iconic food city.

A must-listen for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, sustainability, food systems, or the behind-the-scenes realities of the restaurant industry.

A thought-provoking conversation with stakeholder theory pioneer R. Edward Freeman on redefining business ethics, balancing stakeholder interests, and preparing future leaders for a responsible, purpose-driven economy.

Thinking about studying abroad? Wondering how to make it happen before graduation? In this episode of Gumbo of Opportunities, Loyola marketing intern Samantha Guillotte '25 sits down with Study Abroad Advisor Josi Guidry to explore how students can "stamp their passport" through immersive international programs offered by the College of Business and Loyola University New Orleans. They cover everything from Costa Rica J-Term and Rome Summer Session to university-wide options, application tips, and how global experience can boost your career prospects after graduation. They also preview Loyola’s International Festival—happening tomorrow!

🌎 Whether you’re dreaming of ziplining through the rainforest or standing in front of the Colosseum, this episode will inspire you to take that first step.