FIU Business students recently explored the heart of global commerce with immersive tours of Port Everglades and PortMiami, two of the busiest and most strategically located ports in the United States.
The visits, organized by the PayCargo Supply Chain and Logistics program and the Global Business Ambassadors program, gave students firsthand exposure to the operations that drive international trade. With Miami serving as a gateway to the Americas, the region offers direct access to global logistics networks and real-world learning opportunities.
“Miami is a global hub for importing and exporting,” said Bryanna Leighton, a senior majoring in logistics and supply chain management. “Being here gives us access to opportunities that students in other regions might not have. Touring Port Everglades and speaking directly with professionals on a Crowley container ship helped me visualize the career path I’m pursuing.”
Leighton and fellow logistics student Devesh Hargobin said seeing port operations up close helped connect classroom concepts to real-world scenarios.
Hargobin’s interest in supply chain management was sparked by the Ever Given container ship blockage in the Suez Canal, which disrupted global trade in 2021.
“That incident showed how fragile and interconnected global trade really is,” he said. “FIU’s program is the only one of its kind in Florida, and it’s giving us the tools to be part of the solution.”
During the Port Everglades tour, students boarded a Crowley container ship and spoke with crew members about their roles in transporting goods across the globe.
“It was a powerful experience,” Hargobin said. “We learned about the lifestyle of ship workers, the logistics behind each voyage and how these operations support business goals.”
At PortMiami, international business students in the Global Business Ambassadors (GBA) program gained insight into port infrastructure, trade volumes and logistics flow. Mshawi Ikner, a double major in international business and marketing, described the visit as transformative.
“Seeing the cranes in action, learning about the TEU containers and understanding how goods move from ship to rail to consumer – it was eye-opening,” he said. “It’s one thing to study global trade in class, but seeing it unfold in real time is something else entirely.”
FIU’s undergraduate international business program is ranked NO. 3 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report (2025). The GBA program is designed to cultivate globally minded leaders through travel, study and experiential learning, preparing students for careers in international markets.
“Miami’s location and FIU’s connections give us a front-row seat to the world economy,” Ikner added. “These experiences are shaping how we think about business and where we see ourselves in the future.”