Port authority: FIU Business students go from classrooms to container ships.

FIU Business students recently explored the heart of global commerce with immersive tours of Port Everglades and Port Miami, 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 (GBA) program, provided students with firsthand exposure to the operations that drive international trade. With Miami serving as the gateway to the Americas, the city’s dynamic business landscape offers unparalleled access to industry leaders, global logistics networks and real-world learning experiences.

“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 emphasized how seeing things “this up close” helps contextualize real-world scenarios.

Hargobin’s interest in supply chain management was sparked when the Ever Given container ship blocked the Suez Canal.

Students boarding a Crowley shipping vessel at Port Everglades.

“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 Port Miami, international business students in the GBA program gained insight into port operations, infrastructure and global trade metrics. Mshawi Ikner, a double major in international business and marketing, described the experience as transformative.

“Seeing the cranes in action, learning about the TEU [twenty-foot equivalent unit] 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.”

Global Business Ambassadors Lucille Hassell and Mshawi Ikner, with professors Jerry Haar and Donald Roomes at Port Miami.

FIU’s undergraduate international business program is ranked No. 3 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report (2025), and the GBA program is designed to cultivate globally minded leaders through travel, study and service. Students participate in corporate seminars, networking events, and international excursions, graduating with honors and a competitive edge in the global marketplace.

“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.”

As global trade continues to evolve, FIU Business students are gaining the skills, insights and connections needed to lead in an increasingly interconnected world.