Learning by Doing: How GBC Faculty Bring Real-World Business Experience Into the Classroom 

At Goldey-Beacom College, career preparation is not treated as something that begins after graduation. It is built into the classroom experience from the start. 

For Dr. Glenn Orem, that means creating courses that mirror the expectations, challenges, and opportunities students will encounter in the professional world. With a career that includes 25 years at DuPont, 15 years leading a marketing and business consulting company, and years of teaching experience, Orem brings more than subject-matter knowledge to his students. He brings perspective from a lifetime in business.  That perspective shapes the way he teaches. 

“I want the class to reflect real-world business as much as I can,” Orem shared. “I lived that for 40 years, so I can bring the notion of what it’s like in the real world.”

In one marketing class, that approach came to life through a final project designed to give students more than a typical classroom presentation. Student groups developed ideas for products or services that could be marketed to Goldey-Beacom College students, then presented those ideas in the College’s boardroom to a panel that included members of GBC’s senior leadership. 

The experience was intentionally realistic. Students were not just completing an assignment; they were presenting ideas to decision-makers. According to Orem, two of the student proposals made such a strong impression that they are being explored for possible implementation at the College. 

For students, that kind of experience offers something powerful: the chance to see that their ideas can matter beyond the classroom. 

Orem sees this as one of the advantages of GBC’s size and culture. In a close-knit college environment, students have access to faculty, leadership, and opportunities that may be harder to find at larger institutions. He recalled attending basketball games and realizing that, after just one year at GBC, he already knew many of the student-athletes because they had been in his classes. 

That connection matters. It creates an environment where students are seen, known, and supported—not only as learners, but as people preparing for the next step in their lives. 

For Orem, preparing students for careers means helping them build habits that will serve them in any profession. Two skills stand out in every class he teaches: presenting and research. 

Students in his courses are expected to get up in front of the class and present, even in subjects where that may not seem obvious at first, such as Excel. The goal is not perfection. It is practice.

Most students, he acknowledged, are not eager to present. But he sees the classroom as a low-risk place to build confidence. Students are not judged on whether they sound like polished public speakers. They are evaluated on the strength of their content and their ability to communicate ideas.  Research is just as important.  Orem tells students that, in the business world, opinions need support. It is not enough to tell a supervisor what you think a company should do. Professionals need to explain what they found, how they found it, and why their recommendation makes sense. 

“I love your thoughts. I love your opinions,” he said. “But tell me the research you had to verify those opinions.” 

That emphasis reflects a larger lesson: success in business requires more than knowing the answer. It requires being able to explain, defend, and apply what you know. Orem also encourages students to see every opportunity as a chance to gain experience, especially early in their careers. His advice is straightforward: take opportunities seriously, even when they do not seem ideal at first. Each one can teach something about the work, the field, or yourself. 

That mindset fits closely with GBC’s commitment to career readiness. Students are encouraged to stretch themselves, try new things, build confidence, and learn through experience. Faculty like Orem help make that possible by designing learning environments that are practical, personal, and connected to the real world.  He also recognizes that learning is not only about deadlines, grades, and assignments. While he wants students to understand professional expectations, he also wants them to complete the work because completing the work is how they learn. His approach balances accountability with support, especially for students who are trying, growing, and navigating the demands of college life.

Above all, Orem wants students to leave his classes with skills they can carry forward: the ability to present, the discipline to research, and the confidence to participate in professional settings. 

At Goldey-Beacom College, those lessons are part of what makes the classroom experience distinctive. Students are not only studying business concepts. They are practicing how to think, communicate, and contribute like professionals.  And in a community where faculty know their students and leadership is willing to engage directly with student ideas, learning becomes more than preparation for the future. It becomes a place where students can begin building that future now. 

Watch the episode here!