Visits

IMD

I was very impressed with our visit to IMD. On top of the school providing an exceptional education, they provide a healthy learning atmosphere for business people. They treated the school like a business, where students and professors alike held a mutual respect and learned from each other. One of the other great things IMD offers is the availability to networking, this is especially demonstrated during the lunch hour. The culture presented at IMD was one of prestige; perhaps that is what they expect out of their graduates. I felt really important when we arrived to the room with all of our name plackets. I was also impressed with how prepared they were to show us around.

Dean Anderson

It was an invaluable experience to listen to Dean Anderson’s lecture on strategy. I loved the phrase he used, “strategy is the walk, aspiration is the talk.” He pointed out that a main step to developing strategy is by gaining a true perspective of yourself. We often perceive ourselves how we wish to be, and not how we truly are. The Dean has a great perspective on himself and what his objectives are. I felt better prepared to create my personal strategy after his lecture.

Credit Agricole

What made this lecture so interesting was that they were closing up a big merger. It was great practice for us to analyze their merger and get a real feel for what critical thinking is involved. I liked the honesty that Maria Pascal showed. We would present our project, and she would clean it up and tell us how it really should be done. It was neat to see the things we learn in class be put into action.

Don Linford

After Don’s lecture, I found myself questioning whether I really wanted to work internationally or not. He had a really interesting perspective on working abroad. Don opened up the lecture by telling us about his life and how he got to where he is now, he placed himself in a vulnerable and exposed situation, and he clearly wanted us to be as vulnerable because of it. We would say things, and he would quickly correct us. Some things he said could have been very offensive, but they weren’t because we knew they were true and that his criticism was going to strengthen us. I enjoyed his lecture a lot, partially because I am fascinated by finance, but mostly because there was an exquisite energy. It was about this point in the trip when I began to realize the magnitude of what we are doing on this trip and the connections we can potentially make. It’s really great.

WTO

It was a great opportunity to meet with the WTO. After we got over the shiny objects in the room, we were able to get down to business and learn more about how the WTO works and who they work with. The WTO, EFTA, EU, and OECD all have similar functions and it was good to go there so we could figure out the differences. It would be neat to do an internship with the WTO. Something I learned at the WTO was that they work with countries on setting regulations for trade to make it more “fair.”

EFTA

I really enjoyed our visit to EFTA. I was surprised at how little the office was and how small EFTA is, but it sill has a large role in the world economy. Besides the embarrassingly repetitive questions, it was great. I found it unique that EFTA is comprised of only a few member states, but they are wealthy states and have a lot of power still. I was impressed that although they may be losing Iceland to the EU, they seem to have no plans in dissolving, but they are actually doing quite a lot of negotiations that are keeping the organization strong.

Swiss Wine and Cheese Industries

Dominique was such a great host that he took us out to his private vineyard to let us participate a bit in his harvest, eat raclette, and then he gave us a discussion on the Swiss government and business, including the cheese and wine industry. Honestly, I had a hard time paying attention that day. The television wasn’t working, and I really was in play mode, not lecture mode. But it was good to have a lecture on this and Dominique was very qualified to give it to us. One thing that stuck out to me was that not much of their wine and cheese is imported, that surprised me a little.

ICRC

This was one of my favorite visits. It would be awesome to do a mission for the ICRC, maybe in the future I will. It is inspiring to see how the organization has grown to be something so helpful and powerful. They do a lot of great things in the world. Taking it to a personal level, it was awesome for me to meet with the ICRC because it helped me to see that the career path I want to take can be somewhat lucrative, highly rewarding, and very possible. That’s what I needed to hear, that the things I want to do are possible.

Huntsman Chemical

This was another of my favorite visits. It was so great to see the process of the research and development. It was impressive how they have taken one product or chemical, and taken it into so many different markets. I was amazed that the same product was used for everything from car seats to shoe soles. The people working there we are very nice and patient with all of our questions. It was also neat that we were able to talk to one of their top dogs. The food was a great perk. Something I have thought a lot about on this trip is the effect that the work environment has on its employees. It really makes a big difference in their affectivity and when they feel like they are being taken care of, they’re going to produce a higher output.

InBev

This was a very interesting meeting. I am absolutely fascinated by the fabrication of goods and well, the whole factory process. I think it is so amazing how they can do it all so quickly and effectively. It is hard for me to believe that businesses ever survived without the assembly line! What a necessary invention!

European Parliament

What I liked about this meeting was that we were able to get a true perspective on what Europeans think about American business and government. It was fun to learn how successful the European Commission is. The guys were a little arrogant though; I was really surprised at that. It reminded me of the things I have read in The United States of Europe.

NATO

Bruges

This was a fun city, we rented bikes and rode them all over the city several times. It was interesting how the city was built in a circle, perhaps for easier transportation. Bruges used to be the center of commerce and now it is predominately dedicated to tourism. They have museums and exhibitions, clever restaurants and beautiful architecture. I was really glad that we went to visit this city.

Rashid Khatib Shahidi

It was great to have Rashid with us. I was able to talk to him a little about one of my entrepreneurial ideas and he had a lot of great input. I love his attitude on business, if it’s something you love and you think it can succeed, then it can. I like that, it’s uplifting. He spoke with us about entrepreneurship and some of the difficulties with it; especially in communication. I really liked how he frequently clarified perspectives, that was a great example to me. He is a fun loving person that really is inspiring. He truly showcases the excitement in entrepreneurship.

OECD

The first lecture was neat because it explained more thoroughly what the OECD does. I was impressed that they have no hard power, but through soft power they are able to have a lot of impact on development and trade. This is another organization where it would be neat to work for. The second lecture was a little boring. While international higher education is interesting, it isn’t super applicable to me. It would have been good to maybe talk about that for ten, fifteen minutes, but an hour was really long.

Microsoft Europe

I was looking forward to this visit the whole trip. I have always heard they were such a great company to work for and I was curious to see why. I was so impressed at the technology they have developed. The computer-table was so cool! That could really change a lot in our society. This visit really solidified my thoughts on the importance of a great work environment where workers are treated special. I was very impressed with this visit, and am extremely curious to see what happens to Microsoft with Google’s new technology, especially their new operating system.

Disney

It was really neat to go to one of the places where we actually did a case study about. It was fun to see the changes they have made to become profitable and to adjust to the European market. I think they have made a lot of successful adjustments. I found it creative how they modified their hiring process to discern people’s true personalities. Most of all, I liked how they found a way to adjust to the European culture while still holding onto their core beliefs and their own Disney culture. Halloween is my favorite holiday, so it was really exciting for me to be able to be there with all of the Halloween deco.

Versailles

Versailles was fantastic! It was amazing to see how ornate the palace was. I loved the architecture and the design. It really gave a great feel for what it would have been like to be royalty at that time. As we were wandering the palace a thought occurred to me that if we had been living during that time, it would have been unthinkable to be wandering the palace halls; I felt privileged. My favorite thing we did in Versailles was rent a boat and row it thorough the canal.