LHP Study Abroad Reflection and Analysis

Chile, Argentina, Brazil

Samantha Riser
1 May 2016

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I.

Introduction
Quite possibly the most prolific and impactful way to learn about a new concept, issue, or way of life
is through physical immersion into such matters. Learning through engagement has allowed me to not only
absorb the new environment and lectures, but question, challenge, and expand on concepts relevant to my life
and consequently deepen my understanding of the world around me.
In preparation for my first-ever abroad experience, especially in the context of global business and
culture, I challenged myself to open my eyes, ears, and senses to the new people, environment, and business
atmosphere. I set aside all preconceived notions of the cultures and environments to allow myself to absorb as
much truth as possible. Returning from this experience, I am have been able to not only reflect on my learnings
on the trip, but expand these experiences to improve my development personally, academically, and
professionally as I move forward in my life.

II. Personal Development and Reflection

It is not what happens to a person, rather it is how she responds to that situation that defines her
character. Through this international experience in Latin America, I have begun to truly discover who I am as
an intellectual, as an individual, as a friend, and as a contributing member of society. I have collected an
endless number of sound bites and life lessons throughout this experience, keeping a journal to document my
responses to new situations and interactions. This journal has helped me convert my dispositions, attitudes, and
personal beliefs into concrete thoughts and opinions to define my character and current place in society. It has
allowed me to connect with my inner self, and find opportunities for improvement and positivity. The influence
this journal has had on me throughout the trip will undoubtedly continue serving its purpose for years to come.
It serves a reminder to be the positive, genuine, and motivated person I am and strive to be, as well as leads me
to conclusions about life such as the lessons below.
Every failure is an opportunity. Weaknesses are simply opportunities to grow. For instance, Rembre
turns Chiles waste problem into a sustainability initiative. Also, the countrys problematic earthquakes have
led to advanced engineering of buildings, which has contributed to a resilient infrastructure. Argentinas
oversaturation of trash pickers that stemmed from the 2008 crisis has created one of the best recycling systems
in the world. All of these instances serve as an inspiration to find a greater outcome from a seemingly hopeless
situation.

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During this abroad experience, I made an intent to find an opportunity for growth or learning in each
day of the trip. Some days focused on making the best of a struggling situation. This occurred in Santiago
when there was no room left to travel to Vino del Mar. I was originally upset at the lost opportunity to see new
areas, but it then occurred to me that there will still other goals I hoped to achieve on this trip. I decided to hike
the San Cristbal Hill to self-reflect as well as workout and enjoy dinner with a new group of classmates with
whom Ive had yet to spend time. After feeling the gratification of that day, I became more inclined to seek
activities that enrich my experience as opposed to following the crowd and doing what is expected of me. I
question if I truly wanted to visit Vino del Mar or if I had the desire solely because the entire group wanted to
go. When a situation falls through, there is an opportunity to use the new time or situation to reflect and grow.
In correlation with the next theme of my journal, I felt more engaged and happy once I learned to roll
with the punches. My first engagement challenge occurred at Subsole since I was not prepared to face a tour
that was entirely in Spanish. I didnt want the language barrier to obstruct an opportunity to learn at the visit,
so I found new avenues to learn by opening my eyes and ears as well as applying my knowledge of operations
management to make the visit worthwhile. It allowed me to note the cleanliness of the facility and the
streamlined operations of the plant. I applied my experience in Kroger Logistics to identify the technological
advances of Subsole, which actually challenged my earlier belief that all South American companies lacked
technological advancement. Seeing the value that my own observations could bring to company visits made
me more conscious of my observations during the entirety of this trip. This might not have happened if I had
shut down in disappointment at Subsole.
I cannot fully express the value this lesson brought to my experience in Concepcion. My best method
of learning is through dialogue in informal settings. Because of this, I was highly anticipating my stay with a
host family to be one of the most memorable and worthwhile learning experiences. I would have the
opportunity to live and observe the family life as well as ask questions about the Latin American culture
around the dinner table. While the experience turned out to be just that, it was not achieved the way I had
originally planned. My family spoke extremely broken English, which strained communication. I became
overwhelmed and frustrated after a single night of stares, expectant smiles, and rapid communication. Day two,
I adapted. I observed. We played the word game, which allowed me to question simple household items and

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foods. At the end of the four days, we were all exhausted but could finally speak a slow and simple
conversation. My Spanish became more fluent, as it was in high school, and I learned about their history,
political interests, and social norms. My ability to observe mannerisms, daily work life of the family, and the
familys enthusiastic willingness to communicate contributed to a better understanding of the authentic Chilean
culture, a concept I may not have fully grasped from a simple conversation.
Development results from moving forward, not just looking back. Seeing the unanticipated obstacle at
Subsole and similar visits as well as with Javieras family, I went forward with a solution rather than looking
back at what could have been done. Part of my life, like everyone elses, is unavoidably controlled by factors
that are out of my hands. It would be a waste of my time to let petty things stop my progress and engagement,
such as regretting wearing a heavy outfit at Givaudan Flavors or asking a question at a visit that sounded more
intelligent in my head than out loud. This may seem petty and insignificant, but it was something from which I
used to suffer. Now, instead of being easily distracted from my mistakes or frozen from disappointment about
an unchangeable situation, I can move forward and find something redeeming in each situation. I have become
more flexible and adaptive, especially in my role as a student and worker.
How well a person survives an accident directly correlates to how well she prepared. Looking at the
previous lesson from another perspective, a person is able to be flexible and adaptive when she is prepared. I
have naturally been a positive and optimistic person, often looking for the best in situations and anticipating
things to run smoothly. However, after hearing from Eli at LATAM Airlines, I need to consider the possibility
that things may go awry, and I should plan accordingly. There is an important difference to consider between
negative thinking and proper preparation. It has been nave of me to approach a work or life situation and
assume all will run smoothly. That is often why I find myself frozen in disappointment when things do not go
as planned. I had always thought that assuming things would run poorly is a pessimistic view, pure negative
thinking. It is clear to me now to approach a situation with optimistic pessimism by hoping for the best but
preparing for the worst. One might think this is obvious, but in practice, it is a hard lesson to follow. It is easy
to be successful when its sunny. The true measure is when it storms, and ones preparation and integrity is put
to the test.

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It is more rewarding to be polychronic rather than monochronic in thought and action. Following my
passion for planning, I have always been governed by my schedule and calendar. There is a time and duration
for every event in my life, which at the time served its purpose to help me carry on with my daily life.
Fortunately, I was introduced to a new mentality in Buenos Aires during our lecture on consumer culture.
Taking this lesson out of the context of consumerism and relating it to my personal relationships, I found that
while I give my friends and family the time of day, I should reflect and discover if that time is quality time
rather than another entry on my to-do list. Ive always been driven by lists and productivity, feeling
accomplished when I check off completed tasks. Friendships are not tasks. I want to be committed to people
and not solely committed to time. Ive stopped putting end-times in my calendar and work to optimize time
(since it is a limited resource) for personal tasks. I have this one week at home before leaving again for a
service trip and work. I have worked diligently and consciously to optimize time spent on homework
assignments in order to spend time with the loved ones Ive missed. I have found myself able to manage both
extremely well, and have formed stronger bonds with relatives and friends.
Transparency builds trust. At the heart of it all, it is the relationships among people who drive societal,
economic, and political success. In a company perspective, personal relationships drive business deals. This is
a fact I already knew, however I did not register its importance until the LATAM Airlines visit. There, the point
was made that its relationship with the community far outweighed the importance of profits. Although the
flight to Easter Island had negative sales, they would not close the flight for fear of damaging relationships.
Trust is the most important asset I have, and I took LATAMs example to heart. As mentioned before, quality
time is important to foster relationships. I work to always be there for others and be honest in my thoughts and
opinions. In the past I have struggled to be open and transparent, causing some to mistrust my intentions.
However, I do not want to hurt the relationships that I have and will, therefore, stem out of my comfort zone to
show that my relationship with that person far outweighs the importance of my petty comfort.
Discovering and developing my character and persona during this immersion experience has proved
fruitful. I have gained valuable problem-solving skills and relationship building mindsets as a direct result of
experiencing extended travel in a foreign environment with a large group of people. With my newfound
confidence and self-awareness, I feel more prepared to tackle my academic, professional, and personal lives.

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III. Academic Application and Reflection

Never have I felt a greater appreciation for my academic education and opportunities to learn until I
was shown the power it holds to enable or prohibit personal advancement and societal problem solving. My
education has enabled me to accomplish almost anything I set my mind to and allows me to become a
contributing member of society. I can use my local media sources to stay current and informed in important
matters, and feel confident in my ability to influence my community. What I had not realized before this trip is
that countries in South America, such as Chile, do not have this freedom due to weak educational systems and
undeveloped communication channels. This forces many families to follow in the footsteps of their elders. For
instance, garbage collectors will continue to be garbage collectors due to lack of education. Family owned
businesses will continue to be owned by family members and not grow to its full potential (as cited by BM&F
Bovespa). Young and old families might never leave the destitute favelas I witnessed on our bus rides, even
with the aid of communities such as Vivenda da Criana. It was heartbreaking to see earnest and happy people
struggle to live comfortably. At the same time, it was motivating in two ways. Primarily, it encouraged me to
better engage myself in my community, and secondly, it forced me to acknowledge my fortunes and
opportunities and allow nothing to go to waste.
Newly appreciative of all these open doors, I question why I have hesitated to continue my education
beyond my undergraduate degree. Other countries cannot imagine these doors being available to them in the
first place. If failure is simply an opportunity in disguise, I should never fear failure. I would be doing myself
and my community a disservice if I did not continue onto graduate and doctoral school. My ambition beyond
the university is to work throughout the ranks of Kroger, become a professor, and later pursue entrepreneurial
ideas. Therefore, I should use every opportunity available to prepare me for these chapters of my life.
Motivating me further to continue my high level of engagement in academics is my recognition of
topics in my high school and collegiate courses in life experiences, professional conversations, and company
visits. Bill Bagleys lessons of servant leadership, every one of Professor Constantines global business course
concepts, and Dr. Sieples operational approach to business have been present and given substance to the topics

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discussed in lectures and company visits. It is very interesting to see the transition from generic material to
applicable material in my academic schooling.
Learning is a passion of mine. Hours are spent studying twice the amount of material needed for
exams, but I have never derived so much joy from something as I do from information. Now, with the
information appearing in two areas of my life, I feel as though I have a purpose. I have a desire to contribute,
to speak out in conversation rather than simply absorb facts and regurgitate them on paper. The abroad
experience has not only connected my knowledge but given me the backbone to contribute to intellectual
discussions and topics. I was never one to ask questions in a classroom setting or state my opinion or belief to
someone for fear of embarrassment or inability to back up my words. When Javerias brother, who speaks
English well, visited the family I was intellectually challenged to discuss political topics regarding Donald
Trump, the Republican Party, and Americas foreign relations agenda. As a Republican, I was able to defend
my position and party by drawing on examples about how Trump does not accurately reflect the sentiments
and intentions of the entire Republican Party. I anticipate many conversations such as these in my future, and I
am excited to increase my education outside of the classroom and more into an independent study of current
events and cultural understanding.

IV. Influence and Impact on Career Path

As this abroad experience has strengthened my love and appreciation for academia and education
inside and outside of the classroom, it has likewise strengthened my resolve to pursue careers in the areas of
accounting, education, and entrepreneurship.
Education is the best anti-poverty program, the best economic development program, and the best
doorway to a future filled with opportunity and possibility (Gov. Bill Ritter, Jr.). Opportunities are lost when
people are not educated. In Argentina, gora sees many missed investment opportunities because no one is
educated about or aware of their existence and benefits. In Chile, Rembre pushes for legislation for Chilean
Recycling due to a lack of awareness and realization of its long-term benefits. In other countries,
underprivileged citizens are unable to help themselves because volunteer teachers lack the passion for
educating the youth. I question how anyone can feel confident in the long-term success of a society if their

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youth is poorly and sporadically educated and their working generation ill-informed. There is no discipline or
motivation to perform and develop beyond what a person knows in the family. I cannot tolerate situations such
as these where people are denied the tools for self-improvement and advancement.
From my observations stated above and their ensuing effect on a persons quality of life, I am moved
now more than ever to become a coach for young athletes, a mentor for growing individuals, and an instructor
for higher education. I have been endowed with a wonderful education, a bright and curious mind, and an
active body. I want to use my gifts to educate others. The root of most societal problems lies not in the physical
possessions, but in the lack of role models and educators to instill knowledge and wisdom in the community.
We all have a desire to learn, but we often need to be given tools and guidance from others to accomplish
understanding. A lot of companies we saw in Latin America acknowledged this, and hold educational programs
and initiatives to combat the issue. Their intentions resonate with me, as I have brainstormed for quite some
time how to bring education and nutritional awareness to developing communities such as Over-the-Rhine and
Price Hill.
There is a spirit of entrepreneurship in us all. Visiting these various companies has sparked the
entrepreneurial spirit in me as well. Most companies I noted had a cause for societal change or improvement,
and created a product to help meet their goal. They discovered and defined the why of their company before
finding the what and how. This changed my business perspective. My initial approach was to determine a
business model and product that could be profitable, then incorporate some form community impact into my
model. Now I ask myself, what impact do I want to make in my community, and what product or service can I
create to make this impact? This was answered in the above thoughts on dietary education.
Learning that this is also the mindset and business approach of both Natura and Geekie is
encouraging. It strengthens my resolve that the benefit of the community should and is able to be the primary
objective of a business. Out of all the companies visited, I hold these two companies in the highest regard.
Natura was able to achieve gender equality, minority and disability inclusion, a circular economy, and an
overall positive impact in its community despite its size. Geekie reinvented the historical learning model and
created an adaptive learning platform to help fix the educational quality gap of Brazil. Both companies serve as
role models to others that entrepreneurship can be profitable as well as beneficial to society.

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Later in my career, I want to follow in the footsteps of these companies that focus on social impact
and exist to improve the world. After learning about the high cost of business, especially in Brazil where there
are high corruption and inflation, I also believe my focus will be on my local community. As mentioned in
another area of my reflection, I value regional companies and relationships. Further independent research has
strengthened my resolve that the best approach in business to preserve our planet is to think locally, and serve
those in your community. Rembre taught me that I can dream big and have big goals, and the best way to
achieve these goals is to start small, or locally. Natura taught me that connection provides an opportunity for
everyone, and empowers individuals to achieve their own initiatives. My local involvement will stem to other
areas as those I have effected reach out to others. I like this approach as opposed to international operations
because I can keep my focus on educational improvement and not get lost in the web of complexity that is
international business. While our inequality gap is not as extreme as Latin America, I am still motivated to do
my part in enabling Cincinnatians to get involved.
I have natural distrust towards things which I do not understand. This is another reason I value
education. Before visiting BM&F Bovespa, I held a strong dislike for global and national finance, investments,
the stock exchange, and banking. I felt as though stock and performance measures only represent a business on
the surface level through numbers, much like a candidates resume only speaks to definable accomplishments.
After the concepts of financial markets were presented to me in a clearer explanation, my distrust and
abhorrence of the sectors dissipated. What I found instead was that I simply have little interest in these sectors.
For this reason, I have concluded that I like microeconomics as opposed to macroeconomics. I like to analyze
the details in action rather than the big picture and performance review to gain a true understanding of the
concept, project, or organization. I approach situations and business objectives by focusing on one task at a
time because in that way I can fully analyze the situation in real-time rather than compiling all data and
forming the big picture. I had not noted this difference in myself before this visit. It reassured me that my
current role in Accounting speaks to my true nature, and my minor in Business Analytics helps round me and
gives me the skills to start looking at the big picture.
Having struggled to identify my strengths and predilections in business, it has been reassuring to have
my career choices solidified on this abroad experience. I still have a long journey to travel, but I know I am on

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the right path. Development is best achieved through mentorships, and the speakers and companies from this
trip will serve as models for me as I navigate my way through my professional and personal life.

V. Influence and Impact on Global Perspective

Culture is an experience of the senses. It is it important to see the good, the bad, and the ugly in order
to fully understand a culture. Latin America is a melting pot of countless cultures and has also been defined as
a curious culture. Latin America defies all generalizations, and without seeing and experiencing for ones self,
one might not realize the true differences. Latin America is full of paradoxes: informal yet organized, social
and relaxed yet hard-working, amiable yet distrustful. It fascinates me that such paradoxes can coexist and are
so apparent at the company visits. I can only imagine the number of outside societies that misunderstand the
intricacies of Latin America.
Culture is another way of speaking about history. The more we are aware of each others past
circumstances, the better we can understand each others current dispositions. Because different cultures and
countries face different challenges, each finds itself at different levels of development and progress. Therefore,
it is also more likely that these countries hold different opinions on societal, political, and economic issues. I
cannot judge Argentina for their risk-averse tendencies and short-term business outlook, even though it
frustrates me when I see their potential to grow. I know that it is in their nature to be hesitant since they have
grown up where state terrorism permeated their daily lives, leaving unpredictability as the only constant in
their economy. I have learned so much about Argentinas present due to the lessons and lectures of their past.
While I disagree with government intervention, I understand their desire for it because they grew up on
subsidies. Instances such as these highlight the current trends, traditions, beliefs, and norms.
Because culture is so deeply rooted in a societys history, changing a culture is the greatest
impediment to local or global change. Weve also learned this fact in our Global Business course: culture is the
final obstacle to globalization. Unfortunately, it often requires big events to open peoples eyes to the
inefficiencies or negative long-term consequences of current practices. I do not want fires and destruction of
businesses or financial market collapses to be the instigator for change. Instead, I believe a solution to this
issue is to manage incremental changes that do not disrupt current behavior or sentiments. I admired the

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creative approach BM&F Bovespa takes to move private companies towards an IPO and formalized
organization. It eases the transition for private owners that value autonomy but are in need of funding that
could only be provided from the stock exchange. This is why radical proposed solutions to global issues are
almost always met with emotionally charged reactions. Its difficult to be successfully proactive in thought and
action.
The countries of Latin America are proud and self-aware. ProChile was one of the most impactful
visits of the trip. Meeting a group of people who are aware of their weaknesses yet still hold such a strong and
positive outlook and drive for their countrys future was truly inspiring. I have always felt that Americas
individualistic nature has been the key to our success in regards to progress and innovation. However through
this visit, I realized that the collective nature of Chile strengthens their brand and attitude over anything else.
ASOEX promotes foods from Chile as a whole rather than from individual companies. ProChile promotes
exports from all sectors of Chiles economy to develop the country brand. People of Chile are aware that things
cannot change due to the efforts of one person, and the power of the many is the strength they need to build a
strong perception of their amazing culture on a global scale. If countries had a common goal to rally behind for
global improvement, much like the people of Chile rally behind their food for economic improvement, global
cohesion would be much more easily attained.
The better connected we are, the more efficient we become. Connection among global players can and
will lead to more extensive societal solutions and improvements. This ties back to the idea of education and
distribution of knowledge. At Codelco, we learned that the international council helps companies share best
practices. This is imperative to successful growth, because it prevents companies from reinventing the wheel
and instead modifying best practices to serve their needs. The President of Mercosur even mentioned that some
policies of Argentina and Mercosur stem from the United States Constitution. It is in this way of information
sharing that we can all remain diligent, humble, and progressive contributors to society. It serves as a reminder
that people can use their strengths to help others, but also that people have weaknesses and can look to other
leaders in these areas. In the light of competition, I believe the world sometimes forgets this valid argument
and fails to see that information sharing is a mutually and collectively beneficial process that not only
improves the individuals, but the economys health on all scales.

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A small number of factors can significantly impact the image and performance of a country. On a
large scale, political instability prevents the economy and economic players from thinking and planning for
long-term operation. The unfortunate truth is that entrepreneurship requires long terms of stability, and because
countries such as Argentina do not have this, little to no innovation succeeds in these economies. There is also
little foreign direct investment, making the case for Argentina appeal to investors a hard case to win. In almost
all lectures and company visits, it was apparent that all Argentines were anticipating another economic
downturn, and that this crisis was cyclical and unavoidable. This astounds me. For the pride they claim to
show, I question how Argentina will prove to the world that they are a strong country yearning to develop. I
saw from visits at companies such as Onapsis that Argentine culture is open, enthusiastic, keen to needs, and
proactive in their work. It is unfortunate to witness the disconnect between the way a single company feels and
is thriving versus the overall message of who Argentina is as a country. Argentinas biggest challenge is to take
the individual companys passion for growth and translate that into a national message, since their economic
instability overshadows everything else. I believe many countries and economies face this same issue and
battle the case for economic strength every day.
Globally speaking, there is great opportunity for improvement in corporate social responsibility and
sustainability. Zero carbon-emitting companies really struck a chord with me. It is rational to claim that a
company or organization can contribute to global sustainability by working to minimize the waste it produces
in its sector. Arauco attempts to contribute to societal improvement through educational initiatives, but misses
the mark when it comes to minimizing the environmental impact it causes when cutting down trees. We need
to push the lesson that innovation will become a purpose rather than a perk and contribute to a sustainable
business, sector, and economy. Too many organizations look to other businesses, economies, or nations to
make the change. If each sector would concentrate on their own efforts, a large and positive impact will result.
This lesson has been brought up in the context of global reputation and cooperation earlier in this reflection,
and is entirely applicable to global change and improvement as well.
My awareness and understanding of individual cultures and economies along with their potential to
improve the future outlook of our global economy grew after this immersion experience. Looking at the world
as one unit with groups of different backgrounds, values, and attributes rather than a group of independent

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nations collaborating is the view I believe will produce the most valuable global change. However it is vital
that we understand each others differences and history before we can find the similarities and common ground
among us all. Lack of information and understanding propagates assumptions, stereotypes, and biases that
hinder growth and progress. Everyone should immerse themselves in another culture to gain an appreciation
for the people and understand how to move forward cohesively.

VI. Influence and Impact on Local Perspective

Ultimately, my experience in Latin America has challenged my knowledge of my country. Most
speakers, professors, or company representatives raised societal questions, which has prompted me to reflect
on my experiences at home.
We are a great nation and a land of opportunities. Sometimes I forget this well-known fact. What
brought this lesson back to my awareness was learning that Latin America has the greatest imbalance of wealth
in the world. In the US, we face similar issues in the areas of education, equality, and wealth, but not nearly to
the extreme of other developing nations. We have access to education, to communication, to funding, and to
opportunities for advancement. I am confident that my human rights will not be revoked or violated without
due process and a fair trial. My voice is heard, and I do not fear for my safety. This is not the case in places
such as Argentina, where political turmoil and instability is cyclical and considered the norm. While most
people are beginning to look abroad for business opportunities, especially in the light of globalization, I
believe some of the best opportunities to succeed can be found in ones own backyard.
It is beneficial in the long run to think locally. This sentiment was strengthened during the
regionalization lecture in Buenos Aires. While not to say that I am against globalization, I see greater value in
economic regionalization. A small country, such as Argentina or Chile, could never have the presence it needs
to thrive in the global market, but can grow through trade with its neighboring countries. I also favor the idea
of regionalism because it encourages countries to streamline and integrate social topics and economic goals
among themselves.
This eventually will contribute to the sustainability of not only the participating countries of the region
but the entire world. I say this because I discovered that the United States uses approximately 10 calories to

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ship 1 calorie of product for trade. Rather than exerting so much energy to transport these products over long
distances, it would be more beneficial to utilize the resources and factor endowments native to its area to live
and thrive. Share best practices with the world, but focus operations locally to address the needs near the
organization. Topics such as these that were brought up in passing have sparked my interest to delve deeper
and question more ideas of trade and business in the world.
Competition drives growth and creates better companies. I have come to greatly admire the capitalism
and fair competition here in the United States. LATAM Airlines eloquently speaks to this topic. Companies
should strive to be the best, but never become the best for fear of monopoly, complacency, and decline in the
velocity of innovation. Through discipline and the natural forces of supply and demand, we can grow together
as a business, a sector, and an economy. At first I favored Argentinas approach to subsiding major sectors of
the economy; I thought it would encourage people to take advantage of the free opportunities presented to
them. However now I have come to see that our capitalist system prevails, because subsidizing sectors such as
transportation, education, and health is not conducive to productivity or innovation. People become more
inclined to take things for granted, become complacent with their lot, or worse, demand more without putting
forth the effort to earn it. If there is no incentive for profit or gain of any sort, few would be willing to improve
the existing systems and grow as a society. While this is so obvious to me, a question remains as to why and
how other nations and economies do not follow suit. Through my research and studies, it is clear that the
global trend is towards capitalism, but it is my opinion that this trend is not moving quickly enough.
Grow consciously rather than quickly. Latin America exhibits a drive, ambition, and the desire to
progress organically that I sometimes find missing in the United States. The combination of the USs want to
become personally successful and its ability to do so through ample financial investment can serve to the
detriment of company quality. As previously mentioned, Latin American countries are aware of their
weaknesses and work to grow organically and steadily. Thinking specifically of Chile, I have noted that their
increasing passion for sustainability, innovation, and education will contribute to a strong economic
foundation. While Chile is far behind America in terms of size and development (as noted in numerous
presentations), I hold a firm belief that they will grow to be a significant and influential economy down the
road. They work to spread awareness and steady support, meeting existing needs rather than creating needs. In

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the context of P&G, the CEO proudly voiced that the company expands and persuades people to buy things
they don't know they need. This is most likely a factor contributing to their poor performance in Latin
America. The United States, from my current understandings, should look to the best practices of these
developing countries to prevent arrogance and greed from becoming the pillars of growth or prevent
companies from growing quickly, but in an unsustainable way.
However, another mindset to consider that was presented at Geekie is the idea that if everything seems
under control, youre not going fast enough. The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in the United States.
Proof of this can be found in the countless startup businesses, accelerators, and angel investors. We are better
equipped to take risks, which is a realization that had not occurred to me until I noted how hesitant people in
Latin America were to do so. We have the ability to learn quickly through technology, react quickly through
transportation, and operate quickly through communication. The opening quote from the LATAM
representative caused me to stop and think how I relate to the Latin Americans in my hesitation towards quick
conclusions, and note that I am often the only one playing the devils advocate in group projects in class and
the office. I wonder if my need for control and complete understanding before moving forward hinders my
productivity and efficiency, and if I am the rule or exception in the United States.
America is a melting pot of cultures and is one of the greatest nations to emerge. Business thrives here
due to the stable government, strong educational system, abundance of capital and resources, easy access to
technology, and existence of modern infrastructure. Our capitalist mindset drives competition, innovation, and
growth, giving companies the freedom to flourish. At the same time, a lot can be learned from other countrys
business environments. American business can look to Latin America for cultural inclusion initiatives,
collectivistic behavior and mindsets, passion and innovation, and methods to handle risk and uncertainty. Not
taking anything for granted, local businesses have as much potential for success as international dealings.

VII.

Final Thoughts
This trip has defied a lot of assumptions about myself, my opportunities, my relationships, and the

world around me. As shown through countless examples in my analysis of Latin America and the United
States, I have reflected and found more questions raised than answered after my experience in South America.

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This study abroad will prove fruitful and serve as a reference to lessons and understandings as I move forward
in my academic and professional career.
Sometimes it takes the obvious to directly present itself before an idea is acknowledged. I didnt know
who I was until the obvious was presented in front of me. One may think that the revelations made in my
reflection are apparent and simple, but for someone who has struggled for years figuring out who she is as an
individual, this experience was groundbreaking. I recognized who I am as an individual, and where I hope to
grow in the future. I never acknowledged that I was a people pleaser, a nave optimist, and a slave to my
schedule. On the other hand, I also never acknowledged the extent of my resilience, curiosity, and ability to
relate to others. These lessons are invaluable and will help me navigate my way through any situation or
chapter of my life.
I have been navigating my life through tunnel vision. I was never fully cognoscente of the fact that
these situations exist in communities across the globe and individuals such as myself have the ability to enact
change right where I live. I suspect that this is a common occurrence where most people underestimate their
ability to initiate change and make a difference. With these new revelations, I could dedicate an individual
paper to each and every topic discussed in this reflection and analysis. I plan and already have begun to discuss
the ideas more in depth with my family and friends to spread awareness of the need for community
engagement in education and our potential to play a role in economic advancement. People dont know what
they dont know, and all it takes is a champion of a cause to begin a movement, someone with a vision to
mobilize this large group of untapped potential to change the world right where we live.