“This is experience will help me in my career by giving me a broader, global perspective of how businesses operate. As someone going into finance, it was important for me to have formed an international perspective of how businesses operate across the world,” said Erin Brandwein, a senior studying finance who participated in the Fisher College of Business Honors Cohort Global Lab program in Brazil over winter break.
Through visits to companies and with Buckeye alumni in country, students learn about international business while experiencing Brazilian culture.
“It was important for me to go abroad because I love new experiences and getting out of my comfort zone. Being able to learn in a challenging environment is what traveling abroad is all about,” said Brandwein, who has now participated in three study abroad programs during her time at Ohio State.
Students also get first-hand experience working on a consulting project with a local non-profit, where they collaborate with Brazilian students. Brandwein’s favorite moment came after the project, where her and other students got to play soccer together.
“It was great to work hard at our presentation during the day, then participate in some healthy competition at night, as well as an amazing way to connect and learn from the Brazilian people.”
Through this experience and others during her time abroad, Brandwein has learned lessons about herself that she can use during her time back in Columbus and beyond.
“I learned that I am more resourceful than I think I am. Whether it was using the local language to order agua sin gas for the dinner table, or figuring out complicated directions in maps, I was able to rise to the challenges that traveling abroad threw at me,” she said.
When not learning about international business practices, Brandwein and the group had plenty of time to experience some of the incredible landmarks of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
“Seeing sights from Copacabana Beach to Christ the Redeemer was an amazing experience, and I am so grateful I could share those awe-inspiring moments with the other students in my cohort.”