“It was important for me to go abroad because I wanted to see how business functions and differs outside of America and I thought this would be a great maturing opportunity of navigating a foreign country. I also believe it is important to experience new cultures and understand how business is conducted differently around the world,” reflected Chase Homan, a finance and logistics management major who participated in the Fisher Global Consulting: Corporate, Spain program this May.
Homan and a cohort of Fisher College of Business students worked with CBRE España to design, analyze and test how AI can be used to improve CBRE's Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) certifications, which ensure an individual's expertise in sustainability and responsible investing.
Prior to arriving in Spain, Homan and four other Buckeyes held weekly Zoom calls with CBRE to review the certification manual, perform market research of the tools currently available on the market and research current AI’s processes in the field, giving him a holistic international business experience.
“This experience is going to set me up very well for moving forward in my career. Prior to this program I did not have much knowledge of AI or how it is used, but after this experience I have a much greater understanding of its role and importance,” said Homan, who also shared how his presentation and time management skills improved as a result of the program. “AI is present in many careers and therefore it is important to understand it. I used it to solve a real business problem and my understanding of it now will allow me to tackle future business problems.”
Outside of the business world, Homan noted how much he learned about himself through this study abroad experience, and how he can implement this newfound knowledge back in Columbus and beyond in a future career in the consulting or real estate fields.
“This experience allowed me to understand myself better in many ways. It showed me that I am capable of being on my own and taking care of myself without the help of my parents. It showed me that not everything is going to come naturally at first but with time and patience I can work through any challenge.”
Some of Homan’s favorite memories of the program included making friends with the rest of his cohort and experiencing new sites, foods and cultures together. During his work with CBRE España, delivering his team’s final presentation was a nerve-racking but rewarding experience. Overall, though, experiencing the Spanish culture was something that took some getting used to at first, but Homan eventually came to appreciate it and will always remember it.
“Back home, I feel like everything is just down to business and relationships are not prioritized as much, but in Spain people valued slowing down. They want to get to know you on a personal level and put business to the side so trust can be established first. I gained a greater appreciation for how Spanish people spend their time and conduct business and it makes me want to experience more global opportunities and learn how cultures operate differently. Experiencing a different culture gives you a new lens where you can see what works and what does not and then you can blend the best of both worlds into your own life,” he said.