Hello! My name is Lauren McGarry, and I am a sophomore at the University of Pittsburgh double majoring in Accounting and Business Information Systems with certificates in Business Analytics and Leadership & Ethics. I am originally from King of Prussia Pennsylvania (yes “a little outside of Philly” like most Pitt students). 

All my life I have been involved in different volunteer organizations. In high school, I would volunteer every summer at Sebastian Riding Associates which was an organization that provided equestrian therapy to children with special needs. Each summer, I would work closely with a few children and form close relations with them and their families. These summers meant to the world to me and to this day I still reach out the children to check in on their lives. When I got to Pitt, I did not want those service opportunities to end. I joined a variety of different organizations ranging from professional fraternities, such as Alpha Kappa Psi, to service oriented organizations, such as Global Water Brigades, to participate in different community service events. Through these organizations, I have been a part of some incredible service projects and have continued my love of working with people to help support a cause. 

Last semester, I was enrolled in the CPLE Leadership 1 credit course where I was instructed to participate in a pitch competition. I was unsure what the pitch would consist of and was very eager to hear. We had a speaker come in from the study abroad office to express their concerns regarding the International Consulting Project. They wanted every group to come up with an COVID friendly solution as a substitute for the typical project which used to be an incredible traveling and learning opportunity for Pitt Business students. When I was assigned my group and we met for the first time we looked up “what is the Pitt International Consulting Project”? That search took us to the Pitt Study Abroad website where we read about all of the different nonprofit organizations Pitt established a relationship with and CEOLI Cards stood out to us. CEOLI Cards is a nonprofit based out of Cochabamba, Bolivia started in 1986 as a way to provide occupational therapy to children and young adults while showcasing their incredible abilities. We looked on their Facebook page and saw pictures of the artwork and were amazed by the talent of these people. My group instantly agreed that an art show may be the perfect solution. We thought of a socially distanced art show on the University of Pittsburgh’s campus with a strong internet presence with all proceeds going to CEOLI. We presented the pitch to the Study Abroad office and were very excited to hear we won the pitch competition! 

We were unsure of what that meant for our idea but was extremely hopeful that we could still have the opportunity to work with such an incredible organization. In the following weeks, we were emailed saying that the International Consulting Project was going to be using our idea this Spring and invited us to work on the project. I was so beyond shocked and excited and knew I wanted to see this idea come to life! Just last week, I had the pleasure of meeting Jean Carla Costas, a citizen of Bolivia living in Cochabamba, and had the chance to learn more about Bolivia, Cochabamba, and most importantly see some incredible pictures and learn about CEOLI Cards. 

To have the chance to serve as an International Consultant with CEOLI Cards is an incredible opportunity. Since I was in high school, I knew I wanted to go into accounting and become a consultant. I wanted to follow in my aunt’s footsteps and that was exactly what she did when she got out of school. I always knew I wanted the opportunity to work closely alongside people, but never thought I would have this opportunity while I was still in school. Through the International Consulting Project, I will have the opportunity to gain experience in the consulting field and with a nonprofit, which operates very differently than a typical for profit. Just last week, I was interviewing for a for profit consulting firm in Berwyn, PA and I explained what I was doing in this project, what my role was, and they were extremely impressed. Not many schools offer opportunities like this and gaining experience as a sophomore is incredibly difficult, especially during COVID. Professionally, this will be something to make me stand apart from other applicants and allow me to have a hands-on working experience. 

More than just something to put on my resume and help me grow as a professional, I want to do something that can positively impact the lives of someone in this difficult environment. COVID-19 was something none of us anticipated and we have all had to learn to adapt as a result of it. When my group was hearing from Jean Carla, she mentioned most of the children were from poorer families and were unable to afford a laptop to continue their classes. By hosting an art show with all profits going back to CEOLI, we are hopeful these funds could be used to help these children in whatever way they need. I am excited to learn about the culture of Bolivia and what it is like there compared to the United States. I also am excited to learn what working for a nonprofit is like. This experience is truly one like none other. 

Unlike previous consultants on this project, we are unable to travel to CEOLI and experience for ourselves what it is like. This will require a lot more research and time, but for the first time in my life, I feel like the work that I am doing is truly changing lives. This is not just for my grade, but for the people on the other side of the world. I am truly so excited for this opportunity and all that will come of it.