Hi Everyone! My name is Jacob Brown, and I am a triple major at the University of Pittsburgh studying Supply-Chain Management, Business Information Systems, and Business Analytics. I aim to graduate in 2026 and plan to enter the energy sector in either a procurement supply-chain role or a data analysis/acquisition role. I’m from a small town about an hour north of Pittsburgh called Grove City, and I love doing any outdoor adventure (skiing, rock-climbing, mountain biking, etc) and am involved in a campus organization called Younglife.

I am doing the Pitt GBI program in London for the fall 2024 semester! I have always wanted to travel to the United Kingdom, and being able to do so while gaining global business experience on this trip seemed like a no-brainer to me! The global connectedness of a city like London allows me to gain unique insights into how business works on a global scale that I would otherwise be unable to do in most U.S. cities.

In London, I am studying at the CEA CAPA Center. This is a program that Pitt partners with that has access to faculty, global internship opportunities, and academic classes that allow international students like me to excel and have both academic and cultural experiences within London and the U.K. as a whole. CEA CAPA is similar to Pitt in that the faculty are extremely supportive and helpful academically, but also are more than happy to give recommendations of things to do in London and fun activities. They institute rigorous academic classes that contain both a lecture and field study component, depending on the professor.

The culture shock was extremely apparent when I arrived in London. Everything from mannerisms, traffic lights, tipping and humor were similar, but slightly different from what I’m accustomed to in the U.S. However, with a little trial and error, I feel like in a week’s time I’ve grown comfortable and familiar living and interacting with Londoners.

Speaking of living, my accommodations couldn’t be nicer. I was placed at the VEGA; a high-quality student living center in the heart of the historic Vauxhall neighborhood. I’m living in a “flat” as they call it here with two other roommates from New York City and California. Its been a blast to get to interact with them, especially since we all share a common space in our flat. There’s always something fun and exciting to do in the evenings and on weekends in London, and it’s cool to be able to experience it with these guys. So I’d say I’ve adapted well to my living situation in London.

That’s all for now! I look foreword to updating everyone about my experiences here and the adventures I have while abroad. As always, H2P!