I would categorize my internship and overall study aboard experience as a success. Although I faced challenges, I was able to overcome them and make the most of my experience. I enjoyed my time, and I believe I maximized the outcomes that were possible to achieve during this experience.

This was my first time working in the last mile segment of the logistics industry. Last mile would not have been my first choice, in fact it would likely have been my last of the three segments of logistics (First Mile, Middle Mile, and Last Mile). However, when I was given the opportunity to interview for the position at Tree Logistics, I could not pass it up. I was immediately interested in what the company had to offer and the experience I would gain from it. Their focus on electric vehicles and carbon neutral delivery is up and coming trend in the logistics field. The opportunity to work directly with a company doing this early and learning from it was a great opportunity I did not want to miss. Additionally, they are Amazons largest partner in Berlin, and Berlin has Amazon’s largest warehouse in Europe. All these characteristics gave me hope that I would learn something from this internship.  

During my time with the company, I was able implement and gain real world experience in various skills that we learn at the University of Pittsburgh College of Business. Also, I learned new skills such as how program using java. Although I most likely would have been able to gain this experience at a company based in the United States the international aspect of the internship compounded these skills. While a few of my colleagues had worked in America at one time or another during their career only the CEO of Tree Logistics had attended an American University. This allowed me to also gain a perspective and skills that may not be taught or may have been taught differently in other countries. Similarly, the ability to utilize cross – cultural communication in the workplace and collaborate with people from five different continents was not something you typically find in an internship. I learned how to use context clues and that if we are trying to achieve a certain goal speaking the same language is not absolutely necessary. Also, working one on one with my colleague in the last three or so weeks of my projects allowed me to ask questions, and he acted as a short-term mentor for me. Through this collaboration I was able to get a look inside of how the company works and understand in depth how last mile companies and amazon in general operate.

When I return to Pitt in the fall, I will be able to use all these newfound skills and experiences in the classroom. Whether it’s in classroom discussion on the ethics of a certain problem, a discussion on a case study, or especially supply chain management course the access that I had and the challenging work that I completed will allow me to bring a fresh perspective to the classroom. I will honestly say that while I learned for certain that I do not wish to pursue a career in last mile, I am now able to fully appreciate and understand this part of the industry.   

I experienced a lot of personal growth as well. I learned how to commit to a project, and almost fully design my own project with just general guidance from my boss. I also bettered my time management skills and inter workplace communication. I was worried when I first arrived that the German style of work and workplace communication would be difficult to adapt to. However, after only a few weeks I was fully comfortable with the German form of workplace communication. Since I was able to demonstrate this adaptability to myself, I am more comfortable with whatever my final academic year and future career may hold. I know whatever challenges I face or wherever I end up I will still be able to be successful.

Finally, my experience in Germany and being abroad taught me a lot about myself. I had not ever considered how much I enjoy living in the United States. It was the little things, like hospitality, larger roads, green spaces, and humidity that I missed. Additionally, the diversity within the United States and the cultural melting pot that we have here is something that Germany lacked.  Similarly, the University experience that we have in the United States is a lot better in my opinion than what I discovered in Europe based on my experiences with European university students. I would recommend that anyone who has the opportunity should pursue the IIP program. They will not regret it and will experience a substantial amount of growth both personally and professionally.