When I applied to the Global Business Institute, I was placed in a non-profit kitchen called Our Big Kitchen, which prepares hundreds of meals per day for Sydney’s homeless population. Currently, my internship supervisor has assigned me a project to find an organization willing to sponsor the delivery of 1,000 aprons to our organization, which we will distribute to the many volunteers who prepare meals. As far as the classes I’m taking, it could be that it is my junior year, but I find all of my classes genuinely interesting as the material pertains directly to what I am studying (Global Management). Additionally, I find all of the professors to be insightful and interesting. It’s worth noting that the professors also work in the industries they give classes in, which feels like I’m being given an authentic presentation of the materials. So, apart from the classes being incredibly long compared to what I’m used to (3+ hours), they only meet once per week. So as to give you an idea of my weekly schedule, I have about 11 hours of classes, and an additional 20 hours per week in internships.  

As far as skills and strengths needed to be successful in professional and academic environments, I would say communication and adaptability are the most pertinent. One thing I have learned is that most aspects will go smoothly because the program is well run. However, I have certainly experienced a significant road bump in getting a certain document for my internship proved harder than anticipated; however, I’ve had to work with my advisor and  supervisor to reach an effective workaround.

In Australian professional and academic culture, as far as my experience goes in the CEA CAPA program, I’ve certainly noticed that the teachers expressed more interest in getting to know each of us students individually, having us participate in class, and open up about our personal lives. So, without a doubt, I feel that the cultures are generally more intimate as far as getting to know each other. I personally feel more connected to this sense of getting to know other classmates, colleagues, or professors or professionals. It makes me feel more seen as more than just a cog in a machine, more than just my role in the workplace/classroom hierarchy. After I finish my degree at Pitt, I think I would consider working at an Australian company, as the work-life balance here is something I think I would really enjoy. Overall, I have not bought into the hustle culture in the US as I prioritize living life more than having a life centered around work.