Final Project Overview
The activity I was involved in was being a Global Ambassador in the Office of Global Business. The focus of this activity was to provide support for students interested in a global experience. I had many opportunities within the office, one including being a teaching assistant for BUSADM 3760: Exploring Culture in International Environments. As a teaching assistant I would grade assignments, answer any questions that arose as students were preparing to study in a foreign country, and create administrative documents for student exchange. In addition, I managed the office Instagram page, which included posting on our feed and story throughout the week to inform students of events that were occurring in the office and any relevant global opportunities that were available for students. I would also coordinate Instagram Takeovers, which consisted of contacting students, transferring Instagram login information, and preparing them to give a well-rounded account of their global experience. Further, throughout my time within the office, I created events and news articles on FisherU, conducted student advising through Walk-In and Zoom-In Wednesdays, as well as student exchange advising, reorganized global blog posts, assisted managing Global Option in Business, and hosted information sessions for the Global Option in Business program.
Final Project Reflection
Reflecting on my 3 years in the Office of Global Business as a Global Ambassador, I have learned so many things that I can apply in the future. My top three takeaways from this experience include:
- Learning how to market a global experience and get students interested in traveling and working abroad
- Even though I was not able to study abroad, I was able to learn so much by helping other people experience a global opportunity
- Collaborating with other student ambassadors on various projects is a great way to build on my team working skills and further my professional development
When I applied to be a Global Ambassador this was my first interaction with Ohio State and Fisher, because I had just transferred from another university. My first day in the office, everyone was very friendly and I was able to interact with other student ambassadors. We would bounce ideas off of each other, help with advising, and overall build meaningful connections. It was always fun to be in the office with three or four other ambassadors and get to work separately, but together because of the relationships that we had built with each other.
By managing the Instagram account, I was able to gain valuable marketing skills and experience. I had no prior knowledge of how to manage a social media account, other than my own, so by looking at the insights I was able to learn more about marketing and managing. This was an amazing hands-on experience that can help me in the future if I ever decided to venture more into the marketing side of business. It was also fun to post and see people engaging with the content, especially during Instagram Takeovers.
This activity impacted me in many ways. I was able to build on my professional skills, by being in a team, working on different projects, and coordinating meetings and information sessions. The way that the office adapted to Covid-19 and all of the changes we had to make in a short amount of time, taught me a lot about how outside forces can completely shift and change your expectations and plans. When we moved to a virtual setting, we were still able to work and provide modified programs for people to continue to gain some form of a global experience. Although a virtual program is not the same, I was still able to engage with people from other countries and identify the differences in culture and work/life balance.
Global Option Final Reflection/Accomplishments
Reflecting on my overall global option experience, I can not express enough how much this program has impacted me. I chose to participate in this program to become a more well-rounded, globally minded individual. This program allowed me to take interesting, challenging classes and explore the global aspect on a deeper level. Overall some of my highlights were working in the Office of Global Business and taking the two culture courses. In the office I met some amazing people who taught me so much in the short time we were in person. I also accomplished many things as a business professional and gained transferable skills that I can take with me after I graduate. Through the courses that I completed, I was able to learn about the modern world through a different lens and learn about world problems in a global context. These courses changed the way that I view certain structures in the world and the way problems are solved on a global level. Another class that was influential to me was International Finance. Through this class I learned about exchange rates, financial markets, and strategic aspects of globalization. The professor of this course was very engaging and always used real-world examples to connect the dots and explain the concepts we were learning. After I completed this course I signed up for another course he was teaching, which was Foundations of Investments. It taught me about the global aspect of investments and how the market can be volatile on a global scale. International Finance relates to my post-graduation position and has further prepared me as a global professional.
My goals throughout this program were to expand my global knowledge, learn more about diverse cultures, and develop professional skills through international experiences. I think looking back I was able to accomplish all of my goals. My global knowledge has expanded in so many ways and in different forms, from my array of classes, global consulting experience, and my work in the office. Next, I was able to learn more about diverse cultures through conversations I have had with other global ambassadors, student advising for those interested in a student exchange experience, and through the additional courses that I took. Taking the time to learn about other cultural practices, how people interact with each other in different countries, and all of the similarities and differences has been very fascinating. All of this has heightened what I knew about international business and how important it is to comprehend and be mindful of various spaces. Lastly, The Fisher Global Consulting program and being a Global Ambassador enabled me to develop my professional skills. I was able to work on a consulting project for a company in France which taught me so much about their work life balance. Adapting to cultural differences in the workplace can be challenging, but you are able to learn so much more about someone when you can understand their culture and where they come from. I was also able to develop these skills through the Office of Global Business by working in a professional setting, connecting with students, collaborating on projects, training the newer ambassadors, and marketing the office and all of our global programs.
Global Option strengthened my desire to travel and meet new people around the world. While this was a passion for me before, by learning about so many different cultures it has led me to become enamored with traveling and taking advantage of any opportunity that I have available to me. Cultural shock can occur when you visit other countries, but I think I am prepared to an extent that I would be able to navigate and adapt to any difficulties. A message I have for future students is to take the opportunity to travel now. Life can get so busy and chaotic, especially towards the end of your college career, so the earlier you plan to study abroad or have a global experience the better. Every time I advise a student I always highlight all of the benefits of going abroad and how transferable and advantageous it is to have some sort of a global experience. While it can be expensive there are so many scholarship opportunities and ways to fund an experience that can teach you so much about yourself.
Overall I have had a great global option experience. Although I was not able to go abroad because of the pandemic, I was still able to have so many wonderful opportunities and I learned so much over the years. After graduation I will be working as a Global Finance and Business Management Analyst at J.P.Morgan Chase in New York City. I am excited to utilize my International Business degree and the knowledge and experiences I have gained through the Global Option program.