For my STEP Signature Project, I traveled to Madrid, Spain from May 5th to May 27th through the Fisher Global Consulting Program. Within a group of four undergraduate students, we redesigned the proposal writing process for Sacyr, a global engineering company. Outside of work, I was able to immerse myself in Spanish culture by visiting tourist attractions and exploring the city.

Before this immersive experience, I had never left the country. I had lived in Ohio for as long as I could remember. Older peers had always told me that traveling abroad was not only a fun experience but one that forces you to broaden your perspective on life. As I prepared for my adventure, I was excited, yet nervous.

Upon reflection of my time, I have learned how to address team conflict and gained a greater appreciation for different ways of life. Professionally, my team worked each day to redesign the proposal writing process for our company. From scratch, the team researched, collaborated, and ordered steps in the process to be more agile. I valued creating clear modes of communication and steps for how disagreements should be addressed. I transformed my mindset and realized that everyone in my group has different interests and expertise; I understood that I was only one piece of the team. I know that learning how to work with others and understanding their passions is something that I will take onward in my pursuits. Culturally, I had the opportunity to visit three cities in Spain: Madrid, Barcelona, and Toledo. In each, I was in awe looking at the architecture, food offerings, and more. I grew to learn about the history of each city and the importance of specific attractions. These trips opened my eyes to the vast lifestyles that are lived around the globe. I have a new perspective on America given what I have seen and encountered in Europe. Also, I have a greater appreciation for my circumstances growing up. Through relationships formed abroad, I took away how positive and engaging my mentors were about their culture and how to explore it. I hope to bring this positive mindset and energy when meeting new people in any facet of my life.

I think that I was able to grow professionally and with my mindset throughout the three weeks. Each morning during the work week, I, along with my three team members, traveled to Sacyr’s headquarters. It took us 45 minutes each way and we traveled on the metro system. By the end of the three weeks, the team had mastered the system and gained an appreciation for it. On the first day of work, we were given a vague problem and asked to deliver a final presentation with our solution in three weeks. With such an ambiguous task, the team broke down the job into three steps: research, assemblance, and presentation. The research phase was individual and took around three days. Assembling each new step of the template was the most difficult part of the experience. Often on key issues of where to put a step in the proposal process, individuals disagreed. In those times, we asked for guidance and clarity from our supervisor and gave the floor to hear others’ points of view. In addition, we had an agenda each morning and a team debrief at the end of the day. The key takeaway for me was that there must be clear and open communication when working in a team and with the client. Also, it is valuable to hear others’ perspectives as it may be beneficial to learn and implement solutions. In the end, after assembling, we divided up the work for the slideshow presentation and delivered a finished product that was well received. The project made us learn about construction proposal writing, working in teams, and how to take initiative on ambiguous tasks.

Throughout my time, there were two main relationships that gave me a broader perspective on Spanish culture and my view of the world. The first was with my boss, Juan. Each morning, Juan greeted our team at work with a positive attitude and was always there to help. Beyond his kindness, he was extremely experienced and intelligent. I asked Juan about our project and also about my Madrid experience. He recommended restaurant after restaurant, and experience after experience. Juan cared about us as people, and that is something I will try to bring to every relationship I can. My favorite interaction was when he took us out to a paella lunch during our last week. The food was the best that I had had on the trip. Beyond this, I was able to hear about his family and his advice to use your time wisely by experiencing all that life has to offer. The next valued relationship was with my in-country housing coordinator, Carlota. Carlota also was an extremely kind individual who cared for my interests and Spain’s offering. She sat next to me at both the Flamenco dancing night and at a bullfight to explain the cultural significance of each. I was able to learn so much about the importance of these events and historically how they came about. Both these individuals guided me and are symbols of kindness. They exceeded my expectations and I saw how their upbringing impacted them. I hope to bring their positive attitude to more interactions in my life and better understand where people come from.

The highlights of my trip occurred when I experienced Spanish culture firsthand. In each event, I was able to fit in with Spanish locals and enjoy learning about different customs. On the first night, all Ohio State students on the trip went to a restaurant and watched Flamenco dancing, a musical style associated with Spain. It was incredible the passion of the dancers and how the crowd was into the act; it was something I had never seen before. The next week, I went to a bullfight. This event was a gory celebration of the bull who eventually is killed by “El matador”.  Although unspeakable to me, it was a celebration and a new meaning for life. I was able to think of this from a different perspective after hearing about the history of it from Carlota. Other adventures in Madrid included exercising going through parks, walking through the Plaza Mayor, or listening to a presentation on the European Union. In addition, I was able to experience a childhood dream to visit the Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid’s stadium. I had the opportunity to go to two soccer games in Madrid. Hearing the passionate fans care about their team and their city was an exciting environment. Going to Barcelona, we visited the famous cathedral and entered multiple museums. While in Toledo, we explored the historical city on the hill and learned about the importance of swords. Experiencing this culture made me appreciate the intricate architecture, food, and perspectives that the locals brought to life. In exploring these, I was able to create experiences and memories that broader my view of the world and the lifestyles that are lived.

My insights from this trip will help me push toward my personal and professional goals. Professionally, I hope to work as a consultant after graduation. These three weeks gave me the experience to work in the field and apply the knowledge I had learned in school. Learning how to communicate and deal with difficult decisions in a team is a skill that I will take into this profession. Culturally, my broadened perspective will allow me to be more open when hearing someone’s point of view or past experiences. Experiences and living in a community other than my own taught me how to interact with strangers and understand cultural importance. Lastly, personally, my mindset has shifted and I will now try to experience and enjoy opportunities that come up to make the most of my time. I will be more positive and enthusiastic to make an impact on others like Juan and Carlota did on me. I am forever grateful to have gone to Madrid, Spain, and know that I have come back with a more mature mindset and professional experience.