Biography
My name is John Patrick Stewart, a student at The Ohio State University majoring in Finance and double-minoring in Computer and Information Science (CIS), and Spanish. I originally grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, where I attended the Seven Hills School. Over the course of my academic career at Ohio State, I was involved in numerous on campus activities and organizations. Freshman year, I rowed on the OSU Men’s Club rowing team on the 4 and the 8. Unfortunately, injuries prevented me from continuing that past the start of my sophomore year. I also was a part of several student organizations, including Buckeye Ventures, Big Data and Analytics Association and AI Club. The most formative global experience for me by far was through the Ohio Export Internship Program class of 2021, something I will talk about in great length in other sections of this E-Portfolio. I have met some fantastic individuals and been exposed to a great network of globally focused professionals. I’m excited to recount my Global Option journey to you!
Why I decided to pursue Global Option
With the globalization of world economies, everything is connected. It is very difficult to find a business operating anywhere in the world that isn’t impacted by global macroeconomic events happening elsewhere. Look no further than the Ukraine and Russia crisis, with the rising crude oil prices threatening the United States’ economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a result of this interconnectedness, it is unwise to enter the business world today without having a very solid understanding of the global environment. Therefore, I want to have the tools, knowledge and qualities that will allow me to thrive in business globally.
My goal in my career is to be involved in finance and strategy in an international company. Additionally, I want a focus of my work to be surrounding sustainability and the climate crisis – the single most pertinent challenge our generation must face. If we do not address and mitigate our emissions into the atmosphere, the climatological impacts will eventually make our planet uninhabitable. This effort is by definition a global one, as we all share the same atmosphere. By positioning myself to have the skills, knowledge and perspective to thrive in the global context, I hope to be able to be more effective in renewable investment around the world – particularly in developing economies – to help in the transition to sustainable human activity on the planet.
My Goal for Global Options
Here are my top three goals I aim to accomplish by participating in Global Options:
- Maintain and improve on my Spanish-speaking abilities
- Prepare myself for a role in international finance and strategy
- Be exposed to new cultures and ideas to develop a global mindset
I believe that speaking more than one language is key in the path to developing a global mindset. A quote that I never forgot is “Una lengua, una vida”, which translates in English to, “One language, one life”. Many ideas and concepts are lost in translation, and sometimes the only way to truly understand is by learning the root tongue. I’m fortunate enough to have been learning Spanish since elementary school. By continuing language courses in college for both my Spanish minor and the Global Option, I’ve improved and maintained my Spanish-speaking ability. I’ve had so many enriching conversations with native Spanish speakers over the years that I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to have, and I anticipate using this skill for the rest of my life.
Exposure to new cultures and ideas allows you to escape your own bubble. People from different cultural backgrounds and upbringings might approach a situation from a completely different perspective and come up with a fantastic solution. A great way to hack into this “superpower” is by constantly exposing yourself to new cultures and ideas. I hope to be exposed in this manner by participating in Global Options.
I will be starting a job at Honeywell, an international fortune 100 company, in a finance rotational program in July. I hope to bring my Global Options skill set as well as my other knowledge and experience gained from my undergraduate degree at The Ohio State University to immediately add value and contribute to both the company’s goals and my own.