Hello! My name is Ryan Bullett, and I’m a rising junior from New Jersey. I’m pursuing a degree in Marketing and Global Management, with a certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. I love to travel, and a part of why I chose Pitt was because of the study abroad opportunities. I jump at any chance to travel I get, whether that’s through school or just with friends or family. I love everything about it, from trying new foods to seeing postcard-worthy sights to even navigating busy airports and squeezing into a 17-inch-wide seat in the back of a plane. I knew the University of Pittsburgh would provide many chances to travel while also furthering my education at the same time. Afterall the Pitt Business motto is “From the classroom. To the city. To the world.” I could not be more excited to embrace the world aspect. I initially planned to study abroad during my freshman and sophomore years, but COVID had other plans. Here we are, the summer after my sophomore year and I could not be more ready to start my program. I’m extremely grateful I get a chance to experience something like this, and I still can’t believe in just a week, a Lufthansa Queen of the Skies will gracefully deliver me to the beautiful country of Germany!
About the Program
The program I decided on is the International Internship Program in Berlin. This program consists of an eight-week-long internship in a field of my choosing. I chose this program specifically because I want to experience my first full-time internship. This program doesn’t have any traditional classroom requirements, so my time will be fully dedicated to my job. I will work about forty hours a week in an unfamiliar foreign office setting. I will learn to manage my time, navigate public transportation, and communicate with co-workers in a country I’ve never been to. These are the kind of skills that can’t be taught in a classroom, and they will help me post-graduation when I transition into full-time work. Additionally, I’ve always been fascinated by German culture, and Berlin is a city I’ve always wanted to visit. Since the program is summer long, I will get a chance to fully immerse myself in the culture and live like a local. I hope to meet as many people as I can and experience everything the city has to offer.
For the internship itself, I requested that it be digital marketing focused and that’s exactly what I got. I was assigned to a company called Gramercy Global Media. Gramercy is a digital marketing agency and working for them will help me gain valuable experience in an industry I’m interested in. I will learn about Germany’s work culture and hopefully, bring aspects of it back to the US with me. I will post an update next week from Berlin, talking more about my study abroad goals.