Hi! My name is Kylie Carmichael, and I am a junior in the University of Pittsburgh’s College of Business Administration majoring in Marketing and working toward a certificate in Digital Media. This semester, I am studying abroad in London through the Global Business Institute semester program, which gives me the opportunity to take classes while interning part-time.
While abroad, I am interning at Kind Community, a company focused on helping scale purpose-driven and sustainable businesses. As a marketing intern, I am involved in everything from creating engaging social media content to assisting with events. Having the chance to live and work in London as part of my study abroad experience has not only been exciting, but also challenging in ways I had not anticipated. As someone who enjoys having a structured work environment, one cultural difference I’ve found challenging is the relaxed approach to deadlines. Back in the U.S., I am used to a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment where urgency is key. In London, most people embrace flexibility and are more willing to adjust as needed. This slower pace has been difficult for me to navigate, as I’m someone who thrives on structure. Most workdays for me consist of working in a discussion based environment alongside my fellow interns and our supervisor, which has made me realize how helpful it can be to build strong relationships in the workplace.
In my classes through CEA CAPA, I have noticed that the classroom setting is different from what I am used to at Pitt. The classes here are much smaller and more discussion based, rather than just long lectures, which makes classes feel much more interactive and personalized. The professors all cater to our interests and make sure discussions are engaging and align with what the students are interested in talking about. I have enjoyed how most of my classes revolve around real-life examples and my professor’s personal experiences in their careers, which makes it much easier to sit through long classes. My professors in London put more of an emphasis on engagement and reflections rather than traditional exams, which takes a lot of pressure off and allows me to really enjoy the class material rather than worrying about memorizing the content.
My time abroad has really pushed me to be more adaptable and flexible, especially in how I approach both work and class. Navigating these cultural differences, like the less structured work environment and more interactive classes, has required me to adjust my usual ways of operating. I have been learning to be more patient and open with my ideas, and I am gaining a deeper understanding of how cultural differences shape both academic and professional settings.