Hello! My name is Ellieana, and I am a sophomore at the University of Pittsburgh in the School of Business and Frederick Honors College, pursuing a double major in Global Management and Finance with a certificate in Nonprofit Management.

When I first learned about the Plus3 Bavaria program, I was immediately drawn in. As a continuing student in Pitt Business, this two-week experience was a perfect fit for where I am in my academic journey. The program’s focus on smart manufacturing and sustainability in Augsburg, which is perfectly aligned with my Global Management major. When I found out I had been accepted, I was overjoyed. The opportunity to tour companies like Audi and MAN, collaborate on a course project with students from the University of Augsburg, and explore everything from Neuschwanstein Castle to Munich felt almost too good to be true.

Outside of the classroom, I hold a deep passion for my work as an intern on the Program Services team at Make-A-Wish Greater PA & WV, and through my dual roles as Marketing Coordinator and Case Coordinator at Footbridge for Families. Both of these experiences have shaped both my professional skill set and my sense of purpose in my life. Beyond academics and work, I am drawn to connections through culture, language, and community. I studied German beginning in eighth grade through the end of high school, which sparked a genuine love for Germany. I have had the privilege of traveling to Europe once before on a school trip, and from the moment I returned home, I knew I needed to go back. Traveling broadens my perspective in ways no classroom fully can.

I chose the Plus3 Germany program because it sits at the intersection of everything I care about including international business, cultural immersion, and academics. As a Global Management major, gaining real-world exposure to how businesses operate across different economic and cultural contexts is essential. The program’s focus on Bavaria’s automotive industry offers a front-row seat to one of the largest industrial transitions happening in the world right now, the shift to electric vehicle production. Going in, my initial expectations are that this experience will challenge me in the best possible ways. I assume that navigating business and culture in a new environment will feel unfamiliar at times, and I welcome that. My biggest questions center around how cultural values shape business practices and how they show up in day-to-day business environments.

Plus3 also felt like the right fit for me on a personal level. I have always dreamed of studying abroad but felt hesitant about being away from home for a full semester. This two-week program has given me the courage to take that first step. Personally, I hope to go to Germany with a deeper connection to a culture I have long admired, forge meaningful cross-cultural friendships, and push myself outside my comfort zone in ways that will stay with me long after the program ends. Professionally, I am eager to bring back an international business perspective and a global network that will enrich both my academic journey at Pitt and my professional future. I am looking forward to sharing this journey with all of you!