I’m officially heading to Vietnam for the Pitt Business Plus3 program, and I couldn’t be more excited. This trip is a big deal for me because it’s my first time traveling to Asia, and I chose this specific program because Vietnam is such a fascinating case study in business right now. It is an incredibly fast-growing economy, but what I’m really interested in is seeing how they manage that growth while facing much higher expectations for ESG and environmental standards. My initial expectations are that I will see a lot of industrial energy, but I’m going in with questions about how much of the green movement is actually implemented on the factory floor versus just being high-level policy. It’s one thing to read about sustainable development in a textbook, but it’s another thing entirely to see how a developing nation actually balances those requirements on the ground.

Professionally, I’m looking forward to the site visits more than anything else. I want to see how some of the top companies in the country operate and get a feel for how their professional norms and workplace culture differ from what we’re used to in the States. I think getting that firsthand look at international operations will be a huge help in understanding how global business actually works. My goal is to return with a better sense of how to navigate different leadership styles and communication methods, which is a skill I know I’ll need in a globalized workforce.

Intellectually, I want to gain a deeper understanding of the intersection of business and engineering. I hope to learn how technical environmental requirements are integrated into business strategy in a way that keeps a company profitable. Personally, I’m ready to soak in a completely new environment and push myself to be more adaptable. I also have a very specific personal goal of experiencing the local craftsmanship by getting custom-made suits. I think it will be a cool way to see that level of detail and tradition up close while also learning how relationship-based business works in Vietnam. I know there will be challenges like the heat or the language barrier, but I’m focused on coming home with a much better understanding of how a major player in the global economy functions day-to-day.