After concluding my study abroad and reflecting on my trip, I have learned more about international business than I possibly could within the states. My initial perspective on international business was that it was identical to business in the United States, just in a different language. However, upon visiting various businesses such as Ferrari, a leather tech startup, and a balsamic vinigiarrete producer, I have learned that there are aspects that differ in different countries. The most prominent difference is that business in Italy are much more personable; family is more present within businesses, such as Ferrari, which is owned partly by Piero Ferrari, and it is extremely common for businesses to be employed only by family members. In addition to this, the Italian market is much smaller and fragmented than the United States market where corporations are dominant, which allows for smaller businesses and family businesses to be more prevalent. These businesses are also accelerated by the preferences of Italian consumers, which I became familiar with by interacting with locals during my time abroad. In contrast to United States consumers who possess high price sensitivity and new, innovative products, Italian consumers value quality, tradition, and family legacy when observing businesses, which is why I learned these companies make an effort to keep employment within their family. Another aspect of conducting business in Italy that changed my perspective was the interactions between individuals. In contrast to the method I was accustomed to in the United States where people would meet and conversate without being familiar with each other, Italian culture calls for individuals to engage on a personal level and develop a relationship before conducting business. This contrast is reinforced by the observation of how people communicate; Americans are direct and straightforward when communicating through explicit language. On the other hand, Italians have an indirect means of communicating through heavy utilization of gestures and expressive body language, meaning it is more important to read between the lines since they aren’t as explicit. These are some of the key aspects of Italian business I learned about while abroad that altered my perspective on how business can be done.