Howdy from Italy! I’m JD Webb, a Junior Finance major, and I’ve been lucky enough to spend four weeks traveling all over Italy with a group of 30 other students from Mays Business School. We’ve been based in Florence (which is even more beautiful than I expected), but we’ve also made trips to Rome and Milan, and went to Cinque Terre last weekend which was amazing!
During the weekdays, we’ve been working with four super interesting companies: The St. Regis Florence, Enoteca de’Guisti (a local wine shop), Circular Farm, and Zerolab. It’s been eye-opening to get a firsthand look at how Italian businesses operate. The work culture here is definitely different from what we’re used to back in the U.S.—it’s slower-paced in some ways but also really intentional and personal. I’ve loved getting to see that side of things.
On the weekends, we’ve had the chance to explore and travel a bit more. Every place we’ve been to has its own vibe, but Florence has totally stolen my heart. The food, the architecture, the art—it’s just unreal. One of my favorite things we’ve done so far is visit Bocconi University in Milan. It was super cool to see how students live and study in a different country.
Honestly, this trip has been way more than I expected. I’ve made some really great friends, learned so much about Italian culture, and gotten to experience things I’ll never forget. I’m beyond thankful for this opportunity—it’s been a mix of education, adventure, and just genuinely having fun in one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. Can’t wait to see what the last bit of the trip has in store!
