As a student in Mays Business school, we are taught to be great business leaders with strong core values. In today’s fast-paced world of technology, the need for global leadership is growing into a vital skill. Visiting Athens has been a great way to gain exposure to a different culture and understand how to be a better global leader. I hope to gain a deeper understanding of Greek culture and history, while being able to apply that to a business perspective.
My initial impression of Athens is that is very historical city filled with remnant of groundbreaking ideas and philosophers. On our hike up to Acropolis Hill, we passed a massive theater, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. It was fascinating to think about how people from over 2000 years ago were not only able to survive but thrive and create entertainment. But the most influential location I have been able to explore is the Ancient Agora. The Agora was essentially the main focal point of Greek civilization, where the main market, city-council, and philosophical discussions were located. The Agora seems like ancient Greek version of modern-day New York City. The Agora was where administration, voting, philosophical discussions, shopping, and many other groundbreaking activities occurred at the time. This is where the famous Socrates was found questioning the norms of thinking and exploring morals. Also, visiting the Acropolis Museum was also a very fulfilling experience that brought history from vague textbooks to colorful life. Other key places we visited were the Olympic Stadium, Hadrians Library, and the Temple of Hephaestus. All of these structures in person were a powerful reminder of a flourishing Greek society that was truly ahead of their time. Submersing yourself in the 6th century BC while enjoying the modern-day restaurants and sights proved to be both educational and inspiring. It was also very refreshing to get to ingrain myself into another culture outside of the U.S.
Athens seems to be a much quieter, slower-paced area compared to the hustle-and-bustle of College Station. In Athens, you will see many people taking a leisurely stroll through the quiet streets, whereas us Americans walk fast and talk with voices that carry. Another difference I noticed was that Greeks spend lots of time at restaurants, while in America we tend to be “in and out”. There also isn’t much of a tip culture in Greece.
Being able to gain exposure to another country has been beneficial to expanding by global knowledge and cultural intelligence. These are vital in being an effective global leader.
