As we end the trip in New Zealand, I can reflect on the opportunities we had while in this beautiful country. New Zealand offers such a new and appreciated culture that we can learn a lot from. One of the country’s priorities above all else is to preserve what so many people around the world come to see. Many of their everyday practices all work toward environmental conservation and minimizing their carbon footprint. From their airplanes to their utensils, you can see the effort they are making to preserve the beauty that is such a major attraction. While the country, GDP, and population are comparatively much smaller than the US and many other global key players, I believe countries around the world can make small behavior changes to make a big environmental impact. In addition, New Zealand has business operations that vary significantly from the US. New Zealand places a very serious emphasis on taking time away from work to recharge and work better. For example, their summer / Christmas holiday lasted nearly 3-4 weeks in which many companies closed their doors to enjoy time outside of the office. I found this interesting when comparing it to the work culture in the US. The US work environment is heavily centered around hustle-culture and often focuses on the next thing, check, or assignment rather than slowing down to enjoy life outside of that. While that is not for every employee in the US, there is certainly pressure to maintain hustle and drive in its highest form. Ultimately, New Zealand was an invaluable learning experience in which we had opportunities to explore cultures, business operations, and critically think about the life we return to in America. Through each opportunity, we reflected on our perspectives and how they have changed or not. This was such an impactful trip and I’m very grateful for the opportunity.
Center for International Business Studies Blog