One of my career goals has been to start a business. Visiting Israel opened my eyes to the possibility of opportunities beyond the U.S. They have one of the most entrepreneurial cultures in the world and it is evident within the people there. The program enhanced my perspective of what it means to be an international company. Startups in Israel are constantly forced to go beyond their country for customers, funding, etc. It taught me the importance of being able to integrate different cultures within a business, a skill that can’t be taught in the classroom. 

If you want to see how an ecosystem can be built to support entrepreneurs, look no further than Israel. We had someone from the Israel Innovation Authority come to speak to us. He talked about his government program that helps fund startups. This is unheard of in the United States. The government has created policies that help facilitate entrepreneurship and innovation, unlike any country I have ever seen. I learned principles and values from Israel that I will be able to bring with me to my business career for the rest of my life. 

This is a rare opportunity to experience the business culture of Israel. We were given access to a variety of companies from startups to large companies such as Google and G.E that had a satellite location in Israel. I learned why these large companies decided to invest in this country in the Middle East. It is the people of Israel that make it special. They are confident and determined in everything they pursue, whether it be their own company or working for Google. 

There is also a historical significance to the country of Israel that is unlike anything in the world. Israel contains many historical sites related to religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. We were able to visit some of the sites I had only heard about through religion class. Visiting Jordan River, the place where Jesus was baptized was surreal. The country is rich in history.

Name: Brandon Kung
Status: Junior
Major: Finance
Hometown: Honolulu, Hawaii
Program: Startup Nation: Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Israel