Overall, the MBA Global Marketplace study abroad allowed me to see how another country manages their workforce, sustainability practices, and support for their country and its people in both a major city like Dublin and a smaller, coastal town like Galway. 

One thing that stuck out to me about Ireland and its companies was their extreme emphasis on sustainability and preserving the land. Teeling Whiskey makes sure to reuse barrels to create new, unique whiskey flavors, and Connemara Oysters works with designing new contraptions to house the oysters that they grow that work with the natural flow of the bay that they grow the seafood in. Additionally, our visit with Connacht Rugby allowed me to see how businesses in Ireland are currently in a major growth period and allowed me to learn of the career opportunities outside of the United States. This growth was not only seen in small companies but also larger ones like Google, who is building a new global campus in Dublin. These site visits were supplemented by cultural visits in the evenings where we got to experience Irish music, history, and sports. 

As a first-generation student, it was amazing to have the opportunity to be the first in my family to study abroad and gain new perspectives on international corporations, sports, and culture. I really enjoyed my time in Ireland and hope to visit again either professionally or non-professionally in the future. 

• Name: Caroline Berish
• Status: Graduate
• Major: JD/MBA
• Hometown: Port Huron, Michigan
• Program: MBA Global Marketplace in Ireland