Week 2 in Milan kicked off with an all-you-can-eat sushi dinner with Professor Gupta! We somehow managed to fit all twenty-six of us into a small room towards the back of the restaurant. While it was hot, it was well worth it as everyone had a good time challenging themselves and enjoying good wine. In our Corporate Social Responsibility class, we always begin by discussing two Wall Street Journal articles that pertain to the course material, which would then be followed by a discussion that further explores the topics. Afterward, we jump straight into what Professor Gupta has prepared for us. During Monday’s class, we had to analyze the ethics of the current system in various situations (e.g., is it morally fair for a bank or a mortgage company to make profits from the interest on a home mortgage when all people are trying to do is provide a home for themselves and their family). This was a very interesting session that really helped to show that there is a lot of grey area between the two opposing sides. On Wednesday, we were introduced to corporate governance and the mechanisms behind it.
During our internship this week, Lili and I went in to discuss the timeline with our boss. We are responsible for the marketing aspect of the business, so we were tasked with the creation of content for Instagram and TikTok. Our goal is to start releasing content next week so the majority of this week consisted of planning and creating content. To ensure the success of our efforts, we must find a way to make our communication as fun, aesthetic, and informative as possible. The next few weeks will involve a lot of testing on what types of content work and what do not in order to attract a loyal audience.
My travels started on Friday this week as the national holiday allowed us to also take a day off from our internships. Collectively as a group, we took the train to Verona for some wine tasting and a guided tour of the city. It was super interesting to see a different part of Italy and our tour guide was lovely. When we got to the amphitheater, where gladiators had historically fought and where concerts are presently held, she surprised us with a speaker and the lyrics to Taylor Swift’s Love Story, to which we all sang along. She also presented us with fun facts, such as the fact that Romeo and Juliet did in fact get married, only to be separated the next day. On Saturday, we went to Lugano, Switzerland and it was exhilarating from the very start. We were on a time crunch and we had less than a minute to spare before the train was set to depart. Sprinting from tram stops to metro and train stations, we cut it close and managed to board before the departure time. It was all worth it after seeing the picturesque views that were displayed before us.
