This week in the Corporate Social Responsibility course I really enjoyed the debate about ethics. My first thought about the debate was that it underscored how critical it is for businesses to navigate ethical dilemmas with care and consideration for diverse perspectives. Addy’s reference to the Wall Street Journal brought up the point that companies are increasingly being scrutinized not just for their financial performance, but also for their social and ethical stances. This is particularly relevant in today’s climate, where LGBTQ issues are at the forefront of social discourse. The discussions highlighted that there is no one-size-fits-all answer to these ethical questions. For instance, some argued that companies have a moral obligation to support LGBTQ rights as part of their commitment to equality and human rights. Others countered that businesses should remain neutral and focus solely on their economic objectives, leaving social issues to be addressed by governments and non-profit organizations.

This past week for the internship seminar we discussed parts of the Head or the Heart and then went into a class discussion on ethics. I found the Head or the Heart to be really interesting regarding the peach and coconut analogy. For me, I would describe myself as a peach but when thinking about it more, I can also be a coconut. But more interestingly, I found the debate to be very engaging. Even after the debate was over, many of us argued on the tram home which side was right. The debate sparked something in my head so when I traveled to work I would notice things I didn’t notice before. On the way to IES one day I saw a lady who dropped her stuff on the street and I watched as people would either pass her or stop to help. Although not the same as the mountain example, it was very interesting to see who would leap into action. 

This week at our internship we got to experience the actual lunch break on Thursday. It was very exciting to enjoy an hour break with coworkers and just talk about things other than work. We learned a lot about the different educations and compared our schools. Many of them described struggles with their education in Italy as they needed to determine their field of study so young. Even for high school students, they need to decide a general direction of study whether it be design, science, or architecture. This week we also learned a lot about different points of view from our education. Working in a design lab, we have been exposed to numerous projects and this past week watched a presentation on an idea for an art exposition. While it was amazing to see the various ideas they have come up with, our first question was how can they afford all of it.

This weekend I traveled to Lake Como for the mountain retreat. On Saturday we walked through a garden and got to explore the house museum on the property. We took a lovely boat ride to the town located right between the split of the lake and had time to explore. We got a lunch right on the water, looked at local shops, and of course got some gelato. Saturday night we traveled to a cabin in the mountains where we stayed the night. We were greeted with a typical mountain meal with 3 full courses. Finally, today we went for a hike through the mountains. We were able to see many waterfalls, cows, and how they make cheese from the cows. 

Walk through the garden by Lake Como

Lake Como view from the boat.

Cabin in the Mountains.

Local cheese production.