Week 3 in Italy was by far the most eventful week for me so far. Over the weekend my friends and I travelled to Rome and stayed three nights. We got to see incredible sites such as the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, and the Vatican! My favorite site was the Vatican by far. I have never seen such amazing detail and architecture, and the Sistine chapel was the most intriguing piece of art I have ever laid eyes on. Unfortunately, my friends and I had trouble getting train tickets back to Milan so we were forced to stay an extra night. This may have been a blessing in disguise, however, because we were able to take in more of the beauty and culture that Rome has to offer. The food in Rome was the best food I have ever eaten. Spaghetti carbonara, margarita pizza, and chocolate gelato were the highlights. On Monday we arrived back in Milan and prepared for a week of class, work, and more exploring.

In class this week we discussed business ethics and the choice corporations have to make when it comes to controversial decision making. The main takeaway I got from the topic was the fact that corporation must choose whether to prioritize profit, or making moral business decisions. This debate is very relevant in today’s world, as ESG initiatives are trending and practically necessary for businesses to incorporate. This is result of the rising awareness of certain issues such as climate change and gender equality which both affect the mindset of the consumer. In my Wall Street Journal assignment I wrote about Coca-Cola, and how they’ve implemented bottle caps that don’t fully detach from the bottle. This move was designed to reduce the plastic waste caused by loose bottle caps. Environmental activists claim this move by Coca-Cola will not actually have a lasting effect on the environment.

For my internship this week, Alex, Gunnar, and I presented a pitch of the product our company is launching to IES classes. We described the product, handed out fliers, and had each attendee complete a survey regarding their travel habits. Gunnar and I also continued our competitive analyses by creating an excel file comparing company financials and how each competitor acquired investors. Our boss, Filippo, left for Hong Kong last week so we have been meeting with him virtually. I don’t mind the shift to virtual work, as I am still able to get work done from my desk, and it’s more convenient for Gunnar, Alex, and I. I also get to experience how a hybrid work environment operates which is very prevalent among businesses today.