Matthew Brown, Kent State Business Management major and Finance minor, studied abroad on the International Experience in Marketing: Exploring Sustainability Programs in Greece faculty-led program.
The two-week program was led by Professor Ellen Daniels and sponsored by the Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship. The program offers students the chance to compare sustainability programs used by U.S. and Greek companies while visiting locations throughout Athens, Crete, and Santorini.
Interests and Timing Align
Brown was excited to participate in this unique opportunity for students interested in marketing and sustainability. “I knew it would be a once in a lifetime opportunity for me to learn about a new culture and gain new experiences that I will be able to value for the rest of my life.”
The program was also a truly perfect fit for Brown’s interests in ancient history and business. “A lot of study abroad programs require learning the material by sitting in a classroom, but this one is different. While there is some learning in the classroom, most of it is actually going to these amazing historical sites where Professor Daniels and our tour guides would teach us the information.”
The program’s shorter length also happened to work perfectly with Brown’s plans for a summer internship. Since the program took place over Summer Intersession in late May, Brown was able to arrive back to the US by the time his internship began in June.
“We got to learn valuable information from one of the most successful companies in the world”
One of the unique aspects of faculty-led education abroad programs is the chance for students to learn outside of the traditional classroom from experts onsite. Students are also given the opportunity to learn about culture and important historical sites in their host country. Brown appreciated that the Exploring Sustainability Programs in Greece program provided a balance of all of these important experiences. “We did a lot within those two weeks that we were there. For example, we got to go see and learn about Coca-Cola Headquarters, the Parthenon, visit an Olive Oil Manufacturer, go on amazing hikes in Santorini, and have some great group dinners with everyone on the trip.”
In particular, Brown enjoyed the class’s visit to Coca Cola Headquarters in Athens. “We got to learn about how they market themselves in different cultures and their sustainability efforts to help make the environment safer and reusable… It really piqued my interest because we got to learn valuable information from one of the most successful companies in the world.”
One of Brown’s biggest takeaways from the program “was definitely all of Greece’s sustainability efforts that they have implemented to help save energy and other resources. Some of these efforts include using solar panels and windmills, collecting rainwater for livestock, having smaller cars that use less gas, using glass for all cups and plates to prevent more trash, and the electric shutting off if not in the room. I enjoyed this because it made me realize there is a lot we could do back in America to create a more sustainable place to live.”
A Lifelong Impact
Participating in this education abroad program impacted Brown in lasting ways. Personally, “It helped me become more open minded and gave me the ability to adapt to a new environment that I wasn’t used to. I developed important lifelong skills such as problem solving and communication which is something I’m very proud of!”
Brown also believes the experience will be important to his future career. “I got to live in a new culture and get a better understanding of how people live. In the workforce there is a variety of different cultures, so it really opened up my eyes and was such a valuable experience that I now have forever. Also, studying abroad looks really good on a resume and is something that a lot of companies might take notice of during an interview.”
Overall, Brown said, “It was something that I’ve always wanted to do, and I’m so glad I did because it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”
To learn more about the International Experience in Marketing: Exploring Sustainability Programs in Greece program, you can visit the program database here.