Summary Post

Ethical Issues

As I reflect upon our experiences in Chile with ethical issues, I can honestly say that I was thoroughly surprised by the progressive nature of Chilean labor laws and working conditions, and the overall level of regulation and safety standards. After visiting various companies, learning from the lectures, and talking to the Chilean students, it is evident many of these standards are consistent with or surpass those in the United States. This was surprising to me, and would be surprising to most Americans, because I think there is a general belief that South American nations operate with less regulation. This is clearly not the case. One example we learned in lecture is the required maternity leave that was recently implemented by Chile’s first female president Michelle Bachalet. This nationally implemented law shows how Chile is continuing to strive for gender equity in the workplace, just as is occurring in the United States to this day. On a side note, the nation was in the process of debating a proposed hydroelectric dam in the ecologically vulnerable southern region. This presented an intriguing environmental ethical issue that left the nation divided between energy and ecology. When we visited this was the hot issue of the time, and shows that Chileans are quite protective of their beautiful country and its natural assets.

Educational Breadth

After having a chance to study in a foreign culture, it is beyond evident that it is necessary to continue to broaden your international perspective, in order to have success in the global world we are living in. There is no better example of the students we interacted with in Chile- every last one of them is truly an international student. Each had a different experience- from studying abroad, to even receiving full degrees in other countries- they clearly demonstrate what it means to be a global citizen. The most inspiring part about this is that each of them plan on going abroad to earn their high level degrees, but then plan to return to Chile to improve their home country. I think this is a valuable lesson that could benefit the American perspective on education. If we consider the value of studying successful aspects of other global economies, and then take these lessons back to the United States, we would develop an economy that is even stronger and more dynamic than it is today. Personally, this has encouraged me to further expand my global preparedness. I have decided to begin studying Mandarin Chinese, as a third language that will help me communicate on the global level. This will hopefully open up further international opportunities, and provide me with the tools necessary to be a successful global citizen.

Lifelong Learning

Through this trip, and through previous experiences as well, I have come to the conclusion that the people who are most successful in what they do are the ones you are never complacent and always striving to improve themselves. This relates to many things, but most of all it is relevant to education.  This was evident in Chile in many of the business we visited. Although all of the operations we visited have been operated for decades, each of them uses modern technology and equipment to improve their processes. For example, at the mushroom factory, each room was climate controlled by a sophisticated control panel that ensures optimal conditions for mushroom growth. The company operated before this technology was developed, but somewhere in its history, its leaders took the time to learn about new technologies that would help their company, and invested in them as a way to further their business. While this is an example of a company engaging in lifelong learning, individuals must continue to improve themselves as well in order to stay relevant in their field. While a degree is a general education in a specific field, each job requires specific tasks that must be mastered in order to be successful. A dynamic ability to continue education is necessary in business everywhere, whether it be Chile, the US, or elsewhere.

The Social Professional

It is evident that social interaction is crucial to professional development in Chile. As we learned in various settings, Chileans seek to discover trust with their partners before they will do business, and this trust is a direct result of personal interaction and communication. Because of this, one must be well versed in the current events of Chile and the practices of the culture. As the students suggested, never bring up football, and stick with ‘softer’ topics such as popular culture or the economy.  On another note that relates with social and business practices, one interesting difference between Chile and the United States is the significance of one’s profession. In the United States, individuals are often defined by what they do-Bob is a lawyer, or Sue is a doctor-but in Chile, a persons profession is much less important in defining how they are seen. People are instead focused on the individual, and their own personality traits, instead of what they do for a living. This shows the lack of importance that employment holds in a person’s standing-a focus that is evidently replaced by a focus on family, which is held in much higher priority than it is the culture of the United States.

Cross Functionality

This trip provided many insights into the ability to work in diverse groups because diversity was found on two levels: first the combination of both engineering and business students, but also the interaction between Americans and Chileans. From this trip I have learned that the key to operating in diverse groups is to have an open mind, and always be willing to learn new perspectives. Interaction between diverse groups can often be hindered by a lack of understanding of people who come from varying backgrounds, and stereotypes can develop that limit effective communication between parties. If one can enter a diverse situation (such as a business transaction) with an open mind and  an ability to learn about the other party, then communication and successful relations will be much more likely. Whether this understanding comes from knowledge of a common language, or simply a basic understanding of the team you are working with, any differences can quickly be bridged by open communication. The Chilean students we worked with, for example, all spoke English; this ability to share our language allowed the diverse group to easily relate to each other, and connect in a way that would have proved otherwise futile. Although it is not always possible to know another language, or connect perfectly with another party, it is imperative to find common ground, and be willing to learn about those you seek to interact with.