This morning, we went on a visit with Dr. Kelley and toured the financial district of Ireland. We learned a lot about the history of Irish culture and how the country has evolved over time both socially and economically. Though it was nearly 200 years ago, the famine has had a lasting impact on Irish business practices and their economy. Through the mass exodus from Ireland as a result of the famine, they have been recovering economically ever since. Thus comes the idea of “old” vs. “new” Ireland. The “old” Ireland was struggling economically, little opportunity for business, and viewed in a negative light by much of Europe. The “new” Ireland, however, is an up-and-coming place for businesses, a popular travel destination, and overall, an international hub for many things. We are staying in the older part of Dublin, and you can see clear differences between where we are and the newer parts of the city. Throughout the tour Dr. Kelley talked in depth about many different aspects of Ireland and used some great analogies to paint the picture for us. 

As this new economic boom is occurring in Ireland, it is apparent that the city is aiming to stay youthful both from a business perspective and culturally. On our visit to Thinkhouse today, the “minor celebrity” (the term Raghu coined, and then announced, after learning that he was once on an Irish reality TV show), Billy took us through their company’s approach to marketing. They focus on staying up to date with trends, current events, and what young people are interested in and talking about. I think their approach reflects a lot about what Irish business is moving toward. Ireland wants to, and has already, become a global leader in business and innovation, and uses a lot of the principles that Thinkhouse does to move Ireland forward. 

The Thinkhouse site visit has been my favorite thing we’ve done thus far. Their company seems like one I would love to work for in the future, and it was great to get an inside look at who they are and what they do. I am quite pleased that my group switched to focusing on Thinkhouse instead of OnlineApplication!