Hello everyone! My name is George Collins, and I am a freshman at the University of Pittsburgh’s College of Business Administration. I am originally from Holmdel, New Jersey (Central Jersey), and am double-majoring in Marketing and Business Analytics with two certificates in Sports Management and Public and Professional Writing. However, I am a very open minded person who is willing to try new things, especially in college, and so all of those majors and minors are subject to change.
Outside of the classroom, I am involved in 3 different student organizations: Corporate Connections at Pitt Business, where I serve as Director of Data Analytics, Alpha Kappa Psi, where I serve as Director of Mental Wellness, and The League of Emerging Analytics Professionals (LEAP). In my free time, I love to watch sports, particularly the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Devils, New York Giants, and Pitt sports. I also love to listen to all types of music, play video games, and solve New York Times crossword puzzles.
Professionally, I am mostly an open book. I am using college as a time to gather as much data as possible, whether it be through classes or through face-to-face interactions, so that I can make the most informed and best possible career decisions. With that being said however, my dream career paths would be anything in the field of digital marketing or data analytics, or possibly both. After talking to many entrepreneurs and realizing the creative freedom that comes with owning a business, I have also thought of starting one myself, likely centered around some combination of my interests.
This summer, I will be attending Plus3 Ecuador. When I say I am thrilled to make the journey with like-minded business-driven individuals like myself, that is an understatement. This trip will serve as an incredible opportunity to immerse ourselves in Ecuadorian culture as well as the supply chain for two of their largest industries, chocolate and flowers.
I have been to two other Spanish-speaking countries before, but want to continue to brush up on the language through real-world experience, and also see the nuances in the language amongst the different countries that speak it. Ecuador also provides the best of both worlds in terms of both a city excursion and a tropical getaway, and since most locations would only be able to provide one of those things, it made Plus3 Ecuador the perfect trip for me. I am also an animal lover, and the ecotourism in Ecuador is some of the best in the entire world, especially in regards to the sheer amount of bird species on the island. I really hope to see a Toucan, my favorite animal!
In a professional sense, I hope to expand my network greatly, whether that be with business professionals in Ecuador, Ecuadorian students, or my fellow Pitt students traveling with me. I strongly believe that all of these people will provide me with valuable advice and insight that I can take with me for the rest of my professional, academic, and personal life.
However, meeting people should not only matter in a professional environment. I hope to make life-long friends on this trip, as memories will be made with my fellow travelers that will be cherished forever. With that being said, I am super excited to get to know everyone better as we move further along in the program!
It is crazy to think how soon the trip is, and it makes me that much more excited for the summer.
Until next time! See y’all soon.