The first week has been absolutely incredible. From getting off the bus for the first time at UEF and being celebrated to having unforgettable experiences and conversations, I wouldn’t change one thing about how this week went.
The last company visit of the week was to GreenViet who established themselves in the sustainability market that was relatively nonexistent 12 years ago. In my opinion, the CEO’s network is a huge reason their company succeeded. During the presentation, the CEO said that the turning point was when they got one company to take a chance on them. It is evident that the work they do is executed well, but the CEO’s reputation and connections with companies is what caused the first company to take a shot on them. At Pitt Business, we are constantly told to create a network and a professional brand. The start of GreenViet shows the importance of connections and having a good reputation/professional branding of yourself.
I believe that GreenViet is extremely dedicated to the international business environment. During the presentation, there was a slide that displayed all the companies they work with had a large percentage of them were international. Furthermore, with the increased investment opportunities in Vietnam, it is extremely fortunate that they are one of the first Vietnamese companies who entered the sustainability space because they have a reputation that newer companies do not have.
We wrapped up our last day by taking a water boat tour. Going into this trip, I knew that we were going to spend time with the UEF students, but I am pleasantly surprised by how much time we have gotten to spend with them. Although, we only met on Monday, we have become such good friends. It wasn’t an underestimate that we would all most likely be leaving with lifelong friends. The cultural exchange that comes from conversations is unable to be learned from books or videos. I love learning more about their lives just as much as they love to ask questions about mine. It has been a one-of-a-kind experience that I am so thankful to have the chance to be a part of.
