Hi! My name is Natalee Bertani, and I just completed my freshman year at the University of Pittsburgh’s College of Business Administration. I’m planning to major in Finance and Marketing, with a certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. At Pitt, I’m a member of the professional business fraternity Alpha Kappa Psi, where I served as Recruitment Chair this past spring semester. Outside of school, I love going to the gym and spending time with my family, friends, and my cats. I’m especially excited to visit Costa Rica, as this will be my first time traveling abroad—and I can’t wait to leave in a week!
What stood out to me about Costa Rica is how committed the country approaches sustainability. Ranked among the top 20 countries on the World Energy Council’s global environmental sustainability index, Costa Rica has built a reputation for prioritizing the environment while continuing to grow economically. That balance is something I admire and hope to learn more about during my time there. Through my research, I discovered that more than 98% of Costa Rica’s electricity is generated from renewable sources such as hydropower, wind, etc. The country has also set an ambitious goal of becoming fully decarbonized by 2050, showing its long-term commitment to climate responsibility. Costa Rica has also reversed decades of deforestation through reforestation programs, restoring over half of its natural forest coverage. Tropical agriculture plays a key role in this environmental strategy. The country’s exports—like coffee, bananas, and pineapples—are increasingly produced through sustainable and fair-trade practices. I’m especially excited to visit local farms and see how these values are reflected in production.
I’m looking forward to experiencing how Costa Rica integrates environmental awareness into business, agriculture, and daily living. As a business student interested in innovation, I see this as a unique opportunity to explore what sustainable development looks like in practice, immerse myself in a new cultural, and bring new insights back with me.
