Hello everyone!

My name is Yoana, or how I would typically introduce myself: “The movie Moana but with a Y.” I’m a first-year student at the University of Pittsburgh studying Business Analytics and Finance, and I’m originally from Philadelphia. I grew up with parents who run a restaurant, so food has always been a huge part of my life and honestly one of my favorite ways to experience somewhere new. On campus, I’m the VP of Corporate Relations for Women in Business, the Business Manager of the Pitt Badminton Club, and a member of Phi Beta Lambda. Outside of class, I play badminton recreationally and I draw whenever I get the chance, usually when I should probably be doing homework.

Academically and professionally, I’m really into the intersection of data and business strategy, which is just a fancy way of saying I like figuring out why things work the way they do. I’m hoping to use my time at Pitt to build skills that actually mean something outside of a classroom, and Plus3 felt like exactly that kind of opportunity.

So, Morocco. Honestly I did not know that much about it going in, but the more I learned in our classes the more I could not stop thinking about it. I chose Plus3 Morocco because of its focus on technology and entrepreneurship, and there is something really exciting to me about watching an economy build itself up in real time. Morocco has been growing a serious startup and tech scene, and I want to see what that actually looks like on the ground instead of just through a screen. We will be visiting Casablanca, Rabat, and Marrakesh, and I am already mentally planning what I am going to eat in each city. Beyond the food though, I genuinely love exploring new places and picking up on the little details you would never catch unless you were actually there, the side streets, the markets, the random conversations you end up in. Growing up watching my parents build their restaurant from scratch gave me a real soft spot for people who create something with their own hands, so getting to visit places like the Technopark and hear from entrepreneurs doing exactly that is something I am really looking forward to.

Professionally, studying Business Analytics and Finance can sometimes feel pretty disconnected from the real world, so seeing how businesses actually run in a totally different economy feels like the kind of thing that will stick with me way longer than any exam. Personally, I just want to show up with an open mind, try everything, and come back a little less attached to my comfort zone. Also the food. I really cannot stress the food enough.

Okay Morocco, I’m coming. Please be nice to me.