Today we visited Kyndryl and Dos Pinos, which are two very different types of businesses. Kyndryl is a large IT company based in New York that primarily works with banks, airlines, and many other companies worldwide. They chose Costa Rica because of the educated workforce and growing technology sector. I thought it was interesting how much they focus on training employees, cybersecurity, and moving more into cloud technology. They also talked a lot about sustainability, such as reducing energy use, planting trees, and volunteering, including river cleanups.

Dos Pinos was very different because it is a cooperative owned by Costa Rican farmers instead of shareholders. It started with only 25 farmers in 1947 and now has around 1,300 farmers and produces over 1.3 million liters of milk every day. Apart from just milk, they have expanded into other countries and now make products like ice cream, chocolate, and cookies. I thought it was cool to learn that they also provide the soft serve base for places like McDonald’s. Touring the factory was really interesting because we got to see how carefully they make sure the milk stays safe and uncontaminated during the whole process. Dos Pinos also focuses a lot on helping the community and the environment. They recycle wastewater, reuse packaging, and even turn recycled materials into desks for schools. I also liked learning about Lula the cow, who visits schools to teach kids about health and nutrition. Since the farmers help make decisions and share profits together, the company feels much more connected to local communities.

After visiting both companies, I think they both help Costa Rica in different ways. Kyndryl brings technology jobs and international business. However, I feel Dos Pinos felt more focused on helping Costa Rican people directly. Both companies clearly showed how businesses can still care about sustainability and their employees.