Before this trip to Costa Rica, I viewed sustainability mostly as an environmental problem that was more towards on protecting forests, minimizing pollution, and using and producing renewable energy. But, learning and going to these other countries Kyndryl, Café Britt, Café Monteverde, and Sibö Chocolate, I realized sustainability is much more connected to business strategy than I thought before this trip. While going on this trip, we learned how these companies consistenly juggle balancing profit, environmental responsibility, and their effectins on the local companies and their employees . These experiences grew my knowledge of the relationship between multinational corporations and green economy integration, while also expanding and changing my view of how I view myself in a business field

One important experiences for me was going to Kyndryl and learning how a multinational corporation functions across multiple of countries while still trying to remain environmentally responsible. Before the visit, I mostly associated sustainability with smaller eco-friendly businesses, but Kyndryl showed me how even a massive global company can integrate sustainable practices into daily operations. Hearing how the company reduced hundreds of data centers by transitioning to cloud technology demonstrated that sustainability can also improve efficiency and lower costs. This changed my perspective because I realized that environmental responsibility is not always separate from profitability. In many cases, sustainable decisions can actually strengthen a business financially over the long term.

At the same time, Kyndryl also helped me understand some of the challenges multinational corporations face. During discussions about weekly global meetings and communication between employees across different countries, I saw how difficult it can be to manage cultural differences, language barriers, and international operations. This expanded my understanding of globalization because I realized that operating internationally is much more complicated than simply opening locations in new countries. Businesses must build systems that allow people from different cultures and backgrounds to collaborate effectively. As someone interested in business and finance, this experience showed me the importance of communication, adaptability, and leadership in a global business environment.

Another experience that strongly impacted me was learning how businesses affect local communities and employees. Visiting Café Monteverde helped me realize how companies can build positive relationships with local businesses instead of using communities for money. Cafe Monteverde business decision to buy coffee beans from the local businesses showed how businesses can support local economies while also benefiting from them. I also found it interesting that the café offered internships and opportunities for students interested in different fields such as marketing and science. This showed me that Cafe Monteverde can impact the community by giving locals education and a oppurtunity to support their family.

The visit to Café Britt expanded my understanding of sustainability and marketing in a completely different way. I realized how companies can build an entire brand around culture, authenticity, and environmental responsibility. Throughout the tour, I noticed how the company used storytelling and customer experience to connect tourists emotionally to Costa Rican coffee and culture. At the same time, I also began questioning whether companies sometimes commercialize culture and nature for profit. This experience made me think critically about tourism and sustainability because while ecotourism and cultural branding can generate jobs and economic growth, they can also create pressure to package local identity into something designed mainly for visitors. It showed me that sustainability is often more complicated than it appears on the surface.

The most important experience for me was Sibö Chocolate. This left such a huge impression on me because of the owner’s commitment to sustainability at every level of production. Learning about efforts to eliminate unnecessary plastics, ethically source ingredients, and prioritize environmentally friendly practices showed me how values can directly shape business operations. What stood out to me most was that the company was willing to accept higher costs in order to remain aligned with its mission. This challenged my previous assumption that businesses always prioritize short-term profit above everything else. Instead, I saw how sustainability and ethical decision-making can become part of a company’s identity and long-term success. I also loved how the business owner had a goal to abolish child slavery and was working towards it. This made me appreciate how great the business was run but also how it was trying to reach a bigger goal

Throughout the trip, the idea of the triple bottom line — people, planet, and profit — became much more meaningful to me. Before this experience, I mostly thought of business success in terms of revenue and growth. However, seeing how companies balance environmental protection, employee well-being, and profitability changed my understanding of what responsible business leadership looks like. I realized that businesses today are increasingly judged not only on how much money they make, but also on how they treat workers, support communities, and reduce environmental harm. This perspective will likely stay with me throughout my career because it changed the way I think about long-term business success.

The experience that will have the greatest lasting impact on my future career in business is understanding that sustainability and profitability are not always opposites. Before this trip, I often viewed sustainability as something businesses pursued mainly for public image or marketing purposes. Now, I understand that sustainable practices can strengthen a company’s reputation, improve efficiency, attract consumers, and create long-term stability. More importantly, I learned that businesses have a responsibility to think beyond short-term profits and consider the impact their decisions have on employees, communities, and the environment. As I continue pursuing a career in business, I think these lessons will influence the way I evaluate companies, leadership decisions, and long-term growth strategies.

Overall, this trip significantly expanded my understanding of multinational corporations, sustainability, and green economy integration. The experiences in Costa Rica showed me that business decisions are rarely simple because they involve balancing economic growth with environmental and social responsibility. Whether through renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, ecotourism, or ethical sourcing, I saw firsthand how companies attempt to create value while also addressing larger global challenges. Moving forward, I believe the lessons I learned on this trip will shape how I approach business decisions and define what I view as successful leadership in the future.