It’s time, game day!!! After countless days of touring companies and learning about their view on the current market and future outcome, it was time to present our view on the situation of our company. This was the latest day we had to wake up. Our presentation was at 2pm which gave us plenty of time to prepare before presenting. Me and my group of American students got on the train around 10am and headed to the University. We met with the other German students in the program and went to the Eatery to fuel up before we presented. After drinking 3 coffees I was finally ready. 

My group and I spent about an hour to two reviewing our presentation. While we weren’t able to change the presentation, we were able to change how we delivered our message. We went through our presentation three times to make sure we were below the time limit and that everyone was conveying the same message. Due to this, we went into our presentation very confidently. Our group was the third group to present so we were able to get an idea of how Doctor Feick and Phil were receiving the presentation and giving feedback, as well as having an understanding of the questions that were to come. After our presentation, I felt as though my group did a great job. We stayed under the time limit and conveyed our message well. When the questions flooded in, we were able to answer them confidently. To mix Germans and Americans in a group and have to present together, I think we did an amazing job. During our presentation, the main message we wanted to convey was that KUKA has a strong stance in the market. With the changes being applied to the automotive market, their product range isn’t as affected. Instead, they need to make minor changes that will allow them to stay strong in the market.

After my presentation, I had time to reflect on everything that we experienced. A distinction among the trips that really stood out to me was the difference between Neuschwanstein and Dachau. On one side, you have the fairytale castle built by Ludwig II versus a nazi concentration camp memorial, both of which have a connection to the Bavarian landscape. The geographical disparity between them is something I didn’t expect. Even Munich, how could you have two products of Germany, one which asks you to dream and the other asks you to remember. 

If I could take anything from Germany and apply it or try to teach someone who wasn’t there is the connection. I can’t emphasize how much they were connected as a community. From kids being able to walk around freely or bikes not being locked up. They don’t worry about certain situations because they don’t do them. They rarely have homeless people and everyone has free healthcare. To me, it seems like everything is done for the people.