I truly believe that everything happens for a reason. As I reflect on the past two weeks, I am filled with overwhelming gratitude. I remember being scared to go to an unfamiliar place with people I didn’t know very well. I wasn’t sure how much I would gain from this experience. Now, I can easily…

I was looking forward to sleeping in for the next couple of weeks. After snoozing three alarms, I finally got out of bed. I finished some last-minute packing and got ready for the airport. Once all of my bags were ready to go, I headed downstairs. I am really going to miss the Ibis Hotel’s…

Today was our first chance to fully plan and explore on our own. About 16 of us decided we wanted to spend the free day in Salzburg, Austria. I had previously heard that crossing borders within the EU felt seamless, and that could not have been more true. We woke up early and caught a…

Today we had our final presentations. It was a culmination of all of our preparation leading up to the trip and our experiences from the past ten days. My group focused on Audi, and we spent the morning finalizing our slides and practicing our lines. Before presentations began, my group decided to eat lunch at…

Today we visited Audi in Ingolstadt. This visit made me think about how companies in the same industry can face similar challenges, but approach them differently. Like BMW, Audi is dealing with supply chain pressures, electrification, and fierce competition from new Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers. However, the atmosphere and priorities at Audi felt different from…

We started the day with a company visit to Aumovio. There, we learned about the technology behind products most people never think about. The company develops sensors, brake systems, chips, and software that help modern vehicles operate safely. Aumovio recently split from Continental AG, which completely transformed their assembly lines. Inside the facility, machines and…

We began today with a two and a half hour bus ride into Nuremberg. On the way to MAN’s facility, I saw towns with beautiful buildings and scenery. It was refreshing to see low-rises and green hills instead of large factories. Those views were short-lived as we arrived at the engine production site of MAN….

Dachau was the first Nazi concentration camp and became a model for others. Visiting the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site today was heavy. I expected it to feel serious, but I was not prepared for how overwhelming the space itself would feel. The camp stood far from city life, which gave me a glimpse of…

I went into today expecting to make a dent in my wallet. I did just that. Today we took the train to Munich, a city known for its world-class museums, global companies, and one of the highest qualities of life in Europe. From the moment I arrived, I understood why people were drawn to this…

I get anxious about the idea of robots and AI taking over the world. Safe to say, after today, I think that reality is still ages away. We visited the KUKA factory where robots and software are developed. KUKA offers a variety of robots that can perform specific tasks, including but not limited to assistance…

Today’s activities changed my understanding of the scale and identity of the BMW Group. We started at the BMW Forschungs- und Innovationszentrum (FIZ), which is their center for research and innovation. There, we learned more about the history, strategy, and future outlook of the company from an employee in the purchasing department. Two things that…

Today we landed in Munich around 7:30am local time. The first thing I noticed was the time in the airport. All clocks and flight information screens used military time, which is uncommon for most people in the United States. We were directed through the terminal to the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES). This has been…