Parc Güell

Author: Reagan White | Majors: Supply Chain Management, International Business Economics | Semester: January Intersession 2023

A city bejeweled with Gaudí’s architectural masterpieces, numerous Michelin-star restaurants, and breathtaking views, Barcelona is truly a city set apart. During my time in Barcelona, I had the opportunity to experience the art, food, architecture, history, and culture of the city. Most striking to me was the architecture of the city. Having visited other European cities, known for their architecture, like Rome and Paris, I believe that Barcelona is truly in a league of its own since it’s home to many renowned works of Antoni Gaudí. Visiting sites such as La Sagrada Familia, La Pedrera, Casa Batlló, and Parc Güell was an incredible experience. Gaudí’s talent for incorporating nature into each of his designs was not only breathtaking to witness but inspiring as well. While I would love to pick a favorite among all of Gaudí’s masterpieces above, that’s rather difficult since they are all so different yet similar. While Gaudí has several staple spots in Barcelona, it’s evident that his influence on the architecture of the city extends far beyond these places. Walking through the streets of the city, many buildings have Gaudí inspired facades, exteriors, balconies, and more. It’s interesting to see how the legacy and style of one architect can shape the look and feel of a city, especially when his work was very controversial throughout most of his life.

While Barcelona boasts an incredible culture shaped by art, food, architecture, and more, the city is also home to many social enterprise businesses that are shaping the world of corporate social responsibility and the non-profit sector. Throughout the Global Changemakers Program, I visited several social enterprise businesses within the region of Barcelona, learned about their missions, tried some of their products, and gained insight into their current methods for social impact measurement. Having the opportunity to study non-profit organizations in another country and be able to apply some of those learnings later in my professional life was the main reason I chose to do the program. Following my graduation from the University of Arkansas, I will be working for Nestlé USA and completing their 4-year Supply Chain Development Program. Throughout my career at Nestlé, I hope to be involved in corporate social responsibility by volunteering, partnering with organizations focused on reducing food insecurity, and using my supply chain experience to help lower food waste. Being able to visit social enterprise organizations such as La Fageda and L’Olivera, within the food and beverage industry of Barcelona was an incredible opportunity to help prepare me to drive change and make a difference throughout my future career. Eventually, after gaining many years of work experience within the field of supply chain management, I hope to either start my own non-profit organization or serve as a consultant for pre-existing non-profit organizations with a focus on increasing women’s access to education around the world. Having a background in supply chain management would help me to allocate resources such as textbooks, teachers, materials to build schools, and much more. Participating in the Global Changemakers Program not only showed me that this goal of mine is possible but provided insight into the successes and challenges of current non-profit organizations striving to make a positive impact on global challenges such as food insecurity, job skill development, and mental health. This program has left me feeling inspired, hopeful, and excited for the future of the non-profit industry as global changemakers continue to emerge, innovate, and make a difference around the world.

After reflecting on my time in Barcelona and the Global Changemakers Program, I would highly recommend this program, especially if you have a passion for non-profit work, or just enjoy giving back to the community and the world around you. One of my favorite aspects of the Global Changemakers Program was the breadth and variety of educational backgrounds of students. Not only did this foster engaging discussions, but new and different perspectives were shared throughout the trip and through collaboration on our team projects. Before participating in the program, I wish I had known more general information about the non-profit industry, the structure of social enterprise businesses, and the common challenges that these organizations face. Additionally, I wish had known more information about the Barcelona-specific challenges of food insecurity, unemployment, and social exclusion within the workplace. For prospective students, I would recommend familiarizing yourself with the organizations that you’ll be visiting during the trip and really trying to understand their overarching missions.

Upon returning home I have been prioritizing journaling down my thoughts, key takeaways, and highlights of the trip. While this is something that I recommend you do during the trip, it can be difficult to keep up with on busy days, so make sure to prioritize it when coming home, while everything is still fresh. Looking towards the rest of this semester, I plan to continue to reflect on my experience in Barcelona and volunteer at local non-profit organizations such as the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank and Beautiful Lives Boutique.