Hanging Around Canal Boats in Little Venice

Author: Danny Liu | Major: Accounting | Semester: Summer 2025

My program, Global Business in London, was a study abroad opportunity taking place in London during the May intersession. The program focused on various business’ in London while also showcasing the city’s deep cultural roots that allowed it to develop into the city it is today.
As an accounting major, this program seemed like the perfect opportunity to broaden my business and world knowledge.

London’s role as a hub for the Big 4 accounting firms further inspired me to pursue this program. I currently have an upcoming audit internship with Ernst & Young, and this trip presented a unique opportunity to observe how audit standards are conducted within a different legal and regulatory framework. Exploring the international differences in auditing standards
would directly support my long-term goal of working as a public auditor in a metropolitan city
like London. The chance to visit major institutions like the London Stock Exchange and the
Bank of England also excited me, as it offered a firsthand environment in which global financial
decisions and emerging technologies developed.

During the program, we had guest speaker presentations from various industries that
provided insights into their business models as well as how they operate withing London’s
financial ecosystem. Two guest speakers were particularly interesting to me, as their
presentations were well-delivered and focused on topics that were fascinating as well as
educational. The first was a car rental company called Turo. They are based in the United States,
but we visited their London office and met with Catrin Harris, head of communications. Her
presentation explained how Turo is leveraging technology and innovation to reshape travel and
mobility, particularly in a city like London. As a car sharing platform often described as “Airbnb
for cars,” Turo operates on a unique business model that aims to connect car owners (hosts) with
individuals who need a vehicle for short-term use. They see themselves as a competitor to
traditional car rental services, offering a more streamlined process in acquiring a rental car by
establishing a transparent connection between host and user.

The second guest speaker that interested me was Caroline Ash from Enter Fashion, an online
resource as well as a physical warehouse dedicated to small-scale clothing manufacturing for UK
clothing companies. The organization is a strong supporter of domestic clothing manufacturing
to reduce dependence on overseas suppliers and regain control over quality and turnaround
times. Their work encourages a more streamlined supply chain, where designers can work
closely with manufacturers to reduce waste and overproduction.

Enter Fashion was memorable to me because of their attitude towards sustainability in the
fashion industry. The presentation detailed the true cost of fashion trends and the importance of
finding solutions for a future towards reduced waste, carbon emissions, and ethical labor. From
an academic perspective, this presentation illustrated how businesses can integrate social
responsibility into their core operations while maintaining profitability, demonstrating practical
applications of sustainable business practices we had studied in our coursework.

Something that surprised me about London was that it was one of the greenest metropolitan
areas that I have seen. Many elements of the city reflect a strong commitment to sustainability
and environmental consciousness. Green architecture is integrated into buildings around the city
and parks are commonly scattered throughout the city. Our tour guide even boasted that
London’s trees cover 21% of the city’s land, making it the largest urban forest. Recycling is also
actively encouraged with clearly marked bins in public spaces, making it easy for individuals to
separate waste. Additionally, every restaurant I visited used biodegradable materials for takeout,
and retailers also charged 20 pence for a paper bag to encourage use of reusable bags. London’s
electric vehicle infrastructure also contributes to EVs dominating the roads, from buses and taxis
to personal cars, showcasing the city’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions and invest in cleaner
transportation.

This experience would not have been possible without the Honors College’s study abroad
grant and advisory support from Dr. Hodge, as well as the Arkansas Alumni Association’s Past
Presidents Endowed Scholarship. These resources enabled me to participate in this program and
gain insights that will shape my future career in accounting. I am grateful for the opportunity to
represent the university abroad and for the support that made this transformative educational
experience accessible.