This was my first year at USD as well as SIBC. I came into college knowing I wanted to be a part of something meaningful in college, but I was not sure exactly sure what career path I wanted to take. I am so thankful to have stumbled upon SIBC as a freshman. I joined the Atlas project with plenty of doubt in myself and little confidence. The project seemed so intimidating and everyone was older than me. I thought to myself, "There is no way I will ever make the travel team". As time went on, I found my comfort zone. Then, I completely crushed that zone and threw it away. I took on tasks I did not know how to do such as industry analysis. However, all I knew was that I was going to figure it out. SIBC pushed me to take on challenges I was uncomfortable with in a comfortable setting. I was forced to step up to the plate when the team was counting on me. I also learned how to use the tools at USD as a freshman that you typically learn by your third year on campus. As an active team member, I had to step up to the plate when something needed to be done, to produce the best final product we could. Real-life clients were counting on us! At this point, I began to become more comfortable in my position on the team, and my confidence began to emerge. A spot on the travel team was foreseeable. Once we finished our final presentation, it was time to present it to the e-board. I was so nervous, and I had never had to do a real presentation before. High school did not prepare me for this moment. Although I was freaking out on the outside, I did the best I could and left it to the judges. A few weeks later, I was selected to travel to London to present the final presentation to the client! For me personally, London was a sentimental place because I could see where my father grew up. The fact I was chosen for the travel team meant more to me than just business. SIBC provides students like me with opportunities they would otherwise not have. However, we still had the final presentation. At this point, it was a victory lap! I got to show off all the amazing work I put in and express how much pride I had in my efforts. We did it! I displayed presentation skills I did not know I had! I honestly do not know where they came from... So, to all the quiet, doubtful, unsure, and shy students out there, do not be afraid to join SIBC. There is a project for everyone and for every interest. Even if you are a freshman, it does not matter at SIBC! You will find your way to succeed even if it may be blurry at first.
- Matylda Marszalek
My internship with Atlas and our team's trip to London was transformative and eye-opening. I learned a lot about the translation/localization industry and how artificial intelligence is being used to help companies expand globally. I also learned a lot about British culture from food to slang. I was very impressed how diverse the city of London is and how many different religions and ethnicities mingle together.
The highlight of the trip for me was exploring Kensington and SoHo. It felt great to see crowds of people again and it seemed like life was finally getting back to normal. I also appreciate how the public transportation is so extensive in London when compared to San Diego. That made it easier to explore the city without a car.
I have nothing but respect and appreciation for the Atlas team, Umit, and Bekir. The entire team has been great to work with and they are some of the hardest-working people I know. Umit and Bekir are very intelligent individuals and I'm impressed with that they're doing at Atlas. I also want to thank Dr. Daspro for being very supportive on the Atlas project and other projects in the past. She is incredibly talented, smart, and hard-working. I have nothing but respect and admiration for her and her accomplishments. Thank you all for making this possible!
- Sebastian Perez
My experience with the Atlas project this past year has been extremely rewarding. I started out the project not knowing anything about AI, translation services, or language service providers. Throughout this project I was able to broaden my understanding of the AI industry and how much of an impact it has on everyday life. Furthermore, being project leader for this group let me hone my leadership skills, communication skills, and presentation skills. Lastly, being chosen for the travel team and traveling to London to present our final presentation was a rewarding experience with wrapping up all of the hard-work my team and I put into this project. Overall, I wish I could do another SIBC project now that we are in person, but sadly I am graduating this semester.
- Alexis Labrinos
Extremely grateful for these past 2 semesters working as a consultant with the Student International Business Council at the University of San Diego. Consulting for Atlas has been an enriching experience that has allowed me to learn about an industry I was unfamiliar with and consulting with SIBC gave me the opportunity to travel to a country I have never been to before. Very proud of the B2B marketing strategy, strategy for further expansion into global markets, and secondary research on global trends that tie to the language service provider industry my fellow consultants and I presented to the CEO and COO of Atlas.
- Sean Brenot
