This project experience was something I won’t forget, not tomorrow, not five years from now. I truly believe this club, SIBC, is the best thing that USD offers, and I feel blessed to have stumbled upon it in my first year. Oahu, Hawaii is something out of a movie. While I’ve been before, this catered experience was entirely different. Each day was packed snug with honey market research, including visiting hives on the North Shore, exploring retail honey stores, and visiting a local farmer’s market with a honey vendor. Each SIBC member got to see the magic, the interworking, the bees in their natural habitat through a one-of-a-kind hive/colony visit. We learned from a 12-year experienced beekeeper the basics of the bees and the bee business. We all suited up and got to be within arm’s length of the bee hangout spot. On the final day, we presented our project to Japanese consultants. We received positive feedback on the branding and mission we came up with more TKB honey. So, I leave this magical island with a honey addiction and unmatched gratitude. When we weren’t prepping for our presentation or conducting market research, we did find ourselves at the beach, overcome by the “a picture can’t do this justice” beauty of the island. In addition, we immersed ourselves in the Polynesian culture by walking the grounds of the Polynesian cultural center, getting to see the activities of the first settlers. I could write forever about this club, but I will respect your time. This was a delightful experience, and I wish everyone something of the same magnitude.
- Sydney Avery
TKB was a year long project that allowed me to work on an industry that I was not familiar with, on a region of the world that I was not familiar with and with a company from a culture that I was not familiar with. Working on this project was an amazing growing and learning experience, specially because it was one of my first opportunities as Team Leader of a big team on a topic that I was less familiar with. I had the opportunity to work with a great team throughout these two semesters and had the privilege to go with 3 of my fellow colleagues to Oahu, Hawai’i, to actually explore the honey industry and the local market. We had the unique opportunity to visit a beekeeper and learn from a very knowledgeable person what goes into raising bees and producing honey, all the while following him on a daily routine inspection of the beehives and while having the opportunity to touch and hold the various strips of the beehive. All this unique experience gave me a new appreciation for what goes into creating a bottle of honey and an appreciation for the traditional and natural process. One of the biggest takeaways that we would hardly find online is how small differences can influence the taste of honey a lot. Everything from location to flora influences the honey but to a level of detail that two beehives a quarter of a mile from each other can have completely different production yields and/or taste. I am very thankful for both TKB and SIBC to have allowed us such a unique and interesting project and such a unique opportunity to travel to Hawai’i.
- Joao Pires Coelho
I had the incredible opportunity through SIBC to be a part of the travel team to present in Oahu, Hawaii. As an international business student, SIBC has been the best thing I have done while at USD. Not only did I gain invaluable experience as a consultant for a company and collaborate with my peers, but I got to research and engage in the Japanese business culture. Learning professionalism in multiple cultures has helped me grow as an individual and a Knauss student, which is exactly what I had hoped to gain when choosing to study IB at USD. Hawaii itself was a dream! Our presentation with TKB went incredibly well, but I had the best time bonding with my team members. From snorkeling with sea turtles, to eating delicious, fresh poke bowls, to hiking in what felt like Jurassic Park, there was never a dull moment. My favorite experience was meeting with a local beekeeper Kino Bees. Kino took time to explain the beekeeping and honey making process. We had been researching all about honey making over the course of the academic year, but it was so enriching to see it right in front of us with an expert to answer all our questions. I would like to thank my SIBC advisors, Allison Howitt and Eileen Daspro, and the SIBC Executive Board for supporting us throughout the project and making the trip possible. And a big shoutout to Joao, our team lead, and the TKB team members who all worked so hard to make the project a huge success!
- Nadia AlJunaidi
Working alongside the TKB Group and their ventures into the honey business has been a great privilege and honor. The hearts behind this company as well as within my team and SIBC have taught me many valuable skills as this project was my first introduction to consulting in the international business field. I want to extend a special thank you to the donors who allowed me to experience this consulting project and to fully be immersed in creating a brand for a company from scratch. Hawaii was a dream from flora and fauna to the simple way of life that sparked a deep inspiration to pursue global consulting as a career. The people I met during this experience and was able to communicate the stories of are what drove this longing and have brought me a new sense of self-understanding. Laughing with Karen, Joao, Nadia, and Sydney while fearless hiking the Manoa falls trail, trying what is now our favorite poke place, and swimming with sea turtles is what makes this adventure a core memory I will always treasure. I wholeheartedly can say that I will support SIBC and its partners throughout my new ventures in life. Thank you to everyone who made this experience possible. It was truly life-changing.
- Sydney Bui
