Biarritz, France
“I can’t express how grateful I am to have the opportunity to be a part of SIBC. Through my work with Au Pair Butrfly and SIBC, I challenged myself in ways that I have simply been unable to do in any other organization. As a team, we crafted two marketing plans targeting both American families and potential au pairs that are our age. Although I am not a marketing major, I learned so much about the marketing field by discussing buyer personas, competitor analysis, and potential marketing channels with members of the marketing team. Outside of marketing, I had the opportunity to apply lessons from finance classes through a condensed mergers and acquisitions target company spreadsheet. However, the highlight of my experience throughout this project was learning to lead. I worked on a project last year and this year I had the opportunity to lead a project. At first, I was really nervous and unsure of myself, but by the end of the project, I felt confident in my abilities. As a leader, I learned how to communicate effectively with others, problem-solve, and support new members. I built connections with all the team members that I would simply be unable to do if I were not in a leadership position. I often found myself advising new members which honestly made my experience as project lead. When I started my first SIBC project I remember feeling intimidated and unsure of myself, but I had project leads that were there to guide me every step of the way. When I became project lead, one of my goals was to be a support system for new members who were finding their footing. After talking to project members about their experience working with me on their first project, I'm honored to say I think I accomplished that. P.S.: France was amazing and the croissants were immaculate! The weather was very polarizing with surprise hail and rain around the corner of every sunny afternoon, but I wouldn’t change anything about my experience for the world. Thank you again SIBC for the amazing opportunity!”
-Elena Williams
“Working on the Au Pair Butrfly project was a life changing experience. I gained incredible insight into the world of consulting, particularly on an international level. As a team, researching, designing, and cultivating a project we were confident in presenting to our client was a long process. However, after almost two semesters of dedication and hard work, we succeeded in creating a thorough and thoughtfully designed project. Upon traveling to Biarritz, France to present to our client, I was amazed by the knowledge I had gained from working on the project. Yet, I discovered that creating the presentation was only half of the experience. The other half was spending an amazing day with the client, presenting our work, hearing their opinions, values, and aspirations for the future of the company. It was an unforgettable day. I cannot thank SIBC enough for this incredible opportunity. This project inspired me, allowed me to gain professional insight early in my career, and gave me a new perspective on the world and the joy in establishing global connections.”
-Emma Alvarez
“SIBC truly shaped my final year at USD and gave me an incredible opportunity to work with a global company. It was a wonderful learning and professional development experience for me. As a senior, this project allowed me to apply everything I have learned from my international business classes to help Au Pair Butrfly with its company goals. As a team, we created a three-pronged presentation focused on marketing and acquisitions in the U.S. market. I worked on creating a global marketing plan for Au Pair Butrfly to enter the U.S. market to find potential young adults to become au pairs. I learned the importance of presenting data as a story to keep the audience engaged and understanding the reasons behind the recommendations. It was wonderful to work for a woman-owned global company and learn from the women working there about the culture and life in France. The trip to Paris and Biarritz gave me a fun opportunity to engage with French culture and learn about how global business is run. My team and I had a great time in Paris visiting the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and getting to enjoy incredible food.”
-Emily Travis