Global Fellows Spotlight: Brendan Jones
Brendan Jones is a Junior AIS major and Music minor who participated in the Global Fellows program during summer 2019 and worked at AHA Bolivia. We had the chance to ask Brendan about his international experience and how it has shaped his career path.
Could you summarize your Global Fellows placement and project?
I worked at AHA Bolivia, an ethical manufacturer of clothing, textiles, and recycled plastics, in Cochabamba, Bolivia. I was the lead business intern and I focused in their cost analysis district. It was an exciting time for AHA this summer because they were on a mission to launch their first five products on Amazon. My project was centered on this launch, as I helped design, analyze, cut costs, and price these projects so that they could launch the products ASAP.
What were your main takeaways and professional skills gained?
I gained a lot from this experience that directly translates into my professional life. I had to develop my own cost analysis sheet in excel because the manufacturer, Marco, relied only on paper and they got lost often. I also gained a lot from working with people who spoke a different language than I. Although this barrier was difficult at times, Marco and I formed a real bond and got to know each other well!
Do you feel your Global Fellows experience has made you stand out as a candidate for jobs?
I do believe my experience as a Global Fellow has made me stand out as a job candidate because this experience was so unique and only some interviewers know what working, living, and traveling in a different country is like, so they are interested to hear about it. In August I had a “super day” for an internship next summer in the area, and I got asked a question about my Global Fellow experience in each of the five interviews that day.
Why do you recommend the Global Fellows Program to business students? How did Global Fellows better your understanding of international business?
The Global Fellows experience is such a unique experience that I’m so lucky Santa Clara University offers this to me as a business student. To learn how to work in a company culture outside of the United States and specifically outside of Silicon Valley, taught me a lot about adaptability, perspective, and the way other cultures prioritize different things than here in the United States.
How did Global Fellows impact your career path?
Although I haven’t seen the long-term impacts of my Global Fellows experience with my career, it has opened up new ways I can see my path leading. This experience has shown me that my path can go in any direction I see best fit; my path doesn’t have to be the same as everyone else.
Although you should sign up to be a Global Fellow for other reasons, one huge perk of being in the program is getting to know the director of the program, Tanya Monsaf Bunger. Tanya is one of the most genuine, caring, and compassionate people I have gratefully gotten to know at Santa Clara and I’m so happy this program has allowed me to get to know her!