By: Bradley Bolotin, Senior, Marketing and Information
Nick Bigliano is a senior studying marketing and Business Analytics at the Kelley School of Business. Nick travelled abroad to Rome, Italy in the summer of 2018. During his time there, he was also able to visit Florence and Venice among other cities. Nick lived with a native Italian student and 4 other students from different universities for a two-month period all while being immersed in the culture and diversity of Rome, Italy. These experiences Nick had while studying and working abroad provided a new perspective on diversity.
Diversity in the Workplace
Nick worked at a company named Le Cicogne, which means historic in Italian. This company is similar to Care.com, a babysitting business we have in America. Nick worked on marketing and back-end data analysis with several interns and local Italians. At first the language barrier was a difficult transition as Nick’s supervisor was the only Italian worker who spoke English. After getting used to the new work environment, which was very laid back, Nick was able to adjust and learn a lot from his internship experience abroad. The way marketing is done in Italy is different than in America. He had to adjust to using a different tone and style to reach the Italian customer effectively. When creating social posts on Facebook and LinkedIn, it was important to get help and work collaboratively with his Italian coworkers. Overall, Nick was able to gain confidence in a new work environment and learned to have a more entrepreneurial mindset going forward.
“The work life balance in Italy was great there and it helped me see the diversity and differences in work as well as building relationships in the workplace”- Nick Bigliano
Social Experiences
Nick also took classes in Rome and had the opportunity to visit one of the largest food markets in Italy. While there, he learned about the importance of food and culinary culture in everyday life and in Italian business. During his time abroad Nick felt like a part of the country and community. Many locals took the time to help him learn the language and feel comfortable in the culture, at the restaurants and in the city of Rome.
Nick shared an experience with an Italian native while staying at an Airbnb in Venice. The host was extremely nice, giving free food, welcoming Nick to the home, and offering discounts at his glassblowing business. Nick was able to buy a gift for his mother so she could see the beauty of the art in Venice. Nick says that his experiences with locals were the highlight of his time in Italy. They demonstrated the cultural differences yet welcoming attitude of the country that made for an impactful experience.
Diversity in the Future
Through his experience working in Rome, Nick discovered many things about himself, the first being that he really enjoys data analysis. He also learned that the social life offered by where he lives, work life balance, and opportunities for travel in a job were valuable to him. By having this very different working experience, he was able to discover other ways of pursuing his path. When searching for a job when he returned, Nick made sure to look for opportunities that offered diversity and flexibility.
Working abroad opened Nick’s eyes to a new culture and way of living. He was able to get out of his comfort zone and enjoy so many different experiences. He hopes to bring those valuable experiences to his new at job at Protiviti, a consulting firm. He is very excited to be able to travel for his work, meeting peers and learning about other diverse cultures in the business world.
It is important to highlight not only our marketing students that come from diverse backgrounds, but students like Nick who purposefully looked for diverse experiences during their time at Kelley. Studying abroad is one great way for students to gain an appreciation for diversity, but we also encourage them to take advantage of the wide range of opportunities available here in Bloomington too.
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