Studying at CIMBA in the summer is definitely busy, but it’s also packed with exciting activities and unforgettable trips! Today, follow along with me as I take you through a day in the life of this incredible experience.
In the morning, I typically start my day with a walk around campus. The peaceful environment and beautiful surroundings provide a refreshing start. Both the campus and the town are peaceful and charming. The campus offers plenty of resources, including a workout room, outdoor courts, and a variety of planned activities.
Afterward, I return to my room to get ready before heading to breakfast, where I usually meet some friends. Each morning, we enjoy a croissant and an apple to fuel up for the day ahead.
This week, my first class, international marketing, starts at 9:45 AM. In this course, we're exploring how developing strong cultural intelligence can boost professional success, whether you're working abroad, leading diverse teams, or serving multicultural customers at home. Right now, we’re working in groups on a project where we’ve chosen a U.S.-based company and are adapting its marketing strategy to succeed in the Italian market. This class has been really enjoyable, offering a great balance between traditional classroom learning and hands-on experiences through field trips and real-world applications. It’s been rewarding to see how the concepts we discuss in class come to life outside the lecture hall. For example, we had the opportunity to see how products were being advertised in a local mall in the first week of class!
My next class is Introduction to Finance. In this course, we've been learning about the concept of Time Value of Money and how it plays a crucial role in evaluating stocks and bonds. It's been fascinating to see how financial principles apply to real-world investment decisions, and we're beginning to dive into practical examples that show just how important timing and interest rates are in determining value.
After that class, it’s finally lunch time! I meet up with my friends, and we head down to the cafeteria to grab some pasta, chicken, and salad. Lunch is our time to catch up and plan weekend trips. Today, we booked our Airbnb and train tickets for a trip to Florence and Rome.
Today, we had a field trip for our International Marketing class to the Mionetto Prosecco winery. During the visit, we divided into groups to explore the company’s history, the production process of prosecco, and the business and marketing strategies driving the brand. We then had the opportunity to observe the entire production line, including bottling, packaging, and distribution. Finally, we participated in a tasting session to experience their product firsthand. Overall, it was a valuable and insightful experience that deepened my understanding of both the industry and effective marketing practices.
After the field trip, we headed back to campus for a short break. Later in the afternoon, I joined a large group for a night trip to Bassano del Grappa. This charming town is full of history and definitely worth a visit. Once there, we enjoyed some delicious pizza, treated ourselves to gelato, and took a walk around town while connecting with other CIMBA students. One of the highlights was visiting the iconic wooden bridge, where you can still see bullet holes from a battle that took place in the 1790s. It was a great way to experience local culture and history while spending time with friends.
After an eventful night, we returned to campus. I spent some time studying and preparing for another full day ahead tomorrow! This experience has not only helped me grow academically but also allowed me to build meaningful friendships and gain valuable cultural insights that I know will benefit me long after the program ends. I look forward to the next adventures to come!