The importance of empathy and understanding in international business
By Kara
Through this experience, it became clear to me that in order to make a difference in the lives of others, it takes observation, understanding, and empathy.
During undergrad, I interned abroad for an international NGO that works to combat poverty worldwide. The organization wasn’t just giving money or supplies, but going into these communities, and providing people with necessary tools and the foundation to be able to fight for their rights. Through this experience, it became clear to me that in order to make a difference in the lives of others, it takes observation, understanding, and empathy. This is the essence of human-centered design and design thinking, learning not just what a user needs, but what they want: something they will actually use to solve the problem. I’m very passionate about wanting to work in international development and global justice, but I know I can’t make sustainable change without having a hands-on understanding. I wanted to be a part of this field seminar so I could have this international experience, and see for myself how people are using business to make a difference in the lives of others.
Now, I am excited to get to South Africa and get feedback on the projects we have been working on, as I believe it can be difficult to get out of this mindset that is the US way of doing business. With this class consulting project, it was more important than ever to first take a step back and analyze the environment we would be working in. After a PEST analysis (political, economic, socio-cultural and technological), we knew that addressing the problem in South Africa would not just be the duplicate of how we would address it in the US. Given how we still see impacts of systematic racism in our country today, even over half a century since the Civil Rights Movement, I’m expecting to see that the effects of apartheid still play a big role in the way South Africa operates. This system that established white minority rule, legally discriminating and separating people by race, ended not even 30 years ago. That information is crucial to consider when visiting and working with companies in Johannesburg. Still, our company’s feedback will also be crucial to our success, as there is no better resource for understanding the context of the problem than the people experiencing it firsthand.
I’m very much looking forward to visiting all of these organizations that are addressing social inequities across the country. I hope to specifically learn more about how social impact can also bring forth a profit, as I have come to believe that CSR has a positive impact on a company’s bottom line. Additionally, I am interested to learn more about how South Africa is adapting to and combating climate change. Overall, it will be enlightening to get a perspective outside of the limited one I have regarding “best practices” and social justice. What strategies and ideas are social impact professionals in Johannesburg using that could be applicable to business back home in the US? Aside from the experience itself, I hope to take away new insight and a breadth of knowledge that I may be able to use in my future social impact-related career.