Thoughts Over Thali

Jesse, part of the Crowdsourcing team and a friend/MBA classmate, and I were chowing down at our favorite thali place close to BVB college the other day. During our lunch, Jesse asked me what my thoughts were on international business and international development work after my experience thus far in India. It is an interesting question with a personally complicated answer.

One of the reasons I chose to participate in this program was to gain international business and entrepreneurial experience. I can unequivocally say that my experience thus far has exceeded my expectations in this regard and that I made the correct decision in choosing to spend my summer in India. Nothing surpasses gaining international experience better than physically working in a foreign country. Sure, I read up on "how to do business" in India and I spoke with individuals who have worked here as well as with Indian nationals. This helped prepare me for this summer but there is no way I could have fathomed the various challenges, issues, and rewards unless I was working in India. I strongly believe the same goes for entrepreneurism; until you jump in and start working, there is only so much you can learn through coursework and readings. For me, part of my interest and passion for entrepreneurism lies in the unpredictable nature of it; you must be adept at thinking on your feet, being nimble and flexible, and taking calculated risks. No better way to further hone these skills than to work on an innovative and entrepreneurial project (in India, no less!).

On the other hand, maybe this experience has taught me that international development may not be for me. I cannot say for certain as I keep vacillating between loving it and thinking that it is not my cup of tea. I am enthralled by the unique challenges international development presents and believe the ultimate reward of empowering others to enrich their own lives is an unparalleled goal. However, how do international development individuals know they are truly making a difference? What are appropriate metrics and evaluation methods to determine "success?" How do you overcome the sometimes surprising bureaucracy that can bring a fast-moving project to a sudden stop? These are just a few issues that I am constantly contemplating and ones without easy answers. Perhaps not knowing sufficient answers is what drives me away from pursuing international development as a career in the long-term.

I guess this may be just a natural feeling in any line of work but perhaps more so in international development. If nothing else, this summer has made me even further appreciate the individuals who devote their lives to the international development field. These select, unique individuals give up a lot to try to make other lives better. Many of us owe them a debt of gratitude for making sacrifices that many of us are not willing to make.

Ken