Sarah K in Peru!

They say all good things must come to an end. As I sit here on this plane home I am saddened by the absence of the Andes out my window, but so incredibly thankful for the past two weeks. We had so many amazing adventures, and were honored to meet some incredible people and businesses. This trip has truly been one of the most wonderful times of my life, getting to see another part of the world and be immersed in its history and culture. Peru will always hold a special place in my heart, and I am so excited to see the fruits born from these experiences.

History and Modernism

In Cusco it is easy to see how the city has changed over time. Just in the main square you can go from a grand Spanish cathedral to Inca ruins in just a few steps. And surrounding all of that are the modern tourism shops, restaurants, and even a McDonalds. The city continues to grow rapidly, with houses being built up into the mountain sides. Cusco seems to be bursting out of the valley.

Despite the rapid expansion, there are still protected ancient sights like Sacsayhuaman and Puka Pukara that sit atop their hills open to visitors. It is in places like these that you can stand in one period of history and look out at an entirely different one. It is also here that makes you think about how far the human race has come. Where the Inca kings used to walk, we now drive Ubers and buses, carrying visitors from far and wide.

At one time, there were people who wouldn’t have wanted ancient temples preserved for these tourists. But now, there are a good few who understand the importance of protecting that past alongside all modern advancements. As we learned more than a handful of times, the structures we got to explore and the ancient groups we learned about were close to being wiped from history. Luckily, there are those who brought it on themselves to prevent that from happening. Now days, we have organizations like UNESCO who aid in those efforts. We now have regulations and more awareness to how out everyday actions effect our surroundings.

Working for the Good of Others

For me, it is now even more clear the important work that is being done to keep historic sites like those in Cusco from being lost. We saw even more displays of similar efforts from the people at Manos de la Comunidad and Centro de Textiles Tradicionales. There are people out there who find the gaps between our traditional ties and modern ways and make sure we never lose them. It is nice to focus on businesses like those that are built on the principle of aiding the needs of others. They not only support local communities and help individuals support their families, but they help preserve something that runs even deeper.

One of the things I enjoyed so much about our corporate visits in Cusco was just that. You can see the intention behind each business pursuit, and how it was never for a selfish goal, but always focused on the betterment of others. It was very inspiring to see people who choose to go out on a limb and take the difficult roads. Now, the heavy lifting continues, but there are so many more people willing to lend a hand. That is the kind of connection you can only find in these community rooted organizations. It is a stark contrast to the corporations I learn about in my U.S. classrooms.

Social Responsibility: Principle vs Action

There are many companies who preach about their socially responsible or sustainable actions, but few who can actually show their impact on the communities they operate within. In Peru, it is so evident. The people who own businesses are proud of their work, but even prouder of where they came from. Family lines and culture run deep, and are expressed in everyday life. They are core values instead of just inspiration.

When speaking to our corporate leaders, they often discussed the difficulties they faced in many aspects of the business world. Whether navigating economic uncertainty, competition, or limited resources, they emphasized that the work still needed to be done. Their commitment to serving their communities and preserving their values motivated them to keep moving forward.

Authentic corporate social responsibility is not measured by profit but by the positive impact it could have on others. It is demonstrated through consistent actions that improve the lives of employees, customers, and the surrounding community. The Peruvians have a pretty good handle on that. Their entire social identity is built on top of the cultural foundations of providing for their families and for each other. They don’t see this responsibility as an obligation or business strategy, they see it as a cornerstone for all their actions.

Looking Back

From the textile companies, to the port, to Pachamanca and KPA, one strong theme stings them all together: the tie to their communities. I spoke about it in the paragraphs above, but I truly cannot put into words the dedication that these companies have put into taking care of all those around. There are some who focus on preserving the past generations, and some who focus on protecting the future ones. But they all share a common goal.

Going from the city, to the rainforest, to the valleys and mountains showed just how much collaboration is important to success of any kind. Peru’s landscapes and cultures are incredibly diverse, yet each region demonstrated that far reaching work of coming together for the greater good. Change takes time and lots of work, but thankfully there are some dedicated to those early stages and getting the ball rolling. That is often the hardest part.

I had a handful of conversations with some of my group mates about how the U.S. has become so individualistic. It was almost a culture shock to see how the community aspect came into play in Peru. Most of the time we think we’re so advanced here in the States, but now it feels as though we’ve lost something compared to the rest of the world. We have so many aspirations as a country, as political parties, as businesses and individuals. We want change, but are unwilling to start it or even wait for it.

Personal Reflection

I know I’ve said it over and over, but this trip was truly extraordinary. There is no way I can measure what kind of effect it has had on me, but I suspect it will it only be more evident as time goes on. This trip taught me so much about myself and about the world. But the biggest thing I took away was a better goal of what I want my future to look like. I plan to one day start my own business, and even though it won’t be all that similar to the kind we visited in Peru, I know the lessons I learned there will still apply.

I had a brief conversation with one of my group mates where I talked about my future business plans. I want to own my own bridal boutique one day, and he thought I meant designing my own line of wedding gowns. While that would have been middle school me’s dream, my dream now is to help women feel as beautiful and as special as possible on one of the biggest days of their lives. I want to create an environment where sacred experiences like that can come to life, and I can allow women to make their dreams come true.

I want to be the leader who helps others see their potential and get what they’ve always dreamed of. I’ve had the pleasure of having my own role models who have helped me achieve my goals, and I want to be able to pass it on. I want to be the one who builds others up, and help them see their potential and capabilities. I didn’t always enjoy being constantly referred to as the “cheerleader” in my friend circles because I always took that to mean I was stuck on the sidelines. But now I understand that wasn’t the case, and it has allowed me to see the importance of simple support and recognition.

To Peru

Without sounding too sappy, I’ll just leave it at a simple “thank you.” I will forever be blessed by my time in this beautiful country. I hope to one day return and share this joy with others, but also take these lessons farther into life and see where they take me. I am so incredibly lucky to have had this opportunity, and I won’t ever take it for granted!