Every summer, Georgia Tech's Leadership for Social Good Study Abroad Program immerses students in the nonprofit and social enterprise sectors of Central Europe through coursework, cultural experiences, and internships with mission-driven organizations. Working alongside local leaders in Hungary, students move beyond the classroom to explore complex social challenges and discover how leadership rooted in collaboration, humility, and service can create lasting impact. As they reflected on their experiences, three themes consistently emerged:
On Lessons Learned
Throughout the program, students discovered that creating meaningful social impact is rarely about having all the answers. Instead, they learned the importance of listening, adapting to community needs, embracing cultural differences, and recognizing that even small moments of connection can have lasting significance.
"This program was able to be transformative by effectively shifting my perspective from a traditional, top-down model of service to a framework of authentic partnership... Witnessing the dedication of the staff and mentors at Kompánia taught me that sustainable social impact requires consistent, empathetic presence, and local empowerment."
Emely Carbajal (BSBA)"Alongside the many internal lessons I learned, traveling between foreign countries taught me a lot about cultural practices, differences, and similarities. I learned to avoid making assumptions based on my own, very limited perspective, and to instead actively absorb my surroundings."
Katherine Mangual (BSBA)
