In the summer of 2024, I had the opportunity to intern at MAS Holdings in Colombo, Sri Lanka, a leading apparel manufacturer. I also spent time in Vietnam, Thailand, and Japan, where I visited footwear factories, apparel factories, packaging factories, and tier 2 suppliers. The internship was an incredible learning experience, but what I think is so special about spending so much time in Asia is the experience outside of work. From the good to the bad, the exciting to the intimidating, I gained so much from these experiences that I will never forget. They taught me about different cultures, markets and communication styles. Above all, I gained invaluable empathy, which I will have forever.