An American in Athens: Nicholas Ernest learns the language of global business
By Megan Nash
When you’re in a foreign country, don’t speak the language and have something to accomplish, sometimes, things can go right.
For Nicholas Ernest (B.S. ’26), a junior at the VCU School of Business majoring in supply chain management, that “something” came out of nowhere. Near the end of the spring 2024 semester, he attended the Business Internship & Career Fair, unsure about his summer plans.
It was then that a friend mentioned the International Consulting Program (ICP), a study abroad program that gives students the opportunity to collaborate on cross-cultural consulting projects with peers from an overseas university–this year, the American College of Greece. For Ernest, it was a chance to finally see the world.
“I made the decision then and there,” he later wrote in a reflective essay. And on the final day to apply, he clicked “submit”–a decision made easier after receiving support from the Steiner Family Scholarship Fund, a VCU award that supports students in experiential learning programs.
“This meant the world to me and helped alleviate financial burden,” he said.
Structured in two parts, the program opened in Richmond, where students from the American College of Greece arrived for a two-week cultural exchange and consulting project with their VCU peers. Ernest became a host, sharing his favorite corners of the city and offering a window into American life.
“Everyone has their preconceived notions of the place they are visiting,” he wrote. “I wanted to show them the America I know–the good, the bad, the whole picture.”
Their consulting project with Shoosmith Construction, a Virginia-based firm specializing in site development and industrial services, became an exercise in navigating cultural differences. As Greek students raised questions about consumer expectations, the VCU students rethought familiar business assumptions.
“There were clear differences in educational culture and how each group worked,” he said. “But playing to those differences and using them to our advantage made the project that much more satisfying.”
The second leg of the program took Ernest to Athens, this time as a guest. “Immersion was my goal,” he wrote. “I wanted to gain a complete understanding of their daily life, their food, their outlook and their business culture–if I could allow myself to let go.”
In Greece, the students met face-to-face with their client, CLEAN iT, a tech startup and platform that connects users with certified cleaning professionals. Meeting Evelina Mavridis, Clean iT’s founder, left an impression on Ernest. “She was dynamic, blunt and incredibly knowledgeable,” he wrote, noting her commitment to customer experience and her determination to change a stagnant market.
Their assignment was to help CLEAN iT prepare for expansion into Bulgaria–a challenge that required understanding both cultural and business dynamics.
“This was my first time being up close and personal with a startup,” he wrote in his essay.
“Our team was tasked with understanding the cleaning market in Bulgaria. This required us to understand the cultural differences in two countries foreign to me.”
Working with CLEAN iT showed Ernest that bringing a product into a new market was about more than just strategy–it was about understanding people. His Greek teammates shared a grounded perspective about Bulgarian consumers, teaching him that a successful entry would mean adapting to local expectations.
“In Clean iT’s case, this meant meeting the customer where they were at, oftentimes having to invest in education,” he wrote. “We understood the importance of building trust, so we proposed hiring a Bulgarian speaker to bridge the cultural gap.”
But it was Greece itself that left the deepest impression. During a weekend trip to the island of Aegina, Ernest and his classmates unwound by the sea, where they shared meals and stories. One evening, they hiked up to Acropolis Rock, where Athens stretched out beneath them in every direction, glowing under the setting sun. “It was once in a lifetime,” he said.
Ernest’s Greek peers began calling him “Nikos,” a nickname that made him feel part of their circle, connecting him to a side of Greece that felt less like a visitor’s experience and more like family.
“Greek hospitality is a term that is known around the world, and we had the pleasure of witnessing it first-hand,” he wrote. “The Greek people often prioritize building trusting relationships, finding fulfillment in offering help without expecting reciprocation.”
As his flight took off from Athens, he knew he would return someday. “Travel opens up spaces in yourself you didn’t know existed,” he later wrote. “I know that I must see more, but Athens will forever hold a special place.”
Now, as he prepares for the next chapter of his studies in supply chain management, Ernest is driven by a new perspective.
“I want to use my skills, opportunities and experience crossing cultural boundaries in Greece as a jump-off point for a career internationally,” he wrote. “I have aspirations of being a citizen of the world.”
“Being an ambassador to students from another place and then receiving the same treatment in their home was amazing. I formed friendships I will never lose.”
For information on the International Consulting Program, contact Emory Gunn, manager of international initiatives for Graduate Studies, or Katie Gilstrap, associate professor of Marketing at the School of Business. Visit the VCU Global Education Office website for additional programs, updates and application deadlines for ICP 2025.
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