Nadia Rahimatpure is an MSc ’25 candidate (International Business stream) who spent the summer working in Lima, Peru as a Retail and Strategy Consultant with Promart Home Centre, a chain of shopping malls, for the Ivey Global Lab. Through that experience, she created a new inventory assortment model and identified top-performing product lines as well as gained cross-cultural competence. In her blog below, she writes about key takeaways, including how her Global Lab experience prepared her, not just to work in another country, but to embrace the unexpected.
As someone who has spent a vast majority of my life navigating new cultures, I thought I knew what to expect from new international experiences. Then came my Ivey Global Lab experience in Lima, Peru. Having always been fascinated by the Incas of Peru and by Amazon illustrations as a child, I had dreamed of visiting Peru for years. I finally had that opportunity through the Ivey Global Lab. The experience went far beyond the typical professional exchange – it was an incredibly transformative journey. From daily language challenges to intricate workplace experiences, my time in Peru pushed me in ways I never anticipated.
Learning through language
Previously practicing in classrooms, I didn’t just improve my ability to speak Spanish while in Peru; I lived through it. In every conversation, I found myself stepping into a realm where language was more than a means of communication – it was the key to unlocking the wisdom, humour, and depths of the people around me. Spanish became my guide to navigating the subtleties of Peruvian life, and linguistic nuances revealed insights I could never have accessed through English alone. The more I learned, the more empowered I felt to not just blend in, but also to stand out. Engaging in the local life and conversations with colleagues became a deep dive into their values and experiences, unfiltered by translation. I realized that immersing myself in the local language was key to building cultural competence, something I've always valued in international experiences.
Understanding my workplace through cultural immersion
Our courses in the MSc program on cross-cultural management, internationalization, and business communications came to life in the Peru office. My initial approach, rooted in frameworks and theories from Strategy and Operations courses, quickly evolved as I saw how cultural nuances and leadership styles shaped every decision, conversation, and action. We developed an understanding of the local culture and its many contexts through working side-by-side with local professionals, and much of our project’s success relied on this applied learning. It was about more than just meeting targets; it was about understanding the cultural rhythms and social dynamics that influence the business. I could see that cultural awareness, adaptability, and humility were as crucial as strategy itself. This understanding will stay with me, whether I work internationally or with a multicultural team.
The team I never knew I needed
The MSc program’s emphasis on teamwork truly came to life in Peru as my team became an unexpected cornerstone of my experience. Our group, one of the most diverse in the cohort, brought together individuals with distinct backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, creating a synergy I had not anticipated. If unharnessed, however, the same group could have become eruptive if it were not for everyone’s commitment to unconditional collaboration.
“You all can’t sleep until we’ve played our daily round of Spy,” said Viddhi Laddha, one of my MSc teammates, because we enjoyed playing the game, Spy every day during our commute by minibus. My teammates became more than assigned colleagues – they became an unlikely source of constant growth, support, friendship, and learning.
Lessons on tolerance for ambiguity
Peru taught me to dance with the unknown. My experience with the Ivey Global Lab wasn’t just about navigating a different country, but about fully embracing the unexpected. In Peru, I learned that not everything could be controlled or planned, and sometimes, the best outcomes come from being comfortable with discomfort and open to unthinkable possibilities. Whether it was grappling with unexpected work challenges, conflicting interests, or fighting soroche (altitude sickness), these moments expanded my tolerance for ambiguity in ways no classroom could.
The socio-cultural and economic contrasts of Peru gave me a fresh perspective on international differences and unique business challenges. My time in Peru became more than a professional assignment – it was a life lesson on human connection, humble resilience, and the importance of a global mindset. I cried on the beautiful ride up to Machu Picchu, a 15th-century Inca citadel in the middle of a tropical mountain forest. I surfed standing for the first time in the Pacific Ocean. And I heartily danced salsa with a live local band. Engaging in Peru’s incredible liveliness with my Ivey mates and locals alike made my heart full. And as I leave Peru behind, it’s the rich memories of these lasting human connections, along with the broader understandings I gained, that will stay with me long after the work is done.
View more photos below
Nadia Rahimatpure at Nor Yauyos Cochas Waterfalls
The team at Promart
Global Lab participants at a birthday celebration at Dhaasu
Nadia Rahimatpure in Chinchero
The Global Lab group at Islas Ballestas
A view of Nor Yauyos Cochas in Huancaya
Global Lab participants at Huaca Pucllana
The sunset in Paracas
The Ivey Global Lab group in Chinchero
The view from Machu Picchu
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