As I reach the halfway point of my exchange in Sassari, Italy, it feels like the perfect moment to pause and reflect on this incredibly rich experience. What started with a delayed midnight arrival and a suitcase full of hopes has evolved into a journey of personal transformation, deep learning, and meaningful collaboration.
The first half of my stay has been nothing short of inspiring, still doubting on myself, my goals with EYE. Working closely with my host entrepreneur has given me access to a world that blends tradition, creativity, and modern entrepreneurship, EU funding opportunities, and meeting people and their partners from the EU in a truly unique way. I have spent time in the workshop observing their working process, talking with other partners, getting to know their stories, understanding how each entrepreneurship tells a story rooted in local culture, and learning how these stories are communicated to customers through branding, exhibitions, and digital marketing.
One significant milestone during this time was helping develop a new product concept that incorporates elements from both Sardinian and South Asian design. This cross-cultural brainstorming session not only brought fresh energy to the business but also sparked ideas for how I might integrate European influences into my own fashion business back in Germany. This moment showed me that collaboration can be a powerful tool for innovation, especially in the creative industries. I have visited many local shops to get ideas about craft and heritage businesses.
Of course, the experience hasn’t been without its challenges. Language barriers occasionally made communication a bit slow, especially when interacting with local entrepreneurs, shop owners, or older people. Cultural differences in work pace and expectations also required some adjustment on my part. But these challenges taught me patience, humility, and the importance of listening. I now see these moments not as obstacles, but as part of the learning curve of being in a truly international exchange.
In terms of the program’s objectives, I genuinely feel that the EYE experience is meeting, if not exceeding, its goals. I am gaining practical knowledge about running a small business, seeing firsthand how sustainable business ideas can be generated, and expanding my understanding of entrepreneurship within a cultural context. Most importantly, I am growing not just as a businesswoman, but as a person who wants to create meaningful, ethical impact through her work.
If I were to suggest any adjustments for the remainder of the exchange, it would be to incorporate even more structured feedback sessions between the host and the participant. While informal check-ins are helpful, setting aside dedicated time to reflect on tasks and receive mentorship would enhance the learning experience even further. I also hoped to spend more time on market analysis and digital branding as these are directly relevant to scaling my own business.
This experience so far has given me more than I imagined: not only knowledge and connections, but clarity I now have a clearer vision of where I want to take my business, how I want to position it, and what kind of values I want it to reflect. The EYE program has opened doors for me not just professionally, but internally, and for that, I am deeply grateful.