INTB 3355

ROCIO GARZA

Growing Into a Global Business Leader

This reflection highlights how studying the Global Environment of Business has shaped my leadership style, strengthened my strategic thinking, and influenced the way I approach entrepreneurship, communication, and future career goals.

Reflecting on My Growth as a Future Global Business Leader

When I began this course, I already knew that I wanted to build a successful business and become a stronger leader. As the owner of ByRocio, I had experience working with clients, creating websites, producing content, and helping small businesses build their brands. I felt confident in my creativity, communication skills, and ability to build meaningful relationships with the people I worked with.

At the same time, I knew there was still a lot for me to learn. I often approached challenges from a creative perspective, but I wanted to develop stronger leadership and strategic thinking skills. I wanted to better understand how businesses operate on a global scale, how successful leaders make decisions, and how culture influences communication and business relationships.

Looking back, I realize that leadership is much more than managing projects or delivering great work. It requires adaptability, continuous learning, and the ability to understand people with different experiences and perspectives. Entering this course, I hoped to strengthen those skills and become a more thoughtful leader, not only for my business today, but for the opportunities I hope to pursue in the future.

What I Learned

  • Strategic Planning

    How businesses think long-term.

  • Leadership

    Vision vs management.

  • Cultural Intelligence

    Understanding people before doing business.

  • Global Business

    Different countries require different approaches.

  • Communication

    Leadership depends on trust.

APPLYING IT TO BYROCIO

One of the biggest lessons I took away from this course is that leadership and global business concepts are not limited to large corporations—they can be applied to businesses of any size. Throughout the semester, I found myself using what I learned in my own business, ByRocio, as I worked with clients from different industries, personalities, and backgrounds.

The course encouraged me to think more strategically instead of simply focusing on completing creative projects. Whether I was designing a website, planning a content strategy, or consulting with a client, I began considering the bigger picture: Who is the target audience? How does this brand communicate its values? What strategies will help this business grow in the long term?

Learning about cultural intelligence also changed the way I approach communication. Every client has different expectations, communication styles, and goals. Rather than assuming everyone thinks the same way, I became more intentional about listening, asking questions, and adapting my approach to meet their needs. Building trust and understanding has become just as important as delivering high-quality work.

This course reinforced that successful leadership is not only about making decisions—it is about creating meaningful relationships, remaining adaptable, and continuously learning. Those are skills I now apply every day as I continue growing my business and working alongside clients.

While studying global business, I realized many concepts already applied to my business. Every client has unique goals, communication styles, and audiences. The course helped me think more strategically rather than simply creatively.

My biggest takeaways

  • Leadership begins with trust

  • Cultural intelligence creates stronger relationships.

  • Strategy matters more than reacting.

  • Communication builds successful teams.

  • Learning never stops.

Looking forward

As I continue building my career, I hope to grow ByRocio into a creative agency that serves businesses beyond Houston and eventually works with clients from different regions and cultures. This course has given me a stronger foundation for that goal by showing me that effective leadership requires much more than technical knowledge. It requires adaptability, cultural awareness, ethical decision-making, and the ability to inspire and collaborate with others.

Perhaps the most valuable lesson I will carry with me is the importance of being a lifelong learner. The business world is constantly changing, and successful leaders continue to grow alongside it. I want to remain open to new ideas, continue developing my leadership skills, and embrace opportunities that challenge me both personally and professionally.

Looking back, I can confidently say that this course has changed the way I think about leadership. It has helped me become more intentional in how I communicate, make decisions, and plan for the future. I am excited to apply these lessons as I continue growing my business and pursuing opportunities in marketing, entrepreneurship, and global business.