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Global Sourcing Spotlight: How Travel Has Enhanced My Life and Work

One of the great things about my job as president of ASC Global Sourcing is that I get to travel around the world, and the best part about that is meeting people of all nationalities and origins.

Although we all come from various and different backgrounds, in so many ways we are the same. Most of us share the same family values and love of our country. When it comes to taking our work seriously and wanting to do the best job, we also have pretty similar beliefs.

I was talking to a friend and fellow traveler recently, and we came up with a number of ways that our lives are enhanced through our travels and through experiencing other countries, people, and cultures. Frankly, I was amazed that there were so many.

Here is a list of what together my friend and I came up with (and this was only two Guinness’s):

Trade networks: Globalization has interconnected economies worldwide, enabling the exchange of goods and services across borders and allowing access to the best products from different regions. This was an easy one since it is what I actually do for a living. When I think about what international business must have been like even 50 years ago and what it is like today, the changes are simply amazing. There are so many open channels where we can get products—often even better, in some cases—it blows me away.

Internet and e-commerce: Online platforms facilitate easy access to products from around the world. With just a few clicks, you can order items from distant places and have them delivered to your doorstep. I remember having to drive over to O’Hare, hand-carrying boards to be shipped overnight to California. Never mind sending something to Europe and forget about Asia. Think how different that is today. Remember making an international phone call and those rates? It was also quite a big deal to move around just a few years ago. What I do every day with global sourcing would have been next to impossible even 20 years ago.

Cultural exchange: Through travel, social media, and international events, people can experience and appreciate diverse cultures, including their cuisines, arts, and traditions, without leaving their own communities. I believe this to be the most valuable part of my travels.

International cuisine: Restaurants and food markets offer a variety of cuisines from different countries, allowing people to taste authentic dishes without traveling abroad. Shh! Don’t tell anybody about this or I’ll end up paying them for my job. The fact that I can taste food all around the world and in the best places is a gift that keeps on giving as far as I’m concerned.

Language learning: Language learning resources and platforms make it possible for individuals to learn languages spoken in different parts of the world, fostering communication, and understanding across cultures.

Global education: Universities and online learning platforms offer courses taught by experts from various countries, providing access to top-quality education regardless of geographical location.

International collaboration: Scientists, researchers, and innovators collaborate across borders to tackle global challenges, leading to advancements in technology, medicine, and other fields for the benefit of all. This is especially true in electronics as well. To be able to visit the best companies building the best products and not be limited by geographical borders (well, mostly) is a real gift to the companies I help. The fact that I can go to South Korea for the best flex and rigid-flex boards, to Japan for the most advanced HDI boards, and to China for the best overall value in high-tech and high-volume PCBs, is a true advantage of operating in a global market.

Cultural exchanges and festivals: Events like music festivals, film screenings, and art exhibitions feature artists and performers from diverse backgrounds, allowing people to experience different cultural expressions firsthand. Okay, I don’t get to participate in many of these events but just being in a country during a special event is something to behold.

Global brands: Multinational corporations bring products and services from around the world to consumers everywhere, offering a wide range of choices and ensuring access to the best offerings from various regions. Some people might not like it, but I love the idea of getting a McDonald’s No. 1 Value Meal in Shanghai that will taste the same as the one at McDonald’s in St. Charles. Sometimes, the one is Shanghai is actually better.

Environmental conservation efforts: Global initiatives and organizations work together to address environmental issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss, recognizing that the health of the planet affects everyone regardless of nationality.

Social media and connectivity: Social media platforms connect people across continents, allowing them to share ideas, experiences, and resources instantly, fostering a sense of global community.

The lessons I have learned, the things I have experienced, and the friends I have made since I started working on global sourcing have given me a world view that I will be eternally grateful for.

Bob Duke is president of the Global Sourcing Division at American Standard Circuits.