85 MapleCruz in Bolivia

Team 12 Poster

Team Reflection

When we reviewed the companies and voted on which one to choose, MapleCruz S.R.L. stood out to everyone. We were drawn not only to the sector they operate in but also to their ethical and innovative approach. MapleCruz’s core business is creating egg cartons from recycled paper and cardboard, a sustainable practice they view not as just a box to check off, but as an opportunity to make a profit while helping the environment.

The interview reinforced our confidence that we had chosen the right company. As we spoke to the founders, we were captivated by how their passion, ambition, and commitment to helping others led them to where they are today. Founded in 1993, when Rony and Teddy were barely 25 and 22, MapleCruz began as a vision shared by two recent university graduates determined to create something of their own. Driven by love for their community of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, they recognized their hometown’s potential and believed in its promising future. After identifying that the Bolivian market had a need for a domestic egg carton producer, they pursued their idea relentlessly, turning it into a successful reality. We were inspired, imagining being a young adult with so much faith and determination to follow through on an idea and then actually making it work. We were pleasantly surprised by the owners’ willingness to share what they do and answer our questions. Each question was answered with passion and each answer showed years of experience and hard work.

Furthermore, when we asked which values the owners considered to be the most important, they highlighted the importance of hard work and transparency. We were a little surprised, as we expected them to include something along the lines of sustainability or environmental responsibility. However, as we talked to them, we realized that transparency is the foundation of their approach to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). When companies are transparent about their operations, environmental impact, and sustainability goals, they can be held accountable and establish trust with customers, suppliers, and the community. By being transparent, MapleCruz S.R.L. shows their commitment to sustainability is genuine, rather than engaging in “greenwashing.” Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a concept we had previously learned about, often seeing it only as a way for companies to build a positive reputation and strengthen relationships with customers and communities. However, this company exemplifies how, by being transparent and responsible in environmental, social, economic, and ethical matters, CSR does more than enhance reputation, it gives a sense of purpose to everyone working with and for the company.

We can’t help but mention an important piece of advice Teddy and Rony shared. When we asked what their main advice regarding innovating was, they said: “At first, don’t focus so much on having a high margin; instead, reinvest in the company to foster growth.” (R. Marancenbaum, October 21st, 2024) Today, we often hear about new businesses that grow exponentially or become highly profitable within their first few years, but this isn’t always the reality. Innovating takes time, along with a willingness to experiment and learn through trial and error. Although our initial instinct might be to try to maximize short-term profits, building a solid foundation is often more beneficial. By reinvesting early on, a business can set the stage for sustainable growth, long-term success, and greater profitability down the line.

Shifting the focus to the Sustainable Development Goals, it was enlightening to see how concepts we learn about in the classroom are actively applied by successful companies. We were pleased to hear that MapleCruz S.R.L. works towards the fulfillment of three of these goals. While their activities primarily contribute to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), the owners expressed particular enthusiasm for supporting SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). We learned that Bolivia is currently facing a period of major instability, which has mainly affected the agricultural sector. The brothers are proud to contribute to their city’s economic growth by sourcing raw materials and employees locally. This approach not only helps reduce unemployment but also contributes towards economic stability within the community. By creating local employment opportunities, they contribute to improved living standards and stimulate economic activity.  Additionally, the local sourcing of raw materials does not only stimulate the local economy, but also reduces emissions arising from long distance transportation, aligning with sustainable practices while also reducing the company’s costs.

Another key takeaway was that sustainability needs to be embedded in the company’s culture. Despite being a for-profit business, this company started with the purpose of not only benefitting from the community, but also giving back to it. By creating jobs, sourcing raw materials locally, and having an ethical production process, MapleCruz S.R.L. ‘s owners are certain that their business does not only benefit them and their families but also serves as an example for other Bolivian business owners. However, sustainability needs to be accompanied by a deep sense of ambition to develop to its full potential. We realized that ambition is what fuels the desire to make significant changes that benefit not just our organizations, but also the planet and society. Additionally, it helps us set long term goals in our organizations, focusing on sustainable practices rather than on short term gains. Rony and Teddy encouraged us to be ambitious and pursue our ideas. MapleCruz S.R.L. will definitely be an example and an inspiration if any of us decide to develop our own business.

Individual Reflections

Tyara Marancenbaum

Overall this experience was really nice and everything went well. As all our teammates worked together and communicated with each other without a problem, everything went smoothly. Regarding the time zones, in the first meeting we discussed the time zones and everyone chose a day and time so everyone could attend so we could do the weekly meetings. Also, working with my classmate and doing the interview with my family company was really nice and I was happy about seeing my father and uncle explain what the company does. I was very proud to see my teammates like my family’s company overall and find it interesting. It was a different experience and everything went amazing. I think it was an amazing opportunity to learn how to conduct an interview to business owners and learn from different perspectives. Overall this project helped me envision in what ways I want to work with and what types of companies I would like to work with..

Gabriella Sanchez

Working on the Aim2Flourish assignment was a very valuable experience. When the project was introduced, I was slightly skeptical as I was going to be teamed up with people whose work ethic was unknown to me. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered that everyone in the team was equally dedicated to cooperate and divide tasks and responsibilities. My responsibility was to carry out the interview along with Tyara, as we were the Spanish speakers of the group. I’m thankful this project allowed me to interact with an established company, an experience which I think could be highly beneficial whenever I’m faced with a future work or internship interview. Besides finding a time slot for meetings which suited everyone, the process ran smoothly. The mix of cultures provided a great balance which allowed us to fall into a productive work rhythm.  Despite the cultural differences, we understood each other well and had no problem communicating over text message and over the meetings. Aim2Flourish was definitely a pleasant surprise and I think what I learned here will be extremely useful if I pursue starting my own business in the future.

Shahad Nasser Odhaib 

My first exposure to working with international students in the COIL assignment presented an opportunity that I knew would at once be challenging and rewarding. Major challenges initially faced included timing since trying to coordinate across different time zones proved to be a major obstacle. After several discussions, though, we found a schedule that would suit all, and that taught me flexibility and adaptability in a multicultural environment. It made me meet new people and gain new ideas on different topics. I learned a lot about how other cultures tackle problem-solving and collaboration, which broadened my view of teamwork beyond what I’m used to. I realized that each person’s unique perspective added value to my experience, making it even richer. This project also helped in building my communication skills. Due to the language barriers and different points of view, I had to be clear and patient to explain what I meant, which enhanced my articulation. All in all, this was a really rewarding experience because it not only allowed me to successfully complete my assignment but also provided lessons regarding cultural sensitivity, teamwork, and adaptability. I look forward to more opportunities like this in the future.

Dimah Alzunaytan

As a member of this virtual team, I found the experience to be full of challenges and benefits. Working with team members from diverse cultural backgrounds offered a unique opportunity to understand different perspectives and approaches, which helped me appreciate diversity and the importance of respecting cultural differences. Managing these cross-cultural dynamics wasn’t always easy, but it taught me a lot about the value of patience and open communication. In terms of communication, we didn’t face any notable issues since we were united by the English language, even though it isn’t our native tongue. This served as a bridge that made our discussions and deliberations smoother and more effective. Everyone was committed to listening and openly sharing their opinions, which helped us build a positive and constructive communication environment. One of the biggest challenges was dealing with different time zones, which required flexibility from each member to coordinate meeting schedules and task deadlines. Despite these difficulties, this experience helped us develop strong organizational skills for setting meeting times and deadlines. Overall, this experience added a new dimension to my teamwork skills and deepened my understanding of the importance of diversity and virtual collaboration.

Jonathan Parcher

As a first time member of an international project, I found this experience to be extremely beneficial and enjoyable. At first, I believed it would be a concern to rely on others from different time zones, without knowing their work ethic or values. I assumed this due to the fact that I have had other domestic group projects in the past go poorly due to others’ lack of work ethic. I am happy to say I was pleasantly surprised and very lucky to get such a strong group of hard workers. Each and every one of us made it just a little bit easier to get work done on time and properly, which made for a smooth overall project. Another difference that I had not thought of until the project was underway was the division of tasks. Since this project had six group members, and there were three major tasks, we each got to have a team of two working on a single segment. This allowed us to streamline the process of working with others and not having to rely on opposing time zones, which was hugely beneficial to us in the end. As well, everyone had no problem delegating which tasks were to be completed by which people, as many of us were okay working on whatever we could. I believe this COIL assignment has been helpful to the influence of my desire to work with others across borders, and potentially could influence a future desire to elect myself for international projects in my business career. All in all, this assignment has been nothing except an opportunity to make the most of it.

Peter Bahrami

As a member of my group through this experiential activity, I could not emphasize how important communication was in this context. If the planning had not been done properly, as well as managing and working with differing time zones, it could have resulted in many complications. During our first meeting, we made sure to properly pan out our schedules collectively, and went over to find the exact time frame that works best for everyone. I felt very confident about this activity, especially after meeting my group members. Everyone worked to make sure they met their deadlines and communicated if anything came up, ensuring we were always on track and if not, we were able to tackle the obstacle that came about. It was also very helpful to have not only the professors providing guidelines, but also all the students to make sure deadlines were being met and everyone had a clear understanding of what was being asked. As I have never done an activity like this before, I did have doubts and was questioning how it would go due to the time difference. I have fostered friendships from different countries, and gone through the obstacles of working with a different time zone and I believe it was very successful. As of now I would be more open to it again as I have experienced it and seen it was successful and an overall great experience.