CAES Morocco: Leading Across Differences

One part of social status that stood out to me in Morocco was how the place where someone grows up can affect the opportunities available to them. Social status is often connected to income, education, occupation, and family background. Before this trip, I mostly thought about social status in terms of how much money someone had. After visiting Morocco, I realized that a person’s location can be just as important, especially when comparing rural communities with larger cities. As we traveled through Morocco, we saw modern cities, universities, farms, and smaller rural communities. The differences between these places made me think about how access to transportation and schools can shape a person’s future. A student living in a city may have several schools and services nearby, while a student in a rural area may have to travel a much greater distance. Even if both students have the same motivation and ability, they may not begin with the same opportunities. Our visit to ENA in Mekn...

One part of my identity that I had not thought much about before traveling to Morocco was how being male has influenced what I expect to see in workplaces and leadership positions. Gender roles are the expectations a society places on men and women regarding their responsibilities at home, at work, and in the community. During this trip, I became more aware that these expectations are not the same everywhere and that they can change over time. Before visiting Morocco, I assumed that women would have a limited role in business because of the country’s traditional culture. During our visits to cooperatives, farms, and other organizations, however, I saw women contributing to production, agriculture, and community development. Their work was not just providing additional help. In many cases, it created income for families and supported the surrounding community. Seeing this caused me to question some of the assumptions I had formed before the trip. Women’s cooperatives are especially ...