Global Odyssey 5.0 was a student-led business and economics event, offering a hands-on experience in entrepreneurship, leadership, and teamwork. As one of the food department leaders, I was responsible for managing food stalls, coordinating, and ensuring smooth operations. Additionally, I set up my own food stall, where I handled budgeting, pricing, customer service, and sales. This CAS project challenged me to think critically, adapt under pressure, and apply real-world business skills, making it a valuable and rewarding learning experience.

LO1: Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth

This experience has helped me to further recognize my strengths in business and planning and decision-making, communication. I realized I was good at handling customer interactions and price strategies, but other areas, such as better time management and handling peak-hour rushes, need improvement .Reflecting on these experiences has helped me to further improve my ability to adapt and to find solutions quickly and efficiently. 

LO2 – Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills.

Running a food stall in a fast-paced event came with multiple challenges, including maintaining product quality, managing rush hours, and ensuring profitability. Through this experience, I developed adaptability, crisis management, and quick decision-making skills, which are essential in any business environment.

LO3:Initiate and plan a CAS experience.

Setting up and running a food stall required detailed planning and organization. From deciding the menu and sourcing ingredients to pricing and logistics, I had to think ahead and manage multiple aspects of the business. This experience taught me the importance of budgeting, marketing, and strategic planning, which are essential in real-world business management.

LO4: Perseverance and Commitment

Managing a stall at a large-scale event was challenging and required dedication, problem-solving, and resilience. There were moments when unexpected issues arose, such as supply shortages and high demand during peak hours, but I stayed committed to ensuring smooth operations. My ability to handle pressure and stay focused helped me successfully run the stall and make a profit.

LO5: Demonstrate skills and benefits of working collaboratively

As a food department leader, I worked closely with my team  and other department leaders to ensure the event’s success. Effective communication, coordination, and decision-making were key in maintaining smooth operations. This experience reinforced the importance of teamwork in executing large-scale projects and achieving shared goals.

LO7: Recognise and consider the ethics of choices and actions.

Running my food stall demanded a great deal more than just paying discounts or ensuring clients left my stall happy for high-quality food. As a leader, I also maintained values and integrity while using resources, fair treatment of others, and sound financial decision-making into the management of food stalls. Such an event taught a very great deal about ethics in business, and insight gleaned I added within CAS activities. 

This Global Odyssey 5.0 is much more than a business experience; it was a chance toward enhancing entrepreneurship skills, applying classroom learning in a practical manner, and building up leadership qualities. This CAS project has been one of self-discovery, where I flitted between being a thinker, a communicator, and a principled entrepreneur; it has proved to be, indeed, a worthy enriching experience that has reinforced my interest in business and management.