By Scott Jackson
Roberto Muñoz didn’t expect his study abroad experience to take him to Germany. A finance major at the Carson College of Business who graduated in May, Muñoz originally hoped to study in the United Kingdom. His plans ultimately took him in a different direction—one that would expand his perspective and become a defining part of his college experience.
“I originally wanted to study in Scotland, but that application fell through. Mannheim ended up being one of the options that matched my credits, so I chose Germany almost last minute,” he said. “It turned into one of the greatest experiences of my life. I made some of my best memories there.”
Between building connections with peers from around the world, trips to iconic European destinations like Paris and Amsterdam, and finding academic success in a new country, Muñoz said the experience pushed him to grow in ways he hadn’t expected and underscored the value of his Carson business training.
An unexpected journey
Raised in Wenatchee, Muñoz came to WSU by following in his brother’s footsteps. He first chose to study accounting before discovering finance was a better fit. While his time in Pullman gave him foundational business skills, he said studying at the University of Mannheim helped reframe how he approached both his education and his future.
Arriving in Germany alone, Muñoz said he had to quickly learn to navigate an unfamiliar social landscape. Through Mannheim’s international student community, Muñoz said he was able to form a network of friendships with peers from across Europe, bonding over shared interests in soccer and their host country’s annual Oktoberfest celebrations. What started as a deliberate effort to make the most of his time abroad quickly became a turning point.
“I was introverted before I went abroad, but being there made me much more open to talking to people, and that’s something that feels a lot easier for me now,” he said. “I think business students have to learn how to talk to people. Whether you’re trying to get an internship, build connections, or work with clients, that matters.”
Applying lessons to future
Muñoz said traveling throughout Germany and to nearby countries, including a solo trip to Paris, helped him develop a greater sense of independence. At the same time, he saw how concepts from his finance coursework translated across borders, reinforcing the global nature of the field.
Even across international markets and currencies, Muñoz found many concepts he studied at Carson, like risk assessment and market analysis, carried over into his coursework abroad. That was especially clear while taking an investment course meant for master’s students, where he noticed parallels with classes he’d taken at home.
“If you’re a good finance student at WSU, you’ll be a good finance student anywhere,” he said.
Now approaching graduation, Muñoz is considering a range of paths, from using his finance training to support his family’s house cleaning business to pursuing opportunities in corporate finance. Whatever direction he chooses, he sees his international experience as a defining part of his college journey—one that continues to affect how he approaches both personal and professional challenges.
“I’d tell other students to just do it,” he said. “It was the best experience of my life so far, and once I found my community there, it gave me memories and experiences that really shaped who I am now.”
