A Model of Sustainability Students explored real-world applications of sustainable business practices in the Social Innovation in Scandinavia Spring Term Abroad course.

By Emily Innes
May 27, 2025

At Washington and Lee University, Spring Term is an exciting opportunity for students to dive deeply into a subject for four weeks and immerse themselves in experiences beyond the classroom. For the students taking Social Innovation in Scandinavia, Spring Term offers the chance to become a “flaneur entrepreneur” amid the innovative urban landscapes of Stockholm, Gothenburg, Sweden, and Copenhagen, Denmark. Based on German philosopher Walter Benjamin’s concept of the flaneur as the quintessential urban spectator, students must identify unique business opportunities based on their observations abroad.

Taught by Drew Hess, interim associate provost for academic development and operations and the Ehrick Kilner Haight Sr. Term Professor of Business Administration, Social Innovation in Scandinavia introduces students to the business, history and culture behind sustainability initiatives in Scandinavia, taking a theoretical and practical look at how social innovation has flourished in the region. The course culminates in a digital pitch presentation in which students identify and explain an original socially focused business opportunity based on their interactions with Scandinavia’s unique business practices.

At the heart of the class is the opportunity for students to observe how sustainability works in practice by engaging directly with entrepreneurs, designers and public officials who are building and testing solutions to social and environmental problems in real time. This immersive environment is the hallmark of W&L’s Spring Term classes, particularly those taught abroad, and the hands-on learning experiences help students gain new insights and skills that foster their personal and academic development. And for Hess, watching students translate their experiences into their own social venture ideas and learn to connect values to action and theory to practice is the most exciting part of teaching the course.

“What makes this course truly transformative is how it pushes students beyond their initial perceptions of a country and into more grounded, empathetic perspectives,” said Hess. “Through site visits and conversations with [business leaders], students begin to understand sustainability as a dynamic process shaped by cultural context, constraints and creativity. They gain empathy for different ways of seeing the world and start to ask smarter, more nuanced questions about what meaningful change looks like.”

This potential to be introduced to new perspectives initially drew Elias Eichhorn ’27 to the class, as well as the chance to gain deep insights and hands-on experience with the Scandinavian model of sustainability and innovation.

“Sweden and Denmark are known to be at the forefront of global economic success, despite their strict environmental protection measures and progressive social policies,” said Eichhorn. “The numerous conversations we’ve had with individual companies, government officials and ordinary people have enabled me to further strengthen my diversified worldview beyond what theories can teach.”

An environmental studies and business administration double major, Eichhorn was interested in further investigating the Nordic welfare state and comparing it to the United States and his home country of Germany. Exploring the interplay between the Nordic, American and German systems has proven to be an important step in his path to a career focused on corporate sustainability and environmental, social and governance investing principles.

“The opportunity to broaden your own horizons and learn about other countries and their successful business structures and social innovations is a unique experience, especially in times of a highly globalized world,” Eichhorn said.

Sofia Iuteri ’27 agrees that the Social Innovation in Scandinavia course fulfills a central purpose of studying abroad, which she says “is not to change one’s opinions on which social, political or economic model is the most optimal, but rather, to reflect constructively on the strengths and weaknesses of both one’s home country and the society being studied.” Like Eichhorn, Iuteri has felt that learning to understand and embrace the differences between societies has deepened her study abroad experience, and she appreciates being able to engage in real-world observation of concepts and practices she’s learned about in the classroom but that might be easy to overlook without this experiential component.

Iuteri also brings a unique perspective to the class as an entrepreneur herself and has found the insights she’s gained to be particularly applicable to her own career goals. An economics and environmental studies double major with a minor in entrepreneurship, Iuteri is the founder of the nonprofit Hats4Healing, which donates handmade hats to pediatric cancer patients, and she recently launched a magazine called The Experience Exchange LLC, which focuses on combating the extinction of experience within the W&L and surrounding communities. On campus, she is also an active member and project leader of the Connolly Entrepreneurship Society.

“This course aligns closely with the ventures I’ve built throughout high school and college as well as my professional aspirations,” said Iuteri, who plans to work in the start-up and venture capital space and focus on producing a positive social impact. “The experience has deepened my passion for social entrepreneurship and broadened my perspective on sustainable business practices and their integration across different cultural and economic contexts.”

Social Innovation in Scandinavia also became an important stepping stone for Connor Smith ’26, who decided to take the class because it was the perfect intersection of his interests in politics, sustainability and economic development, and aligned with his long-term goal to work in sustainable real estate development. Many of the seminars and site visits the class participated in focused on the transformation of former industrial spaces to meet the evolving needs of growing urban populations, which caused Smith to consider how thoughtful urban planning can respond to community needs while advancing sustainability goals as he plans for his career.

Smith particularly appreciated the cultural exchange at the heart of a study abroad experience, and how being physically present in the environment he’s studying made the material more engaging and memorable.

“Immersing myself in Swedish culture through the language, food, social norms and everyday life added a personal layer to the experience that I didn’t fully anticipate,” said Smith, an international politics and environmental economics double major. “While the U.S. gets many things right, there is a lot we can learn from the way Denmark and Sweden approach community development and long-term planning. This experience has challenged me to think more globally and critically about how policy and culture shape the way societies function.”

Paige McBoyle ’26, a neuroscience major and entrepreneurship minor, also found that immersing herself in the local environments not only deepened her understanding of the course material, but also encouraged personal growth, reflection and maturity. As a student-athlete on the women’s swimming team, being able to participate in a four-week study abroad was a meaningful and dynamic experience that deepened her cultural understanding, strengthened her adaptability and created lasting connections with classmates.

“Being abroad has profoundly enriched the class experience by providing a hands-on, immersive approach to learning,” McBoyle said. “Traveling through Stockholm, Gothenburg and Copenhagen allowed me to engage directly with diverse cultures and observe sustainable business practices first-hand, all while forming meaningful friendships. Additionally, interacting with local entrepreneurs, government officials and community members has brought the academic content to life in a powerful and lasting way.”

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