Seven graduating seniors from the Hyperion Council at the University of Miami Patti and Allan Herbert Business School recently traveled to Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala, where they worked with local entrepreneurs and community groups on financial literacy, business strategy, and sustainable growth initiatives.
Partnering with the nonprofit organizations Peacework and Pueblo a Pueblo, the students collaborated with members of one of the largest Indigenous Maya communities in the Americas, primarily Tz'utujil Maya.
The group focused much of its efforts on supporting a local beekeeping cooperative seeking to expand its honey business. Drawing on skills developed through their coursework and leadership experiences at Miami Herbert, the students worked directly with cooperative members to assess operational challenges and identify opportunities for long-term growth.
Their recommendations included guidance on budgeting, pricing strategy, branding, financial literacy, market expansion, and export strategy.
“I went over pricing techniques with the beekeepers, and those conversations were translated into the Tz’utujil language through consecutive interpreting by the director of the NGO,” said Esteban Petruzzello, associate professor of professional practice in economics and faculty advisor to the Hyperion Council. “Many of the cooperative members only spoke Tz’utujil, but judging by the questions and engagement, the concepts really connected. It was an unforgettable experience.”
In addition to consulting with the beekeeping cooperative, the students also led workshops for a women’s and mothers’ cooperative and a group of local teenagers interested in entrepreneurship. Sessions focused on building financial confidence, setting achievable goals, and introducing foundational business concepts participants could apply in their own communities and future careers.
More than 30 individuals participated in the workshops and consulting sessions throughout the region.
“The most meaningful part of the experience was seeing the impact of our work in real time,” said Logan Tridel, who recently graduated from the University of Miami. “Ideas that may have seemed simple from our perspective had the potential to make a meaningful difference in their businesses and day-to-day operations. At the same time, we learned just as much from them about entrepreneurship, resilience, and creativity.”
For Logan, the experience reinforced how business education can create impact far beyond the classroom.
“Every entrepreneur and organization we worked with had different needs, and we were able to tailor our recommendations accordingly,” she said. “The experience showed me how adaptable our education at Miami Herbert has made us and reinforced that business can be a powerful force for good.”
The experience also immersed the students in Guatemalan culture and offered a deeper understanding of community-driven economic development.
The Hyperion Council, a student organization dedicated to pro bono consulting and service initiatives, has previously completed similar international projects, including a trip to Costa Rica last year supporting rural entrepreneurs and students through business workshops.
