IB Graduate Offers Powerful Advice

Q: How did you prepare yourself for your professional goals?

A: First, I took French and German in high school. At ISU I earned a double major in French and International Business and minored in German. I also took advantage of the foreign language study-abroad program to become more fluent. Although speaking multiple languages has been important, the business courses I took gave me the valuable and essential skills that prepared me for my profession.

Q: What sorts of things were students most curious about?

A: They asked some very insightful questions about how business is conducted in other countries. Cultural differences can be enormous, so you need to truly understand the values and traditions you will encounter. It is also critical to understand the differences in laws and regulations you will encounter. You just can’t say “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

Q: What are the other important ideas you shared with students?

A: Probably the most important things I shared were my personal experiences about what it is really like living and working internationally. I grew up on a farm just outside of Towanda, but I always dreamed of life in distant places. Students need to see that sort of dream is possible if you prepare yourself for such opportunities.

 

Q: What impact is technology having on international business practices and relationships?

A: Technology has helped create bridges and streamlined things, but there are still important differences in how business in done from country to country that you must understand. Technology is a tool, but not a solution for all the challenges. Bottom line, it is still about people, communication, and building quality relationships.

Q: What are some things you wish you would have known when you were 20 that you know now?

A: I think there are three or four key lessons I’d go back and teach my younger self.

• First, get involved in as many relevant activities and clubs as you can while on campus. I didn’t take full advantage of these opportunities when I was at ISU. Now I realize I should have. Being part of clubs and organizations helps build knowledge, communication, organizational and relationship skills you need in business.
• Educate yourself about future opportunities by using the career center, networking with alumni, seeking advice from faculty and pursuing relevant internships before your final year.
• If you take something you should give back. I feel I was given a great deal by the college and my professors and now I know just how important it is to give back by sharing my experiences and understandings with current students.
• Be humble. Listen more than you speak because this is how you keep learning. Your education doesn’t stop with a diploma. Graduation is not an "end" to your journey. It is just the beginning. Learning is a continual progress as you advance through your
  life and career.

Q: Any parting words of wisdom?

A: "Wichtig ist, dass man nicht aufhört zu fragen" - Albert Einstein. "The important thing is to not stop questioning."