How did your study abroad experience influence your career path?
My study abroad experience influenced every path I will take. I learned deeply about myself, my independence, and the cultures around me. I traveled to about 15 countries while I studied abroad and was always taking in new ways of living, new cultures, and different experiences. I think about it every day! It was influential in who I am as a person today. Working in global business since I graduated from Fairfield, I rely on my experience studying abroad to work in teams across various cultures, network with others, have an open mind, and think critically. I am confident in myself because I made my way through 5 months and 15 counties in other countries.
What’s the most important thing you learned from studying abroad?
The most important thing I learned studying abroad was that I am capable and I can do it. I learned so much in my classes, I learned from my host family but I mostly learned about myself and my abilities to have the best experience I could! I think living with a host family defined my experience.
What are you doing now and how does it relate to your study abroad experience?
I currently work at Korn Ferry, a global consulting firm in the software division called KF Digital. I work in pre sales answering proposals in our lines of business, I implement and run our knowledge base proposal management system, I support sales leaders in strategic projects, and support our solution architect and sellers. I work in global business, so my study abroad experience directly correlates to international business. I learned how to work across multi-cultural teams in Spain, how to effectively manage my time, how to plan, how to navigate new paths and confidently take on new responsibilities.
What advice would you give to prospective study abroad students?
My top advice I would give prospective study abroad students is take the plunge, take a chance and take the opportunity of a lifetime. You might never get another chance. I think about my study abroad experience daily and it’s been years since I went. I still speak with my host family and my friends I met there. It was the best experience of my life!
