Alumni Stories

Current Job: Coordinator at Pathfinder International

What has your career been since graduating from Colby?
I graduated from Colby in May 2015. In October 2015, after spending the summer as a research assistant for Professor Lindsay Mayka, I started working at Pathfinder International, a global sexual and reproductive health organization with headquarters in Boston. I’m currently serving as a coordinator for Pathfinder’s team of technical advisors. Our technical advisors provide guidance and expertise in a range of technical areas (e.g., abortion, HIV, contraception) to strengthen the implementation of Pathfinder’s projects in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. So far, I’ve traveled for Pathfinder to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to write a project report for a donor and to Kenya to write a USAID/PEPFAR grant proposal.

How did being a Global Studies major give you advantages for after you graduated?
Global Studies’ interdisciplinary program allowed me to concentrate on topics that align with my international development interests and develop relevant skills for the field. My work in sexual and reproductive health is extremely interdisciplinary and constantly draws from anthropology and political science practices (I double majored in government and minored in anthropology). An understanding of economics (e.g., supply side barriers to the availability of contraceptives in Pakistan) and history (e.g., how colonialism influences current political instability in the DRC) are also crucial in my work. And of course, language is essential—I often use French to work with our Francophone teams. Additionally, courses with government and anthropology professors Lindsay Mayka, Laura Seay, Elsa Fan, and Karin Friederic, among many others, taught me valuable skills in analyzing approaches to development and governance and in qualitative research.

Where did you study abroad, and how did that experience impact you?
I completed my freshman fall in Dijon through the Colby program. Jon Weiss was a wonderful professor and mentor, and I loved my time in France. It also advanced my French skills, which are crucial for my career. I am extremely thankful for the summer/JanPlan internships that I completed in Kashmir, India, Liberia, and Guatemala with the support of Colby internship funding. Those experiences gave me an inside look at the operations of local and international NGOs in the field, exposure to project management and implementation, and valuable cross-cultural communication skills. If I hadn’t interned in Liberia during the Ebola crisis, I’m not sure that I would have entered global health. Experiencing Ebola first-hand was life-changing—and I never would have had that opportunity without Colby’s support (huge thanks to Professor Laura Seay for preparing me to work in Liberia and enabling me to write an article for The Washington Post on my observations of Liberia’s Ebola crisis).

How did Colby in general help guide you in your career?
Colby provided me with invaluable experiences, knowledge, and relationships. In addition to gaining real-world work experience abroad through internship opportunities, I worked as a research assistant for both Professor Laura Seay and Professor Lindsay Mayka. They allowed me to closely observe and participate in their research and projects. More than that, they are two examples of the many Colby professors who deeply care about civic engagement and their students’ growth and wellbeing. At Colby, I was also thrilled to find student leadership opportunities and intellectual communities—for me, that was primarily through the Oak Institute for the Study of International Human Rights and its student committee. While I might not have known it at the time, my experience leading the Oak Institute’s student committee provided me with project coordination skills that enabled me to successfully approach relevant assignments in my work today. I also loved every minute of my engagement with the Oak Institute and other campus groups that foster student participation—more on that in the next question.

What advice would you give to Global Studies majors at Colby about their experience in college and their future careers?
You already know that you should take courses that challenge and interest you, go after internship opportunities, develop relationships with professors, and take on campus leadership roles. Beyond that, I’d recommend that students attend as many of the Oak, Goldfarb, Pugh, and Center for the Arts and Humanities events as possible. That may sound mundane, and you may think that you don’t have time for 7pm lectures, but it is so worthwhile. We have such amazing speakers and community discussions at Colby, and I learned so much by listening and engaging in discussion during those events. Pugh events’ focus on social issues in the U.S and globally allowed me to re-think race and prepared me to be a progressive, engaged citizen. I don’t think I would understand intersectional feminism—a concept that I have a duty to grasp living in Trump’s America and as a global sexual and reproductive health professional—if it weren’t for Pugh’s programming. Goldfarb’s events on politics prepared me to engage in political discourses and understand how policies and political frameworks shape states’ stability and citizens’ wellbeing. Oak events exposed me to the lived experiences of human rights practitioners and taught me the complexities of justice. The Center for the Arts and Humanities deepened my appreciation for creative expression and taught me how to apply it. Thinking back on my Colby experience, I’m most grateful for the conversations that I was part of—I know they shaped how I perceive our world and engage with it as an individual and global citizen.

Are there any websites, links or other tools you would recommend to Global Studies majors for career planning?
Definitely keep your LinkedIn page updated. A Pathfinder recruiter found me on LinkedIn, so I’m relieved that I had invested some time in developing it (you don’t need a premium account, just an updated resume). For careers in international development, Devex is a good resource. Those interested in international development should subscribe to the WhyDev newsletter for some funny, important thought-pieces. For jobs in sexual and reproductive health, the Maternal Health Task Force’s blog frequently publishes job openings at some of the best global health organizations. Also, feel free to reach out to me at [email protected] with any questions about Pathfinder or a career global sexual and reproductive health—I’ll try to be helpful as a wide-eyed young professional can be.

Current Job: JD Candidate, Boston College Law School

What has your career been since graduating from Colby?
I taught 3rd and 4th grade in Helena, Arkansas, for 2 years through Teach for America. I then stayed a third year teaching and leading a grade-level team. After that, I started law school at Boston College. This past summer, I worked in the Public Corruption Unit at the United States Attorney’s office in Boston. I also interned for a Justice on the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court this Fall. This summer, I am interning at a large law firm in Boston.

How did being a Global Studies major give you advantages for after you graduated?
The Global Studies major helped me in two primary ways.  First, the major allows you to take classes in multiple departments. This forced me to juggle a variety of topics simultaneously.  I found this particularly helpful in my teaching job, where I needed to prioritize various responsibilities at the same time.  Second, I received constant feedback on in depth research and writing.  The skills I developed from that experience are invaluable in law school.

Where did you study abroad, and how did that experience impact you?
I studied abroad in Salamanca, Spain. My time in Salamanca helped me gain confidence outside of my comfort zone.  In particular, I learned to take risks with the language and meet different people.

How did Colby in general help guide you in your career?
I leaned on the career services office to learn about different opportunities and prepare for interviews. More importantly, I surrounded myself with motivated friends interested in a variety of industries. When everyone around you is focused on their career, it is easy to get on that band-wagon. Finally, I reached out to alumni.  While I did not know many of them personally before, I have these alumni to thank for the majority of doors that opened for me.

What advice would you give to Global Studies majors at Colby about their experience in college and their future careers?
First, find something of interest to you at Colby and get deeply involved. When I get interview questions about my time at Colby, they are about depth of involvement in one thing, not how many things I did. Second, get into the career services office early and do not focusing on whether an internship or a job is exactly what you planned for. I never thought I would teach third grade in Arkansas and Mississippi. While I am not going to make a career as a teacher, my time in Arkansas made me better at everything I do. Finally, as hard as it can be, reach out to and speak with alumni early. Almost any Colby alum that gets an email from a Colby student is willing to jump on the phone and talk about their experience. These do not need to be solicitations for opportunities.  Simply hearing about someone’s path is very valuable. Most of the time, they will ask about your interests and offer to connect you with people anyway.

What has your career been since graduating from Colby?
I have held positions in both the nonprofit and private sectors since graduating from Colby. I worked for small nonprofits, doing advocacy research for the International Criminal Court and assisting indigent New Yorkers in need of immigration assistance. I also worked in Corporate Social Responsibility, employing private sector expertise to address local and international needs.

How did being a Global Studies major give you advantages for after you graduated?
GS gave me access to an interdisciplinary education that prepared me for just how complex and interconnected the world is today. Despite the range of my positions, tackling the variety of academic classes in the GS curriculum prepared me to evaluate issues and execute complicated projects in each of my jobs with an open, critical and informed mind.

Where did you study abroad, and how did that experience impact you?
I studied abroad in Namibia, South Africa and Denmark. During my time abroad I encountered the intersection of public, private and governmental organizations working to address local challenges that were often linked to global factors. Speaking with people “on the ground” encouraged me to think about how to best affect sustainable and positive change- whether abroad or at home- and where I fit into that process.

How did Colby in general help guide you in your career?
Colby influenced my career in two major ways. While studying multiple fields and taking part in extracurriculars such as athletics, I had access to a wide array of faculty and staff. They served as thoughtful sounding boards as I evaluated my strengths and weaknesses and clarified my interests. Secondly, the Colby alumni network has presented me with support and opportunities that I wouldn’t have had the chance to experience otherwise.

What advice would you give to Global Studies majors at Colby about their experience in college and their future careers?
I would tell current GS students to expose themselves to as many different classes and internships as possible. There were jobs out there I didn’t know existed when I left Colby, and I wish I had spent more time exploring how the professional world converged with my skills and interests prior to graduating.  I would also advise students never to say “no” to an opportunity, whether academically or professionally.  Even if it wasn’t in your original “plan”, you never know where it can lead.

Are there any websites, links or other tools you would recommend to Global Studies majors for career planning?
Idealist and Indeed are two of the most obviously helpful job boards, along with LinkedIn where you can search specific organizations for personal connections.  I also think the PND Job Bulletin from the Foundation Center is a great resource, as is getting on the Colby Alumni Jobs listserv for the city you are hoping to live in. Finally, the BC Center for Corporate Citizenship job board and the Net Impact job board are two great places to discover an array of interesting jobs.

Current Job: Co-founder at Visa Franchise & Vetted Biz

What has your career been since graduating from Colby?
Currently, I run a franchise data and advisory business under the brands of Vetted Biz (https://www.vettedbiz.com/) and Visa Franchise (www.visafranchise.com). My brother and I started the group in 2015 and to date have served 500+ clients investing in franchises.

Before becoming an entrepreneur, I worked as an Area Director/ Partner at LCR Capital (private equity firm), Client Services Director at Frontier Strategy Group (information services) and Analyst at JPMorgan.  Working at JPMorgan provided key financial training that I leveraged as I moved from smaller firm to smaller firm, eventually starting my own company.

How did being a Global Studies major give you advantages for after you graduated?
Being a Global Studies major provided me with the foundations to work in a international setting and leverage the critical thinking skills accumulated throughout my coursework.

Studying across disciplines like economics, sociology and anthropology have enabled me to better understand people of different cultures and tailor business solutions accordingly.

Where did you study abroad, and how did that experience impact you?
I took advantage of Colby’s academic calendar to study abroad multiple times throughout my 4-year tenure at Colby. I spent 3 summers in South America (between Argentina and Brazil), one Jan Plan in Costa Rica, and my entire Junior year in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

I was able to become fluent in Portuguese and Spanish throughout my time abroad. This further opened and strengthened relationships with people I wouldn’t have otherwise met. Being outside my comfort zone fine-tuned my street smarts which have complemented well my academic background in business settings.

How did Colby in general help guide you in your career?
I was extremely fortunate to have an academic advisor, Patrice Franko, who guided me throughout my academic and business career. Taking her course on Economic Policy and Performance in Contemporary Latin America and having her as my advisor on my independent project: Roots of Brazil’s Capital Market Success, was fundamental to my Colby experience. Much of my critical thinking and analytical skills can be attributed to those economics and Latin American courses by Patrice Franko and her peers. Take advantage of the small class sizes at Colby and get close to your professors!

What advice would you give to Global Studies majors at Colby about their experience in college and their future careers?
Study hard on Mayflower Hill about subjects you are passionate about then go out and apply them in the real world. The Global Studies major is truly a liberal arts degree in the 21st century. Experiment with different course work, internships and independent studies to find out about what you love then go out and do it!

Are there any websites, links or other tools you would recommend to Global Studies majors for career planning?
I would leverage the Colby alumni community to learn more about potential fields of interest. I’m sure many alums are open to having a 30-minute phone call to talk about their experiences and offer some guidance.

Linkedin is a powerful tool and it is how I found my second job. Global Studies majors should we be well versed in Linkedin. You can search for jobs by language requirements, geographic locations, etc.

Current Job: Public Affairs Manager at Paulson Institute

What has your career been since graduating from Colby?
I moved to China shortly after graduating, inspired by a Jan term course I took my senior year. After a year teaching English in Shenzhen I started looking for a job that had something to do with international cooperation and environmental issues. Seven years later, I’m still in China, advocating for US-China cooperation and environmental protection in both countries.

How did being a Global Studies major give you advantages after you graduated?
I was drawn to the Global Studies major because of the real range of courses and topics you cover, including language, economics, history, culture. That broad foundation gives you options and can take you many different places. After graduating, I felt I had the basic tools and confidence to try a range of internships and jobs to figure out what I was really passionate about in the long term.

Where did you study abroad, and how did that experience impact you?
I studied abroad in Quito, Ecuador for a spring semester and stayed for the summer to work on a tropical fruit farm. I think spending time in a different culture and speaking a second language causes you to discover new interests and layers of your personality that you never knew existed. Not only did I learn a lot about Andean culture, I also learned a lot about myself.

How did Colby in general help guide you in your career?
My Colby education gave me the scaffolding to pursue broad interests after graduating. I felt that I had the foundational knowledge and tools to be successful in a range of environments. The career services center was also helpful when I was applying for internships my senior year.

What advice would you give to Global Studies majors at Colby about their experience in college and their future careers?
Try new things while at Colby. I studied Spanish and studied abroad in Ecuador, but now I’m living in Beijing and speak Chinese all because my senior year I followed an interest to take a Jan term course on China. College is the time to take risks and discover new interests and sides of yourself. Future employers will pay attention to the choices you made and many will admire strong curiosity and risk taking.

Are there any websites, links or other tools you would recommend to Global Studies majors for career planning?
Networking is important. Keeping your online presence on LinkedIn and other social media up to date is really helpful, especially if you plan to move around. You will discover new connections who live near you. I landed my first job in Beijing after meeting a friend of my college roommate. Her work sounded like exactly what I wanted to be doing, and when she left China several months later she helped introduce me to her boss.

Current Job: Program Manager at Google

What has your career been since graduating from Colby?
I started in strategy consulting, then started a nonprofit to apply the strategy-consulting model to help turn around businesses in low-income areas. I then when to business school at Stanford. Next, I started a company, which I ran until it was purchased by Google.

How did being a global studies major give you advantages after you graduated?
Primarily the heavy reliance on needing to research other countries/cultures (which I then applied to understanding different cultures/behaviors within the United States). Customer research and understanding are key to building good products.

Where did you study abroad, and how did that experience impact you?
I studied abroad in China, and it impacted me in a huge way. It was like the Wild West in that it was both somewhat dangerous but also felt like anything was possible. Being in a place that was so foreign and completely different from anything I’d ever known had a huge impact on my sense of independence.

How did Colby in general help guide you in your career?
It was at Colby that I started my first company (as part of a class). That company gave me the entrepreneurship bug that now, more than a decade later, stays with me.

What advice would you give global studies majors at Colby about their experience in college and their future careers?
Try as many different things as possible. Don’t worry about what job you’ll be able to land right out of college. Figure out what makes you happy (and ideally what you are good at). If you’re passionate about what you’re doing, you’ll find a way to make a successful career out of it.

Also, don’t learn for the grades—learn because you’re interested (and if you’re not, skip it).

Are there any websites, links, or other tools you would recommend to global studies majors for career planning?
I’d start with the alumni database. Figure out what you really want to do. Then try to talk to as many alumni as possible and figure out if it’s a fit. If it is, try to get a job at whatever level you can. Then work your way up!