Image via Penn State Great Valley.
On September 27 and 28, graduate students participated in the Global Career Institute, co-sponsored by Penn State Global and Penn State Great Valley.
On September 27 and 28, graduate students participated in the Global Career Institute, co-sponsored by Penn State Global and Penn State Great Valley. This professional development event was held on the Great Valley campus and was designed for both international and domestic students, providing presentations and networking opportunities to help students prepare for successful careers in the global marketplace.
Approximately 115 graduate students from multiple campuses attended the event and interacted with speakers, alumni, and faculty. Featured speakers included notable Penn State alumni from various industries and countries.
One of the highlights of the conference was the keynote address by Nana Yaw Essman, VP of Data Engineering at FanDuel. He earned a master’s degree in software engineering from Penn State Great Valley and shared how his education positively impacted his life and career. He encouraged students to seek diverse experiences to expand their understanding of other cultures and perspectives and stimulate new ideas.
“Embark on an adaptable career journey, explore a dynamic global landscape and develop the skills you need,” he said. “Understanding and respecting the unique customs, values, and communication styles of different cultures helps companies navigate the complexities of international operations and foster cross-cultural connections.”
Breakout sessions will include Haruka George, a Master of Science in Data Analytics from Penn State Great Valley who works as a data analyst at the United Nations and uses data science tools and techniques to provide insights and solutions. I shared my experience. She said she is happy working in the public sector and seeing the indirect impact of her work. “It motivates me to keep going,” she said.
When asked what it takes to succeed at the United Nations, George replied, “Welcome cultural diversity, because that’s what you’re going to face.”
She works with people from many different countries and knows that there are possibilities for inappropriate behavior in her co-workers’ cultures. While she acknowledged the challenges of navigating an unfamiliar culture, she appreciated the unique ideas that come from a diverse team. “You get exposed to different ways of working that you didn’t know existed,” she said. “I think it’s very interesting to work in this kind of environment.”
In another breakout session, Cansu Akkol, head of pricing at Google Cloud, spoke about finding global career opportunities and adapting to change. She earned a master’s degree in finance from Penn State Great Valley, which opened doors for her to live and work in four countries: Turkey, the United States, Canada, and Ireland. Although she acknowledged the challenges of moving to different locations, building community, and networking, she said her willingness to try new things led to greater fulfillment in her current role. “Always be prepared to start over from scratch,” she said. “This way of thinking is powerful!”
She encouraged students to choose a company they’re interested in and use LinkedIn to find Penn State alumni who work there and are willing to talk to job seekers. She emphasized the strong benefits of a Penn State education that helps graduates land good positions.
“As a mid-career professional, I love hearing from speakers that career paths are not always linear and can take unexpected twists and turns, building strengths along the way and ultimately leading to success. It was really exciting,” said Jesse Whiteman. , an MBA student at Penn State Great Valley. “The advice provided by the speakers was relatable, realistic, and logical. Not only did it help me from a strategic perspective, but it also helped that such esteemed speakers helped others like me. Knowing that I had a non-traditional career path saved me a lot of stress, motivated me and uplifted my mood, plus I shared a lot with other Penn State graduate students and alumni. connections that will have a huge impact on my networking community.”
Penn State Global plans to host another Global Career Institute on its University Park campus in spring 2025. The Institute is open to all graduate and undergraduate students from across the Commonwealth. Learn more about the Global Careers Institute.
For more information, visit Penn State Great Valley.
