Project Management
Communication
Communication stands out as a core characteristic. My ability to use effective written and oral communication sets me apart from other employees. During my time at the Bush school, I understood different aspect of communication through my virtual internship and my high-impact research experience.
Telecommuting amplifies the difficulty of workplace communication. I worked remotely for the Cote d’Ivoire mission of USAID. Without the face-to-face communication that would exist in a normal office setting, my written communication became crucial to accurately convey all elements of my work. Through e-mail, I worked with local partner organizations to certify that funding proposals followed government regulations. Through this experience, I developed a plan to improve the clarity of writing and to give special attention to the potential nuances of received messages.
This situation transformed into action. After Hurricane Matthew, my "Post-Conflict Recovery and Reconstruction" class traveled to Jacksonville to evaluate the emergency response division of Duval County, Florida. Prepared written documents served as the first line of communication during the disaster when electricity was down. Prepared documents were the key to the success of Duval’s response. Experience with USAID helped pinpoint a crucial characteristic of effective written communication.
Our research served as a national model for an ideal response team. This led many local and state governments to re-evaluate the effectiveness of their written response material. Both as an intern and a researcher, I have not only gained a better understanding of communication yet applied these skills in real-world scenarios. My communication skills set me apart as an effective employee.
I attribute much of my success in life to my ability to manage, absorb, and retain complex information. Success in education always came naturally to me. Analysis and synthesis of lessons were more of a delight than a burden. My internship experience along with my ability to work while attending school demonstrate my effective project management skills.
My internship in Berlin allowed me to apply that knowledge to positively affect people’s lives. My first day as an assistant project manager in the education office of the European Union started by interviewing candidates. Applicants from Central Asia were seeking acceptance to a prestigious scholarship. It felt natural to jump into an interviewer role, and my previous education played a key role in allowing me to create criteria to judge the potential recipients. I soon went on to manage large-scale projects and conferences with a budget of over €600,000.
My ability to manage was acquired over time but especially during my undergraduate years. Being a full-time student and a full-time employee at Nu Skin Inc. refined my management skills. Nu Skin Inc. is an international seller of personal care products and dietary supplements, and I worked as a French phone operator. Not only did I find a balance of time but also successfully achieved a 4.0 GPA and became the top sales agent on my managing team. Management came with new challenges during graduate school- more homework with an increased level of quality. This was coupled with involvement in a job, an internship, and four organizations. The weight of time constraints did not, however, stifle my ability to learn yet gave me a richer experience and a deeper education. Understanding time management at such an early stage provided a critical launch pad for success in every role I assumed thereafter.