Fall’24 Alumni Spotlight

Naka: Let’s start the conversation with a simple question: Why did you decide to pursue a major in International Business (IB)?

Khalid: As we know, Baruch is known for a couple of majors – the Finance and Accounting tracks, for example. When I started studying here, I wanted to do something different and unique. As I did my research, I saw the IB major was a competitive program which only admitted 40 students based on GPA and other criteria. So I felt that to be accepted into this program would be huge. Also, the IB program interested me since I loved that I could get exposure to international cultures, especially with the study abroad feature. Anyway, since I was very involved on campus, I got accepted into the program and the rest is history. As I look back, I am very grateful for it.

Naka: I’m glad to hear it. What were some things from the IB program that you found applicable to your career?

Khalid: Personally, I felt that the capstone really stood out to me. As I recall, you get to work on a project with a real-world company. I think that was something I really liked as I was trying to attain as much practical and real-world experience as possible before I graduated, so that my education is not fully theoretical. Personally, I wanted to have at least 2 internships before graduating, and the IB program really allowed me to do that, especially because my study abroad and my internship were interconnected.

Naka: Could you elaborate on that?

Khalid: Yes. I did my study abroad in Berlin, Germany. In addition to the capstone, my study abroad experience allowed me to get the real-world experience I was looking for because they offer internships. My initial internship offer got rescinded suddenly, and I was frantically looking for a new one. Thankfully for me, one of my professors at that time had a colleague who was looking for an intern to help with translation! I was prepared to do it completely for free, full-time, and with full dedication. I went to the interview all dressed up — I worked at STARR so I knew to dress for success — and they knew that I was very serious about the opportunity. As such, I got offered the job on the spot, with pay! Anyway, ultimately, I was able to reach my goal of gaining experience; I studied abroad, I learned with the capstone company, interned abroad, and also got an internship in NY in the summer of my senior year. I am very thankful to the IB Program, since I wouldn’t have been able to get these experiences without being a part of it.

Naka: Could you tell me more about the internship?

Khalid: The internship abroad was with Hoffmann’s Dental Manufaktur GmbH, basically a dental manufacturer that has been in business for 10+ decades which operates both locally in Europe and globally. Initially, my main task was assisting the Logistics Manager with catalog translations for the worldwide Dental exhibition in the UAE. However, my role quickly evolved and I found myself conducting research, answering calls, drafting emails and even collaborating with the Graphic Design Manager to create a catalog tailored specifically for Middle Eastern cultures. I also took part in identifying potential dealers and distributors in markets such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Jordan.

Naka: Did the IB Program help you with any of the skills needed for the internship?

Khalid: While I had developed my speaking skills prior to joining the Baruch IB program, I can definitely say that Baruch provided me with a solid foundation in international business principles. Whether it was IBS 4200 or other elective courses, what I learned sharpened my business terminology and prepared me for real-world settings during my journey abroad. I learned how essential language and cross-cultural communications are in international sales and market growth. Thanks to the skills I developed at Baruch and my language proficiency, I entered the workforce with an advantage.

Naka: I’m glad to hear it. Did you feel any noticeable differences in culture when you spent your time working in Germany?

Khalid: Since the company I worked at was an international manufacturer, they were working with countries worldwide and were culturally diverse. So, I didn’t notice any stark differences. However, I did notice that everyone was rather punctual in terms of the time they clock in and out. In the U.S., punctuality is not quite there since people come in early/leave very late… Germans did respect the working hours, which I thought was one of their top qualities.

Naka: That’s interesting to hear. I’d like to talk about your higher ed now. I know you are pursuing an MBA in International Trade. Why did you decide to pursue an MBA, and how do you think it aids you in your career path?

Khalid: I feel that I am at the point in my professional career where I have a lot of work experience, and I am looking to have an MBA to build my knowledge about International Business. So, I am pursuing an online MBA as I continue with my work. You start feeling comfortable in your comfort zone after a certain point, and for me, an MBA is a way to break out of that by offering new perspectives. It’s not mandatory in my career field, but a bonus. I’m doing it to challenge myself.

Naka: Thank you for sharing. Let’s pivot here to talk about your current role. You are the Branch Manager for DB Group now, so could you please elaborate on your current role as well as your journey leading up to this position?

Khalid: Yes, of course. My title now is Branch Manager, and basically I oversee the whole branch operations for the DB Group Branch for New Jersey. My main role ranges from handling day-to-day operations to overseeing the P&L, to making sure that all our prices are aligned within the market. The company is DB Group America, an Italian company with headquarters in Italy — more International Business! It is a freight forwarding, logistics company that handles transportation of goods internationally. Our main country of export is Italy and basically I handle the East Coast and Northeast of the country. As of January, I was promoted to be the Head of Operations for the country. This means that I will be working alongside the country Managing Director and overseeing the whole operations for all 7 branches of the United States as well as redistribution centers. Fun fact — DB Group actually handled the exterior design for the Hudson Yard Vessel. Do you want me to talk about my career journey?

Naka: Yes, please go ahead.

Khalid: After I graduated from Baruch, I landed my first job in January. I was promoted 3 times in the first company I worked at even though I worked for a year. A part of the reason is because I was such a workaholic — I’d be the first employee in the office, and one of the last to leave, sometimes even showing up on weekends! I’m not very proud of it, but I simply wanted to get as much experience as I can. When you start in this field, you begin at the very bottom and build your way up. I wanted to be exceptional so I put in a lot of work, and was definitely rewarded for that. After that opportunity, I moved to DB Group and I have been there for 7 years now. Usually, the turnover in the US between jobs is 2-3 years, but I have been so committed because I love my job. I got here first December 20th in 2017, and I still show up with the same energy as when I first started.

Naka: That sounds great! I believe before you came to DB group, you were working in the import-export sector for a while? Did you notice any trends in this field?

Khalid: I think one of the biggest trends since I joined the workforce would be the recent development of Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI plays a huge role in our day-to-day jobs and I notice that as much as a lot of students or employees would feel that it’s taking over, I think that in the freight forwarding industry, I feel like it supports us to do our jobs. We started implementing AI in many applications, in the software we use. ChatGPT is just a small part of it. We use it for more mechanical tasks so that we are able to spend our time on working with clients, getting more business, and working towards growth. So for me, the trend is viewing AI more as an opportunity, rather than a threat.

Naka: If a current student is entering the workforce in a couple of years, how can they best be equipped to deal with this change?

Khalid: I think the best way to go about it is to sharpen your saw. If you’ve read the book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, it’s one of the habits in that book. You prepare for it, you sharpen your saw, so that when the time comes for you to deal with this change, you are ready to execute.

Naka: Do you have any advice for IB students?

Khalid: Get involved on campus! Being involved allows you to be exposed to a diverse set of cultures, you deal with different personalities, develop your soft skills — and these help a lot! These soft skills will not be taught in the classroom or in the workplace, you’ll have to develop them with such experiences.

Naka: Thank you for sharing that. I’d like to ask you a fun question before we conclude this call. You were very involved on campus when you were at Baruch. What was your favorite role?

Khalid: My favorite position was working at the STARR Career Development Center. I learned a lot by working there, as I was always surrounded by professional staff. I also think that most of my friendships that I still maintain from Baruch, are with people who I worked with at STARR.

Naka: Thank you so much for sharing, Khalid.