Students who come to the Weissman Center for International Business often leave with more than one experience under their belt. Some students study abroad or intern overseas, participate in one of our fellowships or any combination of the three. Alyssa Alicino, Colin Powell Fellow and intern at the U.S. Embassy in Argentina, recently sat down with the Weissman Center Blog to tell us about her experiences. The Colin Powell Fellowship provides two Baruch students each year a generous stipend to cover living and travel expenses while interning with the U.S. Department of State.  Internships with the State Department are generally unpaid, so the Fellowship provides welcome financial support for Baruch students interested in learning more about careers in the Foreign Service.  Through our Study Abroad program, Alyssa also attended classes in Spain and Guatemala.  In addition, she taught English in Chile through our Work Abroad program. During her internship at the U.S. Embassy in Argentina, Alyssa had the incredible opportunity to work with Basketball Without Borders, a global outreach program run by the NBA.  She is pictured above with Argentinian Gold Medalist and NBA All-Star Manu Ginobili.  Alyssa calls this a once in a lifetime experience.

Here’s what she had to say:

 

Q. What year are you in and what are you majoring in?

A. I am a senior majoring in Public Affairs and minoring in Spanish and Interdisciplinary Studies in NYC.

 

Q. How did the Colin Powell Fellowship assist you with your internship?

A. For those students interested in pursuing a career in public affairs, completing an internship is vital.  However, many students are unable to work full-time for a semester with no monetary assistance. The Colin Powell Fellowship helps to break the socio-economic ceiling associated with unpaid governmental internships and assisted me with my housing and living expenses, consequentially permitting me to focus more on getting the most out of my internship rather than worrying about the potential financial burden.

 

Q. What projects are you working on at the Embassy in Argentina?

A.  I am a Press Intern in the Public Diplomacy Section within the Embassy. The Foreign Service is divided into five sections or cones: Public Diplomacy, Economic, Political, Management, and Consular. My role as an intern in the Press Office is to assist the Information Specialists with social media projects including drafting campaigns that we may decide to carry out.  I have the opportunity to be included and help out with most of the media and press aspects carried out by the Embassy.

I also assist in many of the events hosted by the Cultural Section of Public Diplomacy and was fortunate enough to attend the 4^th of July Reception at the Ambassador’s Residence, as well as an NBA Reception for those NBA players participating in an outreach program- Basketball Without Borders.

 

Q. What kind of advice would you give students who are looking to explore opportunities in public affairs?

A. I would definitely encourage everyone to apply for an opportunity at an embassy through the State Department. I believe that an internship experience with this kind of organization gives a young adult a special insight into the political field while simultaneously sharpening their analytical and specialized skills, all of which will be extremely useful in whatever field one decides to pursue. I would also encourage students not to be intimidated by the complicated internship applications or the competitiveness of the program, since this just serves as a barrier for those who don’t want to take the extra step to overcome these.  It’s important to have confidence in your application and see each application process as an experience to learn, not as a bother.

If anyone has questions about the application process, or wants to speak more about the experience, feel free to contact me: [email protected]

 

Q. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

A. To be honest, I’m still not really sure where I see myself in 5 years. I see myself attending law school sometime in the near future; however, after I graduate from Baruch College I am hoping to explore the world more as I feel like now is one of the only times in my life where I will able to do so without commitments. I am interested in joining the Foreign Service, and hope that in five years I will be completing a job where I can enable other people to positively improve their lives and realize their fullest potential.

 

Contributing writers: Albert Mathew and Romanowski Jules

If you are interested in learning more about the 2014 Colin Powell Fellowship application process, you should attend the upcoming orientation session which is scheduled for Thursday, September 19, 2013 from 12:45-1:45 pm.  Contact the Weisman Center at (646) 312-2074 for more information.

Recent articles in The Economist and Wall Street Journal reported on the 17 North American retail chains, including Walmart, J.C Penny, Macy’s, Nordstrom, Sears, Target, and Gap, launched the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety on July 10th. This 5 year safety plan has a goal of improving worker safety in Bangladesh following the horrific garment factory collapse this past April. These retail chains have committed to providing $100 million in low-cost loans. According to the Wall Street Journal, these retailers “are also putting up $42 million to pay for worker training, factory inspections and administrative fees.  Bangladesh has become the world’s second largest apparel maker after China. Due to the competitive nature of this business and growing Western demand, many dilapidated buildings were turned into factories. Factory owners and workers were hardly trained in basic safety procedures.

 

To date, scores of Bangladesh factory workers have been killed. The most recent incident killed 1,100 workers. Senior Vice President for Global Responsibility at the Gap was quoted in the WSJ stating that safety challenges that are faced in Bangladesh are complex, and these issues won’t be solved overnight.

 

Despite criticism from labor groups, in my opinion the efforts of these 17 retail chains is definitely a start. It is about time these companies took action to ensure the safety of all the workers in these garment factories. Outsourcing production of goods is definitely a smart business choice to make. However, to all of you who will become entrepreneurs or top executives, remember that corporate social responsibility is imperative.

What do you all think about this alliance? Share your thoughts below.

 

Click here to find out about a class that explores international business, corporate social responsibility and emerging markets.

Click here to read more about this issue.

 

Name: Nadine Suleiman

Major: Marketing

Expected Graduation Year: 2014

Nadine Suleiman believes that traveling is one of the greatest opportunities students have. She was able to seize this chance when she flew to Thessaloniki, Greece with the guidance of and a travel grant from the Weissman Center for International Business.

 

Nadine interned at Skouras Camp, which aims to develop body and spirit for children through entertainment and education. They give students the chance to participate in special programs which combine English lessons with summer vacations, sports activities, and fun. Nadine’s responsibilities included teaching kids English and emphasizing the importance of cultural awareness. She led class discussions and created daily lesson plans which challenged her as well as the children.

 

By experiencing another culture and meeting people from around the world, Nadine has changed both personally and professionally. Living in New York City exposes everyone to a diverse group of people, but she explains we cannot say we have “lived diversity” without seeing the world. Hearing other people’s stories, especially during the economic crises, has made her appreciate everything that she has. The instant connection she had when meeting people, seeing what the world has to offer and diving into a completely different culture has opened her eyes. She is excited to continue her journey and looks forward to the future!

 

If you want to see what it’s like to work overseas or have questions about our Center’s exclusive travel grant, stop by the Weissman Center or call us at 646-312-2070 to schedule an appointment to speak to our Work Abroad Coordinator.

 

 

The bi-annual dining event Restaurant Week, returns this summer from July 22^nd until August 16^th. Over 300 restaurants in NYC are offering three course meal deals for lunch ($25) and dinner ($38). Be sure to reserve seats ahead of time as these coveted tables are booked quickly! You can also take this time to visit your favorite spots or try new places.  Visit NYC go for more information.

The Meatpacking District Improvement Association hosts these free public yoga sessions in the outdoor plaza. Mats are provided. Donations go to the MPIA’s public programming. To R.S.V.P., call 212-660-6733. These free sessions will end on September 19^th 2013.  Click here for more information

 

As college students, it may seem unimportant for us to stay updated on current events. But for classes, networking functions or business meetings, being educated about what is happening in the business world will impress your peers and employers. You can watch the news or browse through a number of business websites. Here are a few popular websites (in no particular order) catered to different interests:

 

1.Vault.com – An absolutely great resource for college students! Whether you are just entering the workforce, making a lateral career move or considering a career change, Vault.com is more than just reviews, it provides the intelligence you need for the career you want—search current job openings, research a company, school or industry, get the inside scoop on what it’s really like, and find the career advice you need to launch your career.

 

2. Reuters – This international news agency headquartered in New York and a division of Thomson Reuters. The site mainly focuses on news related to global business, markets, or economy and is targeted to businessmen/women. The home page has a small banner on top that shows current stock market changes and has an overall simple, single column layout.

 

3. Bloomberg Business Week – Also a weekly business magazine published by Bloomberg L.P. this website has colorful tabs with more videos and pictures than the average news website. The layout can be confusing at first due to the many columns and minimal spacing but is easy to get the hang of after a while of browsing. This site is catered to young adults who might not always want news from a financial perspective.

 

4. The New Yorker – This website originated as a magazine that focuses on the cultural life of New York City. The content of the New Yorker differs from other business sites, as it includes commentary, criticisms, cartoons, and is regarded as sometimes controversial for its portrayal of news. For those interested in different perspectives, the New Yorker would be a great read.

 

5. Forbes – Owned by Forbes Inc, the business magazine is published biweekly and focuses on finance, markets and investing. Forbes is famous for its lists, such as richest Americans, and the site features a tab dedicated to them. The site includes a great number of advertisements, which often include automatic playing videos, but has a simple two-column layout for readers. For individuals looking into business, this site is a great source of information.

 

6. Mashable – A leading source for news, information & resources for the Connected Generation. Mashable reports on the importance of digital innovation and how it empowers and inspires people around the world. Mashable’s 20 million monthly unique visitors and 6 million social media followers have become one of the most engaged online news communities. Founded in 2005, Mashable is headquartered in New York City with an office in San Francisco.

 

It’s all about finding the right site for you. By browsing through these sites can help you see what type of news interests you. From reading multiple sources, you can gain knowledge about news from different aspects and use this to your advantage for social talk or business engagement.

What are your favorite sources of business news? Share them below!