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40 prospective students. 22 alumni. 15 employers. 7.5 days. 2 cities.
While the world we live in has a global reach, we are all locally connected through our network.
In December, I was reminded of the global reach of the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School when I travelled to Beijing and Shanghai, China, to continue developing relationships with business leaders.
In my new role as Director of Global Engagement, the purpose of my trip was to:
- Invite employers to consider hiring a Carey graduate to build a strong, global talent community at their company;
- Learn how Carey alumni are applying their Hopkins education in a global business environment;
- Share the value of pursuing a Carey education with prospective students interested in building their global business knowledge and enhancing their careers.
In Beijing, I joined Oksana Carlson, Assistant Dean, Global Collaborations, for a conversation with prospective students who are evaluating attending the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School for a degree where business is taught with humanity in mind. The group of engaged candidates asked:
- How is Carey’s career development approach unique?
- What are the common obstacles and challenges for international students in their job search?
- How do Carey students build their competitive advantage if they are changing careers?
My short answer included a student’s willingness to engage in the process, be accountable, and take ownership of one’s career. My long answer included the breadth and depth of the career communications, coaching appointments, experiential leadership, group programming, industry expertise and employer information sessions created and facilitated by the talented staff of the Career Development Office and guided by our mission statement:
In Beijing and Shanghai, I met with recruiters and human resource representatives in the finance, health care, consulting, technology, and consumer products industries in multinational and local companies. Each defined how they screen for top talent to support and grow their respective company’s goals, culture, and business objectives.
What common characteristics do companies use to identify the most competitive, global talent?
- Ability to establish trust
- Adaptability to the speed of business
- Agility
- Data analysis and interpretation
- Bilingual
- Critical thinkers
- Customer focused
- Demonstrated leadership
- Diversity in thought
- Driven to succeed
- Highly engaged
- Integrity
- Initiative
- Overseas experience
- Ownership
- Strong business acumen
- Positive impact
Throughout my trip, I met with our valued Carey alumni living and working in China. They welcomed me in a way that made me feel at home like only the Carey connection can do. (Especially as I travelled solo in a foreign country, thirteen hours ahead from where I call home…receiving a WeChat call from my husband asking if I had the extra car keys with me or if they were in our house since he locked himself out of the car!)
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- GE Beliefs
I shared Peking duck and hot pot dinners while hearing Carey alumni reminisce about the memorable faculty, staff, friends, and finally, food, they enjoyed during their time studying at the Carey Business School. I learned of engagement plans, lunar New Year traditions, and inquiries about how current students are continuing to positively impact the Carey Business School. And I heard how their personal development at Carey, through rigorous coursework, student club leadership, case competitions, or group project work, continues to impact their workplace community and connect them throughout the world.
Talking with our alumni reminded me of the value of perspective. As the Carey Business School global alumni community continues to grow in volume, these alumni will continue to build their careers, a journey they began before Carey and is now being shaped by their Carey degree program. My hope for you in the new year – as a prospective student, current student, or alumni – is that you will use your perspective, your network, and your knowledge to inform your career decisions as you set yourself apart as a global leader practicing business with humanity in mind.
- Be patient: While our world is immediate and the need to be agile is real, it takes time to develop one’s professional career. The first job out of your Master’s degree is one step on your career lattice. Your Carey alumni connection will be your constant.
- Be diligent: It’s your life. Own it.
- Be wise: Take the first step to differentiate yourself outside of your academics and daily job.
Let me know how you plan to set yourself apart as a global business leader as the new semester begins and with the new year ahead. Or if you would like to learn more about the school, its alumni and students, and ways to hire a globally focused Carey graduate, please contact me at: christy@jhu.edu.
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