Pardee School Hosts 2019 Pardee Works Career Symposium
The 2019 Pardee Works Career Symposium at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University was held on February 22, 2019, providing students with an afternoon of career development and networking with professionals currently working in the diverse field of international relations.
Mary Yntema, CEO and President of World Boston, delivered the keynote speech at the symposium. She was introduced by Amb. Robert Loftis, Professor of the Practice of International Relations and Director of Graduate Studies at the Pardee School.
Yntema discussed her personal experience as well as the work World Boston does fostering engagement in international affairs and cooperation with peoples of all nations. She highlighted how an education in international relations is applicable to a variety of career fields, as well as the importance of accruing as many specialized skills as possible early on when entering the workforce.
“If you’re a diplomat obviously you’re involved in international affairs, but with NGOs you can be involved with international affairs and in private industry you can be involved in international affairs,” Yntema said. “Very quickly the conversation becomes what your skills are. We know we have these special assets, which I assure you are going to power the rest of your career. In the short term though you can’t just sell people on the fact that you think well. You have to accumulate skills that the rest of the market understands, and many of you are probably in the process of doing that right now.”
The keynote addressed was followed by concurrent panels on careers with non-governmental organizations and careers in finance.
The panel on careers with non-governmental organizations featured Jon Shaffer (GRS’23), Executive Director of the Boston Network for International Development (BNID); Shanuki Tillekeratne (Pardee ’18), Contracts Analyst at the Clinton Health Access Initiative; Katie Quinn, Development Manager at Flying Kites; and Mary Yntema, CEO and President of World Boston.
Quinn discussed what initially drew her to working for a non-profit, and highlighted what she finds particularly compelling about the work she does with Flying Kites — a non-profit dedicated to providing students with access to high-quality education and holistic support in order to alleviate suffering, increase gender equality and promote economic sustainability.
“For it was learning about how non-profits collaborate in a way that’s more than just a partnership that you put on your website, but really doing it in a way that’s making the greatest impact,” Quinn said. “That has stuck with me throughout my path at Flying Kites, and I’m sure it will in the future too.”
The panel on careers in finance featured Karen McClosky (CGS ’83, Pardee ’85), Founder and CEO of CMH Wealth Management; Rita Assaf (Pardee ’05), Vice President, Retirement Product at Fidelity Investments; Brian Woerner (Questrom ’18, Pardee ’18), Chief Operating Officer of Follow the Honey; and Susie Istock Hanlon (GRS ’93), Consumer Experience Strategist at Voya Financial.
McClosky discussed what she looks for when interviewing potential clients for her wealth management business, and stressed the importance of doing research about a company before going in for a job interview.
“What really grabs my attention are people that come in who have done some work ahead of time to learn what the company is about and who did their due diligence,” McClosky said. “That’s impressive when somebody walks in and they’ve done their research as opposed to someone walking in who is all about themselves — even if a that person doesn’t necessarily check off all of the boxes of the job description.”
The keynote presentation and panels were followed by a networking session which allowed Pardee School students the opportunity to learn more about the organizations that interested them most.