Graduate students attended the Global Careers Institute on Sept. 27 and 28, co-hosted by Penn State Global and Penn State Great Valley. This professional development event, held on Great Valley’s campus and designed for both international and domestic students, offered presentations and networking opportunities to help students prepare for career success in the global marketplace. 

Approximately 115 graduate students from multiple campuses attended the event and interacted with speakers, alumni, faculty, and staff. Featured speakers included prominent Penn State alumni from a range of industries and countries.

One highlight of the conference was the keynote address from Nana Yaw Essuman, Vice President for Data Engineering at FanDuel, who earned his master of software engineering at Penn State Great Valley and shared about the positive impact his education had on his life and career. He encouraged students to seek diverse experiences to broaden their understanding of other cultures and perspectives and to inspire new ideas.

“Embark on an adaptable career journey, exploring the dynamic global landscape and equipping yourself with the necessary skills,” he said. “Understanding and respecting the unique customs, values, and communication styles of different cultures can help businesses navigate the complexities of international operations and foster cross-cultural connections.”

During a breakout session, Haruka George, who earned her master of science in Data Analytics at Penn State Great Valley, shared her experience working as a data analyst with the United Nations to provide insights and solutions using data science tools and techniques. She said she finds satisfaction in working in the public sector and seeing the indirect impact of her work. “That motivates you to keep going,” she said.

When asked what it takes to be successful at the U.N., George said, “Be welcoming of cultural diversity, because that’s what you’ll be faced with.”

She works with people from many different countries and knows she could behave in ways that are inappropriate in her colleagues’ cultures. While she acknowledged the challenges of navigating unfamiliar cultures, she appreciated the unique ideas that come from a diverse team. “It exposes you to different ways of working that you didn’t know existed,” she said. “I find it very interesting to work in such an environment.”

In another breakout session, Cansu Akkol, Pricing Principal at Google Cloud, spoke about finding global career opportunities and adapting to change. She earned her master of Finance at Penn State Great Valley, which opened doors for her to live and work in four countries — Turkey, the U.S., Canada, and Ireland. She recognized the difficulties of moving, building community, and networking in different locations, but noted that her willingness to try new things led to a greater sense of fulfillment in her current position. “Always be ready to start from zero again,” she said. “This mindset will give you power!”

She encouraged students to choose companies that interest them and use LinkedIn to find Penn State alumni who work there and are willing to talk with job seekers. She emphasized the powerful benefits of a Penn State education to help alumni land in good positions.

“As a mid-career professional, I found it truly inspiring to hear from the speakers about how career paths are not always linear and can take unexpected twists and turns, building strengths along the journey, and ultimately leading to success,” said Jessie Whiteman, an MBA student at Penn State Great Valley. “The advice provided by the speakers was relatable, down-to-earth, and logical. It not only helped me from a strategic standpoint but also relieved a lot of stress, motivated me, and uplifted my spirits to learn that such esteemed speakers had non-traditional career paths, much like the one I am on. Additionally, I was fortunate to make many connections with other Penn State graduate students and alumni, which will significantly impact my networking community.”

Penn State Global will host another Global Careers Institute in the spring of 2025 at the University Park campus, which will be open to all students — graduate and undergraduate — across the commonwealth. More information about the Global Careers Institute is available here. 

Learn more at Penn State Great Valley.