On October 24, the International Division’s Board of Visitors, a group of alumni leaders with more than 150 combined years of professional experience, held a roundtable discussion with students to share stories and advice from their extensive careers. The panelists for this discussion were H. Stephen Halloway, director for the Center of Comparative Legislative Management, director for the International Law Institute, and senior advisor at the World Bank in Washington, D.C.; John E. Lange, senior fellow at the Global Health Democracy in Washington, D.C., and former ambassador to Botswana; George McReddie, former executive director of Morgan Stanley; Thomas M. Sternberg, former principal at Assured Partners; and J. Stephen Morrison, senior vice president and director at the Global Health Policy Center at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
The board reflected on how their involvement on campus led them to pursue opportunities across the country and world.
Stephen Halloway ’76 had several internships during his undergraduate years, which led to many opportunities after college, including a three-month stint on Capitol Hill. He emphasized the importance of internships in opening the door to new experiences.
“The work I’ve done is always built on something. If something comes along, you’re prepared for it,” said Halloway.
Early in his career, Halloway had the opportunity to work in the Reagan administration in the Commerce Department, which led to another opportunity with the Inter-American Development Bank before starting at the United Nations (UN). He advised students to treat every day at a job or internship as a job interview and leverage the alumni network for career opportunities.
Students also asked the panel how to find their professional niche. Stephen Morrison ’79 advised students to build a versatile portfolio of expertise by gaining experience at various institutions, including advocacy groups and international organizations. He also encouraged students to be open to career pivots.
“Don’t over-plan. Be opportunistic and nimble, take risks and pay a lot of attention to who you’re working for,” said Morrison. “In other words, the mentors that you get very early in your careers are going to be important for you for a very long period of time.”
The panelists’ concluding advice was to take advantage of the university’s resources and programs for career guidance and foster writing and critical thinking skills to navigate a fast-paced international relations environment.