TRAFALGAR SCHOOL FOR GIRLS MARCH 30TH, 2012 Career Day

Good Morning! Thank you very much for this honour!  Thank you Gail! Very happy to be here with you this morning Interactive! Not talk about my career, but more about my general professional experiences 3 lessons

My education Trafalgar Marianopolis CEGEP 95 – 97  Liberal Arts York University (Toronto)  International Relations ( French) Dalhousie University/ King’s College ( Halifax)  Political Science BA Honours SDA Bocconi University ( Milan, Italy)  MSc in Intl. Healthcare Management and Economic Policy

Where I have worked? United Nations (Bonn, DE)  United Nations Volunteers Lundbeck Canada ( Montreal, Canada)  Danish Pharmaceutical Company GlaxoSmithKlien Biologicals ( Brussels, BEL)  An English Pharmaceutical Company United Healthcare ( Paris, France)  American Clinical Research Organisation Fox Consulting & Neomedis ( Paris, France)  Pharmaceuticals

My journey Finished my degree at Dalhousie Started at the UN September 11th, 2001 Returned to Montreal Started in the Pharma Industry Wanted to go further Wanted to go International Decided to move to Milan I have now been in Europe for over 8 years

Today Let’s start with The importance of your social network ( building it) The importance of opportunities Let’s finish with The importance of believing in yourself & trusting your instinct – the little voice in your head!!!!!!

Your Network What is a social network?

Your Network A social network is a theoretical construct useful in the social sciences to study relationships between individuals, groups, organizations, or even entire societies. The term is used to describe a social structure determined by such interactions. BASICALLY : the people you know and the people who they know! Family, friends, relatives, teachers, doctors etc…..  TRAF – for example

The importance of your social network You guys are the Social Network Generation on line Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter… etc LESSON #1  It is not WHAT you know, but WHO you know  It’s a cliché because it’s true  HOWEVER – YOU MUST BE CAREFUL!!!!!  The written word ( even on the internet is powerful)

The importance of your social network « DO I HAVE A SOCIAL NETWORK? » Of course you do -Look next to you! Your class mate is your next job! The people you know will help you in the future The way business works is very dependant on trust, connections and references Which means that you will most probably work with people that know you or know of you

My Experience First job in Montreal  My sisters’ friends’ mom ( Traf alum) My first pharmaceutial job  My moms’ friend was the recruiter My job at GSK Biologicals  An ex-student from the company came to talk at Bocconi and then he referenced me for the job  He then later on tried to recruit me for a job I wasn’t at all suited for My first job in France  I was hired because I was Canadian and from Montreal My first consulting job  Hired by an old colleague who I had stayed in touch with Our business at Neomedis  Driven by contacts

What about Social Networking in a new place You want to move somewhere else,  Start a career My advice to you  BUILD YOUR SOCIAL NETWORK  International schools  Groups (Expats, career)  New friends Stay in touch  Easy, fast and great way to know what is going on!

LinkedIn

My LinkedIn Your connections can introduce you to 6 million professionals — here’s how your network breaks down: Your Connections, trusted friends and colleagues 580 Two degrees away Friends of friends;  each connected to one of your connections 136,800+ Three degrees away  Reach these users through a friend 5,761,700+ 8,643 new people in your network since March 24 SOCIAL NETWORKS ARE IMPORTANT!!!!

Opportunitites What is an opportunity ?  A favourable or advantageous circumstance or combination of circumstances  A favourable or suitable occasion or time  A chance for progress or advancement Example:  My opportunity to speak with you today  Your opportunity to go to TRAF!

Opportunities Opportunities are essential Present themselves in two ways:  They present themselves (Passive)  Someone proposes a job  You make them happen (Active)  You actively look for a job ( internet, mail, talking about it)

Evaluate the opportunity Not all opportunities are created equal!  Job offer for example  The guy who tried to recruit me – GSK Evaluate each opportunity  Can I do the job?  Will I love the job?  Can I work with these people? My experience  Going to Bocconi in Milan  Applied for a MSc

Leaving for Milan How did I evaluate my opportunity? Looked at the positive & negative aspects My check list – What did I want?  More education, international experience, English classes, chosen professional area, meet people with my same interests Obstacles  Distance (for my parents, not me )  Costs – Needed to find funding  Find an appartment, etc……..

Evaluating opportunities every day Will you need to evaluate opportunities with regards to your schooling and career This is something you will have to do every day for the rest of your lives  Evaluate business opportunities  Where should we spend money  Who should we be partners with  How should we expand our market Critical and objective thinking is key but………

Believe & Listen to yourself Most important piece of information I will give you! LISTEN TO THE LITTLE VOICE IN YOUR HEAD The key to success is believing in who you are and what you do. Because if you are not convinced, then you will never be able to convince anyone else! Successful people are driven by conviction  They belive in what they are trying to do If you want to do something – then do it!

My experience I wanted to work for the UN  Wrote about 200 letters  I was convinced – they were convinced  The day after I finsihed university – I left for Germany – alone I wanted to go international  Applied to schools  Applied for funding I believed in myself and was convinced of what I was doing! (Even in my personal life!)

Saïd & Sarrah

Finally….. To wrap things up Listen to the little voice inside of you! Your instinct is very, very powerful Let it help you guide your choices in life  If you make decisions that you are not convinced of – meaning that the little voice inside of you is saying NO – then don’t do it.