Alex Østergaard’s Post

🌏 Adventures in Taiwan: A New Chapter! 🚴♂️ Wow, what a journey it’s been! As I dive into my exchange semester in Taiwan, I’m constantly blown away by how different life is here compared to Egypt and other places I’ve been. The lush greenery, the warm smiles from locals, and the rhythmic patter of rain create such a vibrant atmosphere. It feels like I’m living in a postcard! 🌿🌧️✨ But guess what? Amid all these breathtaking experiences, I hit a personal milestone—I learned how to ride a bike! 🚲 It’s taken me 19 years and traveling across the world to finally conquer this! I used to think riding a bike was just something I’d never get the hang of, but here I am, pedaling away like a pro (well, sort of)! This achievement is more than just a newfound skill; it’s a powerful reminder that we often underestimate our abilities. In the face of challenges—whether they’re academic pressures or the uncertainty of internship applications—it’s crucial to recognize that persistence and courage can lead to breakthroughs. Learning to ride a bike has ignited a spark in me, reinforcing the belief that if I can conquer this, I can tackle anything that comes my way—or at least I’d like to think so. So here’s to embracing new adventures, celebrating the small wins, and realizing we can do so much more than we think! Check out my video of my first ride—I can’t stop smiling! 😄🚴♂️

Calling students in Denmark and Boston 👩🎓! Come work for Denmark in Boston, or for Denmark in Denmark. See 2.5 opportunities below👇 🛫 Boston-based students, join my colleagues and I at the "Careers in Denmark" reception on March 1st in Boston to learn more about the opportunities for working in Europe’s most innovative country: https://lnkd.in/dny6cyex 🛬 Denmark-based students, if you are interested in international collaboration and innovation in the context of life science and the green transition apply for one of our fall internships at Innovation Centre Denmark Boston: https://lnkd.in/dzcf4ixU . ☣️ Deadlines are coming up soon! 🏆 Bonus fact: Yesterday, Forbes announced their list of Top 100 best large employers in the US. Who is number 1? … You guessed it: Novo Nordisk https://lnkd.in/dtyx8beS . Danish work culture has something going for it after all. Thanks for spreading the word: If you know a kick-ass student who would be interested in the above opportunities, please do tag them in the comments section below👇

My time in AIESEC changed my life. Broadening my perspectives, accelerating my career path, instilling lifelong values, and enriching my personal life (my wife and friends are also AIESEC alumni). If you are an AIESEC alumnus not connected with AIESEC Life - let me know! If you have a college student who could benefit from global perspectives in the world's largest student-run organization - let me know! If you want to know how #traineeships can help your #globalbusiness - let me know! :) #exchange #internationaleducation #GaTech #nonprofits

𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗜𝗻 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿 - 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 My road to step into corporate began at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) where I pursued BBA with a major in Marketing. I left with more than just a degree: unparalleled memories and experiences that would shape my career. 🌟 𝗘𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀: 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 & 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 While at IBA, I joined AIESEC, where I led a team of 25 incredible individuals and together, we propelled our entity into top global rankings. The experience was more than just leadership; it was about making a global impact. The lessons I learnt here were invaluable, setting the stage for the opportunities ahead. My path then led me to the corporate world through internships at Reckitt, Shell & Nestlé & here are my key highlights: • 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗶𝘁𝘁:  Analysed 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗹’𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 in 3 different markets to identify opportunities • 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹: Presented 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁-𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, after researching and analysing their Retail Value Proposition (RVP) • 𝗡𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲: Utilized 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 techniques to present our research in an interactive way. 🌍 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱: I finally was able to land as a 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲 at Mondelēz International. Immersed in the world of sales and marketing, I faced new challenges and found opportunities to add value in innovative ways. This story would be for a separate post altogether – 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗲𝗱!😉 Now, as I reflect on this journey, I realize that every step was crucial in shaping who I am today. Now I am eager to 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗻𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲 their own paths. 𝗗𝗠 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮 𝘀𝗹𝗼𝘁 & 𝗹𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘁!

🎓 19th March marked the culmination of my 2 years and 3 months Master’s degree journey. A journey that lasted slightly longer than anticipated but has enriched me beyond expectations. Indeed, I'm deeply grateful to have persevered and reached this milestone, even amidst unexpected twists and turns that also ended up influencing my academic journey. With the determination of one who is purpose-driven, I pressed forward towards my goals and, alongside my studies, I had the privilege of immersing myself in various professional experiences, each serving as a necessary piece in the greater puzzle of my journey. ®️Starting from my first actual job experience as back office employee at Ruffini Ponchiroli e Associati 📲 To getting to know more about the media world and becoming team supervisor and content director of the Milan branch of Kingdom Ambassadors Centre 🇺🇳 To becoming board member and social media manager at the Milan branch of MSOI - UNYA Italy 🔶 This paved the way for my comms internship at Oasis Belgium 🇪🇺 And most recently, I’ve continued along the communications path with European Alternatives. Little did I realize at the outset that each of these and several other experiences would serve as a stepping stone to the next. What remained constant was my focus on the one who drives my “why” and the desire and will to pursue what was unfolding before me. Reflecting on this couple of years, I can say that focus and persistence are key. Whether your path is already clear or becoming clearer along the journey, stay committed, stay resilient, and keep pushing forward. Clarity often emerges from the process itself. Keep pushing. You've got this! #solideogloria

FLASHBACK: Every great journey starts with a single step. 🚶♂️🚶♀️ Our first batch of interns faced numerous challenges but their perseverance set the tone for our mission: resilience, adaptability, and impactful change. Are you ready to embark on this transformative journey? #MedicalInterns #GlobalHealth #ImpactfulChange

🕺Life at Impact🕺  I’m Jack Casey, one of the Co-Founders here at Impact Consulting. In a typical day, I connect with higher education leaders to help them embed more experiential learning into their degree programmes, while leading our amazing team based in London, alongside Jamie Abbott. 📣Recent Highlights📣 As Summer gets into full swing, there’s no better time to reflect on what has been an incredible past academic year, which has seen us engage 1,222 university students in work experience as part of their degree through 25 partner universities. From consulting projects in Colombia 🇨🇴 to international internships with companies across North America 🌎, to internships, projects and placements with 200+ socially impactful businesses based in the UK 🇬🇧, we’ve worked hand-in-hand with University deans, careers and employability leaders, and programme directors to truly scale work-based learning 🚀. After a hectic year, soon I’ll be making the most of the university academic calendar by taking 2 weeks off to travel to Thailand! 🌴✈️ Something to Take Away💡 “Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years.” – Bill Gates If you’re someone who’s recently made a big change in life - like changing career paths, moving countries, pursuing a new degree, or starting a business - I think this is such a great quote to keep reminding yourself of. As the weeks and months go by, it’s likely you’ll go through some tough times where you may even doubt yourself or think you’ve made the wrong decision, but you’re literally just at the start. All great things take time, patience, and resilience, so always remind yourself of the long term! 💪⏳

🌍 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 As part of the Latin America Week at the University of St. Gallen, I had the pleasure of moderating a dynamic panel on “Career Prospects in Latin America.” We delved into the career landscape of this diverse region and discussed crucial strategies for students interested in building a career there. 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: 1️⃣ 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲: A solid network is invaluable in Latin America. Make connections through exchange semesters, internships, or our HSG Alumni network to establish a strong foundation before embarking on your career. 2️⃣ 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐄𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥: Proficiency in the local language can make a world of difference, not only for communication but also for gaining cultural insights and building trust with colleagues and clients. 3️⃣ 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐍𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬: Feedback culture in Latin America can be notably different from what students may be used to in Switzerland. Adaptability and cultural sensitivity are essential for effective communication and collaboration. A huge thank you to our insightful panelists — Silvan Roth, CFA, Andrin Pelican, Benedict Wolters, and Sandra Mendez-Fajardo — for sharing their experiences and perspectives. Your guidance was invaluable for our students eager to explore opportunities in Latin America. Looking forward to seeing more HSG students take these steps toward an international career! #LATAMweek2024 #careers #csc #hsgcareer

In today’s rapidly evolving job market, the value of university partnerships and early careers programs cannot be overstated. Universities are not just centers of learning; they are incubators of future talent and hubs of innovation. When businesses partner with universities, they tap into a pool of bright, motivated individuals eager to make an impact. This collaboration creates a dynamic ecosystem where both academia and industry thrive. Dyson 's Early Careers program provide students with hands-on experience and a practical understanding of their fields, bridging the gap between academic theory and industry practice. These partnerships are strategic investments. Engaging with students early allows us to shape the future workforce, fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation. Our early careers partnership with #Mapua, #UST and #DLSU will be transformative - together, we will build a brighter future, where knowledge and practice go hand in hand. Excellent work Joan Sumarago and Allanis Jerine Guinto, RPm ! #TalentDevelopment #UniversityPartnerships #EarlyCareers #FutureOfWork #Internships #CareerGrowth #Innovation #Leadership #StudentSuccess #WorkforceDevelopment #InsideDyson

💡 Shaping Future Leaders: The Impact of Mentoring Summer Students at Roche 💡 As summer comes to a close, I'm reflecting on the immense value of investing in our summer holiday workers at Roche. These bright minds bring fresh perspectives, creative ideas, and a vibrant energy in our teams. However, it's not just about the contributions they make—it's about the lasting impact we can have on their development. 👉 Mentoring and guiding summer students is more than a short-term commitment; it's about planting seeds for the future. While dedicating time to their learning, I sometimes wonder what future leader, scientist or other professional I might be talking to. This investment goes beyond the immediate tasks and helps influencing the next generation, fostering a culture of continuous learning, teamwork, and growth. This summer, I had the privilege of mentoring two exceptional young individuals: * A 14-year-old, for whom I was the very first "boss" - EVER!  😱  WOW! What kind of experience will I provide that will shape his first impression of the working world? * His 19-year-old brother, who is spending his very last week as a summer student at Roche. The next time he returns, it might be as an intern or even in a more advanced role. What parting words will I offer him as he prepares to embark on the next chapter of his education entering university? Better think carefully - words hold an incredible power!! 👉 There is a significant responsibility in guiding these young talents. And it's also an amazing opportunity to invest in them, recognizing that the time we spend with them today is an investment in the future success of our industry. Kudos to Roche for offering an amazing yearly summer student program that allows children of employees (~ 560 only this year) to get a glimpse into their parents' professional lives. ...and a heartfelt thank you to "my boys" 😍 for embracing every challenge that I presented them with curiosity, enthusiasm and a remarkable work ethic. It's been huge fun working with you! #Mentorship #Leadership #CoS #FutureLeaders #GrowthMindset