"[Language study has] emphasized my appreciation for culture, for different ways of seeing the world, that may not always align with my own, and understanding how who we are and where we come from, impacts how we make decisions and engage with others."
Major(s) and Certificate(s): International Studies with a emphasis on Global Security & German
Language(s): German
Graduation Year: 2013
What motivated you to study this/these languages?
As a Bosnian War refugee, I grew up in Germany prior to moving to the United States. Studying German, helped me remain connected to the language and German culture with a community of my peers.
What do you remember about your UW language classes? How were they different from other classes you took?
I loved how diverse the people studying the language alongside me were, we all had different reasons for being drawn to German. At UW, because the school is so big – you can find your tiny community and stay there the whole time if you choose. Many of my peers who I studied German with were also double majors, so I got to meet so many brilliant people across majors and step outside of my immediate comfort zone. I also loved the passion our instructors had for the language, it made me want to perform and engage at a consistent level.
How valuable were your out-of-classroom experiences? How did they add to your undergraduate experience/coursework?
I spent seven months studying abroad in Bonn, Germany and I look back at them as some of the best and most memorable moments in my life. I made new friends from UW and beyond and we traveled Europe together, building lifelong memories while exploring new cultures and challenging ourselves to see life beyond the American lens. While there, I interned at a German kindergarten and got to practice the language with the sweetest little humans. Lastly, the German education system is so different from the one here in the States. I took classes with only international students but also pushed myself to take classes with domestic students. To be able to sit with a German faculty member and discuss comparative politics for a grade was an incredibly defining moment for how I saw the purpose of education and power of critical thinking.
What have you done in a professional capacity since graduating from UW-Madison?
I have spent the last decade of my career working on developing and leading programs that help future and current business leaders reflect on the intersection between identity and leadership, essentially: how does who you are, impact how you lead and make decisions? Currently, I work for a major US Airline, where I manage our enterprise-wide learning and employee development strategy, and its execution, for Inclusion, Belonging and Wellbeing in collaboration with, and input from, key organizational stakeholders.
What are ways, either expected or unexpected, that your language study has benefited you in your career?
It’s emphasized my appreciation for culture, for different ways of seeing the world, that may not always align with my own, and understanding how who we are and where we come from, impacts how we make decisions and engage with others.
How have you maintained or improved your language(s) since graduation?
I continue to listen to German music, watch German language based TV and movies, and get way too excited to practice the language with strangers who also happen to speak it!
What advice do you have for students who are studying language(s) about how to incorporate their interests and skills into their future goals?
Ultimately, I believe so much of your success as a person and professional is dependent on how you navigate relationships and moments of discomfort. As someone who has managed people and supports leaders who do, so often challenges in the workplace are not about the specific job duties, but rather the inter-personal dynamics. Conflict in these dynamics is most often a result of misunderstanding and a lack of perspective taking and can impact organizational outcomes negatively if not addressed properly. Learning a language and culture not native to your own pushes you beyond your comfort zone and shows you the power in thinking critically and finding multiple ways to communicate a message or see a perspective. It has given me empathy for lived experiences different from my own, and when coaching or dealing with interpersonal dynamic issues in the workplace, I lean on all the above skills to name, navigate, and address these challenges.