IBDD Alumni Stories

Harrison Fleming

Spanish Track Alumnus
Graduated in 2020
Concentration: Finance

Currently living in Madrid, Spain, Harrison Fleming is working in the financial risk sector of Ernst & Young, a multinational professional services network. Fleming joined the program with the goal in mind of becoming an international businessman and to put himself in line for future success. 

“At the beginning studying in Madrid, there were some cultural differences to become accustomed to. However, overcoming adversity and adapting accordingly to new environments and cultures is how one will succeed in life,” said Fleming.

Fleming concentrated his studies in finance and business administration while abroad and got the opportunity to travel to Morocco, Italy, Ireland, Scotland and many cities in Spain. He attributes the IBDD Program with teaching him the meaning of hard work paying off and giving the opportunity to develop lifelong friendships abroad. 

Sydney Swain

French Track Alumna
Graduated in 2017
Concentration: Operation & Supply Chain Management

Sydney Swain graduated from the IBDD Program in 2017 after studying in Reims, France, while completing a six-month internship in Lyon. The North Carolina native was able to visit cities throughout Europe and build a professional network around the globe. Her time in France made the country a home and not just a short-term experience.

Three years out of the program, Swain is the senior supply chain analyst for the American region for BioMerieux, a French multinational biotechnology company. 

“I work with many different cultures every day and have realized that this is something that few people can do well,” said Swain. “I know my managers trust me to travel to new places and collaborate with any team in the world because they understand I have unique experiences.”
Swain’s best experience from her studies around was visiting Madrid for the first time with classmates, the program director and the dean. 

Elizabeth Fisher

German Track Alumna
Graduated in 2020
Concentration: Operation & Supply Chain Management

Driven by the opportunity to deepen language skills and cultural knowledge, Elizabeth Fisher joined the IBDD Program to challenge herself academically and socially. The recent graduate concentrated her studies on supply chain management while studying in Reutlingen, Germany, where she was quick to make friends with her classmates.

“While traveling over the weekend is fun, staying in Reutlingen on weekends allowed for me to build a real community,” said Fisher. “The ability to look around a room full of people who you didn’t know more than a year ago, who, besides the IBDD Program, do not have much in common, but are all in one place at the same time celebrating passing exams.”

Fisher’s advice for current and future students of the IBDD Program is that results are based on the work you put in.

“Find a way to be present in the time you are in, not wishing you could be somewhere else with different people but learn to find fun things to do and hidden gems in the community you are in,” said Fisher. 

Raphael Maarek

French Track Alumna
Graduated in 2016
Concentration: Finance

Raphael Maarek is currently living in Paris, France, as an associate consultant for Bain & Company, a global management consultancy. He spent his time abroad at NC State, as he is a French native, enjoying rewarding and insightful courses as well as traveling the East coast with classmates.

Maarek’s best memory from NC State was his last Thanksgiving that he spent with both an American and international classmate from Italy. 

“He [classmate] has also brought over his family from Jamaica and New York so the dinner was a true melting pot. I remember realizing at that moment how amazing my time at NC State had been discovering the most emblematic symbols of American everyday culture, always in a cheerful and diverse way,” said Maarek.

The global learning experience improved his English and prepared him for his current position with Bain & Company and allowed him to bond with his co-workers.

Next year, Maarek will embark on earning his Master of Business Administration from Harvard University and feels confident he be able to tackle the logistics and academic content thanks to the IBDD Program.