Career Ambassadors
Connect with our alumni in the workplace
There’s no better career resource for our community than EI alumni. Our alumni have a wealth of experience to share - working in everything from the top levels of European institutions to conducting research on some of the world’s most pressing problems - and are happy to share their insight with our wider community.
The EI Career Ambassador initiative serves as a resource for EI alumni and students looking to develop their careers. Below you can find words of advice, insight and encouragement into some of the most popular career destinations for the EI, shared by our alumni – many of our ambassadors are happy to talk further, so please feel free to reach out.
If you are an EI alumnus and would like to become a Career Ambassador at the European Institute, please drop us a line at ei.alumni@lse.ac.uk
Organisations
Leonardo Zannier
Political Advisor (Energy) at the Council of the European Union
Class of 2006, MSc in European Political Economy: Integration
"After 8 years in the Commission, I decided to pursue my career within the secretariat of the Council of the European Union. Within the Council you have the unique opportunity to work alongside the rotating EU Presidency and other 26 delegations in the context of challenging and fast-paced negotiation on the main political priorities of the EU. From my perspective, the European Institute of the LSE was instrumental in providing the right tools to thrive in my current role.
For those that would like to apply to the European Institutions, I can only give one piece of advice: specialize yourself in a specific domain. Today, to be a good EU generalist is not enough anymore. Of course, an internship in Brussels is the main gateway to entering the Institutions. Good luck to all of you and let's stay in touch."
Leonardo is happy to talk further via LinkedIn.
Pierre Saglier
Political Advisor to the Director-General for General and Institutional Policy at the Council of the European Union
Class of 2014, MSc in Politics and Government in the EU
"I graduated from the Double Masters’ Degree in European Studies (LSE & Sciences Po, Paris) in 2014. A couple of days after submitting my Dissertation, I started my professional journey as a trainee at the General Secretariat of the Council. Almost ten years later, I am happy and proud to pursue my career in this fascinating institution, at the heart of the EU’s decision-making process.
After working on transport and digital policies, I had the privilege to work in the EU Council’s Task Force on the UK withdrawal (Brexit). As part of this team, I contributed to the building and the defence of the EU’s positions in the negotiations with the UK, first on the Withdrawal Agreement and then on the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. Whilst Brexit will always remain a sad event for the Union, this experience has proven to be equally challenging and enriching from a professional point of view. For the last two years, I have been working as an Advisor to the Director General in charge of General and Institutional Policy. In this capacity, I contribute to the preparation and follow-up of the meetings of the European Council and work on a broad range of institutional and horizontal files.
The General Secretariat of the Council is a unique working environment. Regrouping representatives of the 27 Member States of the EU at all levels (from Heads of States or Government to technical attachés), this institution combines diplomatic working methods with the output of a legislator, adopting legislation directly impacting 450 million people. As a civil servants working for this institution, you will advise and accompany our stakeholders (President of the European Council and Rotating Presidency) at all stages and all levels of the Council and European Council decision-making.
Thanks to the interdisciplinary background offered by the European Institute, combining EU politics, EU law, economy and international relations you will feel perfectly equipped to navigate the technicalities of EU policy-making, at the cross road of many different disciplines.
The best way to discover our institution and to get a first foot at the heart of the EU machinery is to apply for one of our traineeship programmes. Applications can be filled online on the Council’s website.
For more information, feel free to get in touch."
Pierre is happy to talk further via LinkedIn.
Gaia Antonia Santacroce
Business Analyst at Deloitte Belgium
Class of 2022, MSc in European and International Public Policy
"Working at Deloitte Belgium in the Core Business Operations team as a business analyst has been so far an incredibly fulfilling and rewarding experience. My team is responsible for helping clients optimize their business operations, improve their supply chain management, and achieve their strategic goals. As a business analyst in this team, I work workwith some of the most exciting and dynamic organizations in the world, and I specialize in the European Union and other International Organizations. This provides a unique opportunity to work on complex and challenging projects that have a significant impact on the world.
One of the most significant benefits of working at Deloitte Belgium is the opportunity for professional growth and development. The company offers extensive training programs and mentorship opportunities to help you enhance your skills and advance in your career. Additionally, Deloitte Belgium is known for its collaborative and supportive work culture. I haveeveryday the opportunity to work with talented and passionate colleagues who are committed to delivering the highest quality results for their clients.
Overall, working as a business analyst in the Core Business Operations team at Deloitte Belgium can be an incredibly fulfilling and exciting career choice and a perfect match after my Master at LSE."
Gaia is happy to talk further via email.
Tennessee Petitjean
Consultant (Sustainable Finance) at Deloitte Paris
Class of 2020, MSc in Political Economy of Europe
"I'm working for Deloitte France as a Sustainable Finance Consultant, in a fast growing team of 20/30 consultants within the Sustainability Department. After LSE, my motivation has been to continue to learn and get as much positive impact as possible on our society. Deloitte Sustainability brings both together. Working in consulting means working with different clients on various type of assignments and learning everyday through clients, research and peers’ knowledge.
We support financial institutions (Asset Manager, Bank, Insurance, Public Institutions) in the definition and implementation of their sustainable development and decarbonization strategy with the aim of building a more responsible economy. Concretely, we work for instance on strategy to create sustainable offers for clients, to reach net-zero carbon emissions, comply with sustainable regulations or to implement methodologies to take into account environmental and social characteristics in their investment/financing process.
The team welcomes various profiles mixing interests in sustainable development and financial services, who are curious and eager to learn in a positive and inclusive environment, and are willing to put their knowledge at work to positively change our society."
Michelangelo Bruno
Policy Expert at the European Banking Authority
Class of 2015, MSc in Political Economy of Europe
"Interested in working for the society? You should definitely consider a career in a supervisory or regulatory authority. I joined the European Central Bank (Single Supervisory Mechanism) in 2015 right after graduating in political economy of Europe at the LSE. There I started working as supervision analyst; later on I joined Banca d’Italia where I worked as an onsite inspector for three years before starting a new position as policy expert at the European Banking Authority in February 2021. Working in a regulatory or supervisory authority is very much self-rewarding as you truly have the feeling of supporting the society as a whole with the job you do on a daily basis. Getting a job into these authorities could be difficult as the selection process is quite rigorous, however you should not feel discouraged and apply for any vacancy that could fit your profile. Getting a master at the School gives you all the tools you need to successfully complete the selection process."
Michelangelo is happy to speak further via LinkedIn.
Paul Glynn
Retired
Class of 2015, Executive Msc in European Political Economy
"One way of finding an interesting career in the European Commission is to seek entry mid-career on the basis of an expertise and experience of particular interest to them. In my case, I managed, whilst in my early thirties, to secure a series of outside contracts on energy research. I was subsequently recruited on a temporary contact to manage this type of work inside the Commission and this contract became indefinite and eventually permanent.
As a permanent official I succeeded in moving to other related fields ,where I was able to move up the ladder and more into policy. I became deputy head of an industry department (chemicals), then head of an administrative department (buildings infrastructure) and eventually wound up as an adviser to senior management (employment and social affairs). Though inevitably there were ups and downs over the 28 years I spent there, I’d say the main lesson I learned was not to stray too far from my original skills set, in particular not to get stuck in general administration."
Paul is happy to speak further via email.
Aurora Matteini
Junior Professional in Delegation to the Kingdom of Lesotho, European Commission
Class of 2019, MSc in EU Politics
"Last year, after having given up on the idea of moving out of Europe for the foreseeable future, I was granted an opportunity that I had been hoping for for years. I was offered the role of Junior Professional in Delegation to the Kingdom of Lesotho, which I happily accepted. Working for the European Commission in Delegation has been an extraordinary opportunity to participate in the EU’s work in Southern Africa from trade facilitation to civil society support to renewable energy development. Having thoroughly enjoyed the LSE’s course on ‘EU in the World,’ I was eager to build on my previous experience in economic and international development and put what I learnt into action.
By stepping out of your comfort zone or expanding your idea of what you want for your future, you can embark on incredible adventures, meet fantastic people and make a positive change. Look out for job opportunities and realise that arriving to the final destination isn’t always a direct road."
Aurora is happy to speak further via LinkedIn.
Barend Brouwer
Campaign Manager at the European Commission (DG INTPA)
Class of 2018, MSc in Political Economy of Europe
"Deciding where to start your career can be daunting. One of the benefits of working for the European Commission is that there are job opportunities for people with very different skills and areas of expertise. Starting on one side of the Commission doesn’t mean you’ll have to stay there forever. Skills that tend to be valued are languages (at least two spoken well), knowledge of EU decision-making processes, and the ability to communicate clearly and diplomatically. People at the Commission tend to favour people who are clear and to the point. Wishy washy essays or mentioning as many political theories you can think of won’t get you anywhere.
Aside from the EPSO concours to become a Commission ‘official’, there are other ways to start at the European Commission. This can be through a Bluebook traineeship, as an external contractor or through the so-called ‘CAST’ contract agent procedure. Whichever way you end up choosing will be a great way to get to know the Commission from within, allowing you to figure out which field suits your skillset best and where you think you fit in best. In my experience, if you find the right unit, and demonstrate that you are entrepreneurial and capable, you’ll be given a huge amount of freedom and responsibilities early on."
Barend is happy to connect further via LinkedIn.
Olalla Benito Rodriguez
Head of Cabinet for an MEP, European Parliament
Class of 2021, MSc in Political Economy of Europe
"I cannot recommend working in the cabinet of a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) enough for recent graduates. In the first place, it's the perfect mix between politics and policy, great to get you started in both fields if you are unsure of which you like best. Secondly, it's a very fast-paced and dynamic work environment, which will help you develop a great range of soft skills that will be useful in later stages in your career. Finally, the work you undertake for a Member of Parliament varies by the hour, which in my experience, has allowed me to discover my professional preferences through practical experience. Just to give you an idea, a day in an MEPs cabinet can include writing an intervention for a Parliamentary Committee Meeting, writing a newspaper article on a pressing policy topic, engaging in a political negotiation with MEPs from other political groups and drafting amendments to a legislative text - all in the same day. As a bonus, you will get to travel with your MEP through Europe and be invited to attend seminars and events on a daily basis!
I would recommend students to aim for a traineeship in an MEPs cabinet right after graduation. MEP cabinets are extremely busy and the competition for traineeships is fierce: be proactive, do your homework and reach out to cabinets yourself. You can find every MEP’s email, and the names of their cabinet members, on the webpage of the European Parliament. Top skills to be successful in the selection process include demonstrating you are a good problem-solver, a good team player and that you work well under stress and tight deadlines. Cabinets in the Parliament are very dynamic and career progression is excellent: once you are inside the institution, if you build a strong network and prove your worth, I am certain you will land a full-time position in a matter of months!
Feel free to reach out for career advice anytime!"
Olalla is happy to talk further via LinkedInand email.
Cees Jan Geuze
Economic and Monetary Policy Officer to an MEP, European Parliament
Class of 2016, MSc in Political Econoy of Europe
"Working for a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) brings together the best of two worlds for me: in-depth policy making and fast-paced politics. For instance, I enjoy the combination of speaking with experts on specific articles of banking legislation, while also having to understand the impact of the Spanish elections on your MEP’s work.
As an assistant of an MEP in the ECON Committee, I advise my MEP on financial, economic and monetary files. This includes drafting amendments on legislation, writing speaking points for your MEP and speaking with relevant stakeholders. An example of my current work is briefing my MEP on the review of EU fiscal rules before negotiations on this file with MEPs from other political parties, in order to establish the position of the European Parliament.
The European Parliament is a very dynamic workplace, full with young and ambitious staffers and inspiring politicians from all across the EU. If you are interested in European politics and policy making, I can definitely recommend working here.
Most parliamentary assistants have found their job either by being active in a political party or because they have built up expertise on topics in the remit of their MEPs. Therefore, if you would like to work for a MEP, I would advise to first find out for which political party or MEP you would like to work or which topics you would like to work on. It is not uncommon to start with an internship at the MEP’s office or political party."
Cees is happy to talk further via LinkedIn.
Otto Laird
Energy and Climate Policy Advisor to an MEP, European Parliament
Class of 2017, MSc in EU Politics
"Working in an MEP’s cabinet is unbelievably rewarding at its best and incredibly chaotic at its worst – but no week is ever the same and I would recommend the experience to anyone wanting to see how the sausage is made. The work offers a front row seat to the informal practices of EU decision-making beyond textbooks and provides an unmatched stepping-stone for further career development in Brussels from the institutions to consultancies to trade associations to NGOs.
Although there is no set path to landing a job in an MEP’s office, the most common ways are personal activity in a political party or work experience in a specific policy area. My own path followed the latter, as I spent four years in the private sector in Brussels working on energy and climate policy before starting in my current job. Meanwhile, two of my closest colleagues joined the office following an internship in the Council and from the secretariat of a national European Movement branch, respectively.
Much like career paths, the MEP cabinets are not all the same. The parliamentary offices are essentially 705 small enterprises where tasks, roles, and the number of staff members vary depending on the responsibilities, activity, and interests of each individual MEP. Thus, an assistant’s experience is always dependent on the MEP they work for. National conventions matter as well, and with national stakeholders and constituency work playing a role, some MEPs may choose to hire only from within their own language group or nationality. This is good to keep in mind when preparing to apply for a job in the EP.
Considering the sheer number of internship applications sent to the offices every week, the EU Bubble can be an intimidating and difficult realm to enter for any new graduate. The competition is relentless and it pays to have contacts which to leverage. Yet, it is good to keep in mind that beyond the MEP offices, the EP offers opportunities also with the political groups and the administration (Directorates-General). These paths are separate, as each political group is responsible for recruiting their own staff, while administrative officials and contract staff are hired through competitions organised by the Personnel Selection Office (EPSO). Putting your name out for the official traineeship calls is never a bad idea. I, for example, started out in Brussels as a Schuman trainee in the Parliament’s DG for Communication."
Otto is happy to talk further via LinkedIn.
Sandra Costeja Bos
Senior Manager (People Advisory Services) at EY
Class of 1996, MSc in European Affairs
"I joined EY after fifteen years in an HR role in industry and I am now a Senior Manager in a client-facing role so, there are many ways to join a Big Four and progress without being an accountant or having previous consulting experience.
I joined EY because I wanted to work on big global projects, access a broad range of learning and have the opportunity to contribute thought leadership, and I wasn’t disappointed!
My recommendation to young professionals who want to enter this field is to develop technical skills, e.g., data analytics, engineering, cyber, but also be able to demonstrate softer skill like teaming, the ability to serve clients or communicate to varied stakeholders, as well as a curious mindset. International or volunteering experience are always a plus.
All views expressed in this quote are entirely my own and do not represent the views of EY."
Sandra is happy to talk further via LinkedIn.
Sectors
Isabel Winnwa
Acting Executive Director at SCRIPTS Berlin
Class of 2014, MSc in European Politics and Governance
"I’m a class of 2014 double degree graduate (MA Affaires Européennes & MSc Politics and Government in the European Union) from both LSE and Sciences Po Paris.
After graduating from the programme, I returned to Germany to get my PhD in political science. I’ve always been interested in academia and was lucky to receive an offer for a research assistant position at Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg immediately after completing my studies. About three years into my PhD, it became clear to me that an academic career was not something I wanted to continue pursuing, but staying within the realm was important to me. So I started looking into science management. This field is only recently becoming a profession in and of itself, with plenty of opportunities in different European countries.
This is how I ended up in Berlin doing science management, working in the academic realm without actually still being a researcher. Currently I’m at Freie Universität Berlin serving as Executive Director of a large international research consortium which has received several million Euros to research and understand the crisis of liberal systems. Supporting research, international networking and scientists from all over the world is the big attraction of this sector, travel and a very international work environment are two wonderful advantages.
It is a great career option for graduates of LSE who don’t want to go into business, consulting, into European Union civil service or the political institutions of their home countries.
I would strongly recommend either doing a PhD for this or taking a set of courses to train as a science manager, it is an increasingly demanding career, due to digitalization and internationalization. You get to work with colleagues in science management all over the world if you choose an environment as international as Berlin - or other comparable places in the world. I’m lucky to be able to work with partners in Asia, Latin and North America, Africa and Europe.
It does require a certain resilience and strong communication skills, but working in the education sector is highly rewarding. Having international experience is an asset, a degree from LSE will give you a clear advantage, as it is regarded as a top institution in a highly competitive field."
Isabel is happy to talk further via LinkedIn.
Silvia Palazzini
Consultant (Risk and Compliance) at Deloitte
Class of 2021, MSc in Political Economy of Europe
"Working in consulting can be challenging sometimes: you may feel overwhelmed by upcoming deadlines and demanding tasks. Yet, other times you feel powerful and excited by the new project kick-ing off. Overall, you will be provided with a strong challenging environment, involving projects with high impact, working in teams with colleagues from different backgrounds and areas of expertise, a steep learning curve on the different sectors and service areas. This will definitely provide you with a competitive advantage over other candidates.
Working in consulting is both challenging and stimulating: you are provided with a strong challenging environment, involving projects with high impact, working in teams with colleagues from different backgrounds and areas of expertise, a steep learning curve on the different sectors and service areas. This definitely provides you with a competitive advantage over other candidates.
Consultancy is a very attractive and valuable choice to kick-start your career for 4 main reasons. First, it offers offers a significant amount of variety by working on a range of different projects with various clients. This also means that you get the opportunity to work closely with a diverse range of people and might cover a broad range of industries and sectors. This can help you to gain varied experience and offer plenty of opportunities for learning. Second, this type of work comes with significant pressure but gives you the chance to take on a large amount of responsibility early in your career. Third, consultancy gives you important opportunities to progress (even fairly quickly) if you perform well. Last, but not least, a career in consultancy helps you to develop valuable transferrable skills, such as research, interpersonal and team working skills and project management skills; this can definitely open up a broad range of career opportunities for you.
Based on my personal experience, I can give you few tips to succeed in this field:
+ Be flexible and dynamic as no two days will be the same. Most of the time, you need to be a quick thinker and able to make decisions in a complex and changing environment.
+ Keep yourself open to any challenge as you may be asked to work on tasks you aren’t familiar with, pushing you out of your comfort zone.
+ Be curious: you will build your experience and competences on different sectors and services in a fast-moving environment. Curiosity and hunger for knowledge are a powerful tool to support your tasks and will contribute to your success in or outside this field.
+ Be an Office Suite Master: you will spend most of your working hours on preparing decks, spreadsheets or reports. Mastering your skills with Excel, Powerpoint and Word will be a winning weapon.
Silvia is happy to talk further via LinkedIn.
Tommaso Zonta
Consultant (European Services) at Wavestone
Class of 2020, European and International Policy
"During the past two years, I have been working as a consultant at Wavestone Luxembourg in the European Services team. We focus on delivering projects to European institutions and agencies on a variety of topics, mostly linked to the wider area of digital transformation. Working in consulting is challenging in general, but working for the public sector may be even more so since many times you are on very tight deadlines and your work can be driven by key political priorities at both the EU and national level.
Here you can find some tips that are intended to help you navigate the work of consulting:
+ Don't be afraid to ask for help and rely on others - learning how to work in a team and feeling supported when needed are fundamental to succeed.
+ Be flexible and versatile - not every task is going to be your favourite one, but you can learn something new out of every deliverable.
+ Invest in yourself - take every project as an opportunity to acquire new skills, boost your IT competences and learn how to master different tools.
+ Cherish client and colleagues relations - it is very important that people feel they can approach you and see you as a point of reference.
+ Always put forward your ideas - throughout every step of the project, take part in the discussion by showing interest and suggesting next steps."
Tommaso is happy to talk further via LinkedIn.
Tiffany Wei
Team Manager (Research Talent Lab) at Gartner
Class of 2019, MSc in EU Politics
"After my master's at the EI, I was looking for a research focused role, hoping specifically for foreign affairs in the United States. In looking for these roles, I found myself actually interested in the research and advisory roles within consulting companies since I could produce actionable research, hone my non-academic research skills, and work in teams with various stakeholders.
Since joining this part of the consulting industry, I have gone from researcher to research manager and found that there are many ways to remain in the research realm aside from just producing research content. For anyone looking to join this industry, it is helpful to provide a strong demonstration of critical thinking, concise writing, and past research skills (both in and outside of academia) during interviews. While content expertise for certain business units can boost your application, it is more important to display business acumen and ability to learn new content quickly and generate insights from it."
Tiffany is happy to talk further via LinkedIn.
Sondre Myge Haugland
Head of ESG at SKAGEN Funds
Class of 2018, MSc in European Political Economy
"A degree from the EI will lay the foundation to pursue a career within finance and the plethora of opportunities and functions that exist within the industry. I myself work with ESG at a boutique value asset manager. Asset management is an excellent vantage point to engage with global questions and will cultivate your professional growth and development. ESG is a rapidly evolving space within the finance industry. As an EI alumnus, I am sure you will notice that it is a topic that is quintessentially about political economy and many of the key concepts and discussions you engage with in your studies.
Internships are a great way to build your CV for a career in finance – so to is graduate programs that provide a broad base to engage with and learn about the industry before taking the next step. In addition, focusing your master thesis on the intersection between politics and capital markets will further demonstrate the value-add of your skillset. A degree from the EI will set you apart as you bring perspectives that are in equal parts crucial and complementary for the financial industry."
Sondre is happy to talk further via LinkedIn.
Nick Millet
Child Protection and GBV Advisor at War Child UK
Class of 2019, MSc in International Migration and Public Policy
"I have been working in the humanitarian sector for over seven years, starting out as a volunteer in Greece in response to the refugee crisis taking place at the borders. Through this experience, I developed a deep interest in the field of child protection in humanitarian settings, especially around how governments and civil society protect children on the move.
For people interested in getting into the humanitarian sector, I would suggest developing experience and skills in areas that you are passionate about, whether that is child protection, education, migration and food security etc. Look for opportunities to develop your knowledge through online training, workshops and courses and never stop learning and researching your area of interest. There are so many free resources out there and initiatives to get involved in (both locally and remotely) and so constantly seek ways to develop the skills, knowledge and expertise.
In terms of my areas of focus: NGO sector / humanitarian sector, child protection, migration, refugee, mental health and trauma."
Paula Boecken
Global Strategic Digital Partnerships Manager at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
Class of 2019, Political Economy of Europe
"I chose to work in development cooperation because I wanted to make a meaningful impact on the world by addressing pressing global challenges. This sector offered a unique opportunity to collaborate with diverse stakeholders, promote social justice, and improve the lives of marginalized communities. The prospect of creating sustainable solutions to poverty, inequality, and environmental issues was inspiring.
For those planning to enter the field, my advice is to first engage with and talk to people in the sector as there are so many different ways ad projects and different organisations to get involved in. Be open to learning from local communities, partners, and experts. Building strong relationships and effective communication skills are crucial. Flexibility and adaptability are key attributes, as development work often involves navigating unforeseen challenges. There will be moments of frustration, but witnessing positive transformations and the resilience of the people you serve is immensely rewarding. Your commitment to development cooperation can truly make a difference.
I work as a project developer for public-private partnerships (PPPs), meaning partnerships between a government or public sector entity and a private sector organization or consortium. The primary goal of a PPP is to leverage the strengths and resources of both sectors to provide essential public services or undertake infrastructure projects more efficiently and effectively. Former experience with working in the private sector was crucial for this role."
Paula is happy to talk further via LinkedIn.
Facundo Santiago
Embassy of the Argentine Republic in Jamaica
Class of 2011, Visiting Research Student
"The research for my PhD on Political Science involved Europeanization and policy negotiations at different levels of government, so it was clear that International Relations were always an interest of mine. After getting my PhD I had to choose between continuing in academia or a different path. A career in diplomacy was a simple choice.
Working for the Foreign Service of any country can sometimes be hard on your personal life, but it is definitely very rewarding. Whether you are helping your connationals through the consular service or negotiating in a multilateral organization, everyday you can sense you are achieving something. In my personal opinion, a career in diplomacy is a long term commitment, so I would advise that before applying you should experience life outside your country, either by studying abroad or through an internship. This can give you a broader sense of the world and a wider experience before joining a lifetime appointment. Of course, languages are also essential, so start soon and choose creatively!"
Facundo is happy to talk further via LinkedIn.
Tatia Lemondzhava
Energy Specialist at the World Bank Group
Class of 2009, MSc in European Studies
"As the largest and arguably most impactful global development organization, the World Bank is an excellent institution to work for. I am an Energy Specialist within the Bank’s Energy and Extractives Global Practice. More specifically, I focus on rural electrification and distributed electricity access, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa. This role allows me to work with some of the most talented experts in the field, develop and distill frontier knowledge, and apply it directly to specific projects that my team and I help our client governments implement on the ground. It is a highly rewarding job, and I feel fortunate to have it.
The World Bank can be an intimidating space to enter, as it’s a very large bureaucracy, and it can often be difficult to understand exactly what it does and doesn’t do. I always encourage people to study the World Bank website in detail: it actually provides a ton of useful information. Beyond data and research that we publish, this is especially true for our lending programs, as it is our obligation to our shareholders to regularly disclose a lot of information about our pipeline and ongoing projects.
In addition, I advise interested people to network fairly aggressively - for young professionals, there are a number of paths to join the Bank, and many of them aren’t advertised through formal external channels (e.g. short-term consultancies, which may later turn into a staff position, as it happened for me when I first joined).
Despite the persistent stereotype, you really don’t need to have a technical or econometrics degree in order to work at the Bank. While a reasonable portion of my colleagues have degrees in engineering, I believe that my degree from the LSE EI equipped me with many of the skills that I consider to be most important to succeed in the institution. These include strong communication and negotiation abilities, cultural sensitivity and interest in other contexts and countries, project management, writing and editing skills, but most importantly, a genuine desire to make a difference and have a meaningful impact.
I encourage all LSE EI students to consider the Bank as their next employer - like many large bureaucracies, it always benefits from fresh, young minds and new thinking. From my side, I am always happy to answer questions from students and young professionals interested in joining."
Tatia is happy to talk about her work via LinkedIn.
Maria Milova
External Relations Assistant at UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency
Class of 2020, MSc in International Migration and PublicPolicy
Konstantin Koutros
Analyst at Edelman Global Advisory
Class of 2021, Msc in Political Economy of Europe
"I started working in the public affairs and communications sector right after graduating from the LSE. I studied at the European Institute so moving to Brussels was a logical next step in order to make sense of everything I had learned.
The public affairs industry is a very dynamic and fast-paced environment. It keeps growing and opportunities spring up like mushrooms. Here in Brussels, I help clients navigate the complex EU policy network and unlock creative solutions for them. I create advocacy campaigns, reach out to policymakers or monitor key developments that might affect them. If you love change and diversity, this job is for you. You can either choose to specialise in a specific industry, such as healthcare or energy, or become a generalist and thus work across fields.
So if you are into policymaking and business, you will definitely thrive in public affairs!"
Konstantin is happy to talk more via LinkedIn.