Alumni profile: Andrew Townsend
Project Manager at CSC
Graduated from IB in 2007
Andrew is an IB graduate from 2007 and is currently employed as a project manager in the international IT company CSC. Before his studies at CBS, he had begun a career in hotel management. "The thing I liked the best about IB was the mix of internationals and Danes - I have lived abroad most of my life so knew I would feel more at home in such a setting."
Why IB?
I choose IB as it involved subjects that were completely new to me - I was a hotel manager previously and so had had a lot of the practical, day-to-day tasks but didn't know any of the theory or reasoning behind a lot of the stuff, especially the economics.
The thing I liked the best about IB was the mix of internationals and Danes - I have lived abroad most of my life so knew I would feel more at home in such a setting.
I choose IB as it involved subjects that were completely new to me - I was a hotel manager previously and so had had a lot of the practical, day-to-day tasks but didn't know any of the theory or reasoning behind a lot of the stuff, especially the economics.
The thing I liked the best about IB was the mix of internationals and Danes - I have lived abroad most of my life so knew I would feel more at home in such a setting.
How IB prepared me for an international career
IB allowed me to meet many more nationalities and cultures than I expected, for one, and, for two, i was given the chance to work in groups a lot more than I was used to from the British system (I studied engineering for a few years in UK). The case studies were always a blend of local/international/and global firms giving you a perspective of how things interact in the markets.
IB allowed me to meet many more nationalities and cultures than I expected, for one, and, for two, i was given the chance to work in groups a lot more than I was used to from the British system (I studied engineering for a few years in UK). The case studies were always a blend of local/international/and global firms giving you a perspective of how things interact in the markets.
Most vivid experience from the IB programme
The intro trip. I noticed when we met for the very first time, when no one knew each other at all, that nearly everyone was introducing themselves to each other instead of just walking quietly. I liked that. I think this ties in with the ambition level and the personalities of the people.
The intro trip. I noticed when we met for the very first time, when no one knew each other at all, that nearly everyone was introducing themselves to each other instead of just walking quietly. I liked that. I think this ties in with the ambition level and the personalities of the people.
The Typical IB student
The typical IB student is ambitious. I don't mean that everyone is striving for the top grades, but that everyone on the course had something they wanted to attain; be it grades, work experience, an industry they wanted to enter or a company they wanted to establish. I think this can be said of all those I met on the programme, and it is something that I noticed quite quickly.
The typical IB student is ambitious. I don't mean that everyone is striving for the top grades, but that everyone on the course had something they wanted to attain; be it grades, work experience, an industry they wanted to enter or a company they wanted to establish. I think this can be said of all those I met on the programme, and it is something that I noticed quite quickly.
After IB
Start thinking as soon as possible about what sort of masters course you intend to do. In this way, you can 'fit' your elective courses so as to ensure that you automatically can get accepted to the Masters instead of trying to cram some extra courses at the last moment. This is especially true for people going for Finance Masters. Other than that - always do the exam first time around, never wait for the retakes as the exams come thick and fast and they will ruin your week!
Start thinking as soon as possible about what sort of masters course you intend to do. In this way, you can 'fit' your elective courses so as to ensure that you automatically can get accepted to the Masters instead of trying to cram some extra courses at the last moment. This is especially true for people going for Finance Masters. Other than that - always do the exam first time around, never wait for the retakes as the exams come thick and fast and they will ruin your week!
Joachim Meyer Andersen
Last updated by Andrew Arnold 15/05/2009
Banking on a good career
Robin graduated from IB in 2009, where he also took part in the GLOBE programme. Alongside his MSc studies he now works at Saxo Bank as a Research Analyst in the bank's strategy group. He contributes to the bank's research reports and has had several research notes published.
"Studying IB does not only introduce and prepare you for an international career, it also opens doors and gives you opportunities to enter the professional field along with your studies. It is not unusual for students at IB to have jobs. Not just any student job, but positions at true multinational firms that enable you to practice what you have learned in real work-related environments."
A good international mix
"The thing I liked the best about IB was the mix of internationals and Danes - I have lived abroad most of my life so knew I would feel more at home in such a setting," says 2007 graduate Andrew Townsend.
"IB allowed me to meet many more nationalities and cultures than I expected, for one, and, for two, i was given the chance to work in groups a lot more than I was used to from the British system. The case studies were always a blend of local/international/and global firms giving you a perspective of how things interact in the markets."
'Think big and work hard'
That's the advice from IB graduate Ulrik Binzer. He graduated from the IB programme in 2003 and is now studying for an MBA degree at the prestigious Harvard Business School. Before starting his studies at Harvard, he worked as an analyst at McKinsey for two years and then as an associate in the venture capital firm Golden Gate Capital.
An ideal preparation for an international career
Thea Sørensen graduated from the International Business programme in 2007. Since then she has gone on to join Nokia's graduate programme, and has worked in Copenhagen, Beijing and Helsinki. "Practically, I learned a lot from studying in the multicultural environment that is IB. Already having an international network before I graduated made it easier to go in to a career in Nokia," she says.
