World Views

WORLD VIEWS Advice and lessons learned from Villanova Engineering alumni living and working abroad.

Rick Drayton ’14 CpE Implementation Specialist, ION Trading, Germany Make an effort to integrate into your new country. That involves learning the language(s), proper table manners, food and even music choices. Integrating is a great way to meet locals (or even other foreigners) who can help make your abroad experience amazing.

Carlos Flor ’99 MSEE Project Manager, GIS-ECU partner, SolarWinds, Ecuador Engineering is the most exciting career in the world! It let me work in the oil and telecom industries. Knowing at least two languages helps a lot!

Ryan Flynn ’15 ChE, ’18 MSBChE Engineering Specialist – V920 Ebola Project, Merck and Co., Germany Take the leap! Living abroad and experiencing different cultures, both in work and personal life, has not only been instrumental in my development as an engineer, but as a person as well.

Rene Garrido ’14 PhD Associate Professor and Head, Environmental Engineering, Universidad de Santiago de Chile

Villanova changed what I was expecting in life; now, as a professor, I get to change lives and I encourage my students to do a semester abroad. I would say enjoy your time, learn what you like and dislike from the place, and love it as it is.

Mary Sue Haydt ’87 EE Field Applications Engineer, Green Hills Software, Germany

There are a lot of opportunities for engineers in Germany! Villanova’s well-rounded Electrical Engineering program has enabled me to work as both a design and field-applications engineer and I’ve been able to survive changing markets in both Silicon Valley and Europe.

Jamil Khwaja ’87 MSME Self-Employed Business Development Consultant, Pakistan

Be flexible. Markets are often chaotic, and data can be ambiguous. Be flexible culturally; learn to accommodate opposing viewpoints.

Jakub Kukielka ’17 ChE Engineering Facilitator, Liger Leadership Academy, Cambodia

There are so many different ways of viewing and appreciating life. You may become comfortable with being uncomfortable, change perspectives toward old ideas and problems, and form new relationships with people around the globe.

Alessandro Perrotta ’94 MSEE CEO, Interplex Holding, Singapore

Living overseas is the best way to expand your understanding of a different culture. To be a leader you must be sensitive to the backgrounds of your people; cultural insensitivity is one of the main reasons top managers fail in their roles.

Kelly Pitera, PhD, ’01 CE Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway

Be open to opportunities. I would have never thought I would take a job abroad, but when an international possibility presented itself, I’m glad I went for it, instead of dismissing it because it was not part of “my plan.”

Gonzalo Zurita ’86 CE Member, Foro de Economía y Finanzas; Executive Director, Desdemitrinchera.com, Ecuador

Villanova Engineering provided a multidimensional challenge that transcended into a most valuable life-long experience that endures to this day. When living abroad, never give up on your personal convictions while adapting to other lifestyle conditions, corporate structures and national cultures.