Hi! My name is Tessa Muldowney, and I am a rising junior honors student in the College of Business Administration. I am pursuing a double major in Human Resources Management and Business Information Systems, with a certificate in Leadership and Ethics. I am very excited and thankful for the opportunity to participate in the Global Business Institute program in Sydney, Australia. While abroad, I will be taking one class, called Analyzing and Exploring the Global City and interning at a local startup. I chose this program because I felt that visiting Australia was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Furthermore, Australia is a place I may never visit again given the distance and travel required. When choosing an abroad program, Sydney’s combination of big city and natural landscapes stood out to me. Between the unique architecture and stunning beaches, I am so excited to explore!

I have many goals for this program and fully expect it to benefit me personally, academically, and professionally.

I believe this program will allow me to grow by forcing me to put myself out there and try new things. I will meet so many new students from across the United States, as well as hopefully meet many locals. These social experiences will build relationships with new people, and I am excited to have new friends in new cities across the United States. I want to challenge myself to say yes to as many things as possible and fully immerse myself in the Sydney culture. This includes trying new foods, walking to new places, and understanding the common norms around me.

Professionally, I am interning at an AI consulting company for small to medium sized businesses. I hope to gain transferable skills for my future professional endeavors. This experience will allow me to be a more open-minded professional, have a unique experience under my belt, and gain international experience. Additionally, I am excited to learn how to leverage AI in my professional endeavors, as this is a key technological advancement. I am nervous about interacting with new people, of all seniority levels, but am excited to put myself out there and build new relationships.

I am very excited to land in Sydney and start this wonderful learning experience, despite being fearful of the lengthy plane ride and the jarring time difference.