I … was a business and spanish major…. I spent my junior year abroad with Joan and Angel Berenguer in Barcelona, before the program had to be relocated to Madrid (sadly!). My senior thesis on Catalonia was done under the guidance of Juan Carlos Lertora.
I went on to receive an MBA from Columbia Business School in 1993 and then spent the next 7 years overseas. I am currently settled in Westchester County in Harrison, New York with my husband and 3 small children.
Since my return to the States in late 2000 I have been home with my children, but hope to return to work within the next year. In direct and indirect ways my spanish studies at Skidmore were an important and influential thing for me. My career began with a decade of management roles in the fashion business in New York and London. After completing my MBA, I made a career change to the field of electronic commerce, technology start-ups and finance over the last five years spent in Johannesburg, South Africa. While I have only fleetingly used my spanish throughout my career, there is not a week that goes by that I don't use it within my personal life. Being back in NY it is almost essential.
By far and away the most wonderful and memorable time for me was my year in Barcelona. I was extremely lucky to have made a set of friends during that year that have become intimate, lifelong friendships. Years ago the group of friends began a ski club called the Gaudi Club de Esquii and over the years I have met them in Europe or the US for ski trips more than half a dozen times. All trips are carried on in either Spanish or Catalan. My closest Catalan friend met in 1981 is now the godmother to my youngest son, is living in Washington DC with her diplomat husband and we see each other at least 4 times a year (and as recently as last week). But the independence and confidence gained through a year on my own in Europe at age 20 has allowed me over the years to independently grow and change my career around the globe. It has become a big part of who I am.
So, thank you all..