International careers: 4 Alumni share what their experience abroad really taught them

On the occasion of Alumni Days 2025, we spoke to a number of graduates who have settled abroad. Whether they've worked in Europe, Asia or North America, they all share one thing in common: they've crossed borders - sometimes by opportunity, sometimes by choice - and emerged transformed.

Beyond their academic career, it's often in the field, in contact with new cultures and environments, that they hone their skills, their professional posture and their vision of the world.

Here's what they remember!

     What I gained: real intercultural agility

Alexandre THIERRY, EMLV 2016 - Product Manager at PwC - Luxembourg

Working at PwC Luxembourg has enabled me to develop real intercultural agility: I work on a daily basis with teams and clients from all over Europe. Over and above the purely technical skills that I have developed and continue to develop on a daily basis, it has also strengthened me in key soft skills such as rigor, critical analysis and communication in a multicultural environment.

A piece of advice? "Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. An experience abroad is always enriching, both professionally and personally. It pushes you to adapt, learn fast and broaden your horizons."

  Speaking languages... and the language of the customer

Klarissa TU, ESILV 2021 - Data Engineer at Van Cleef & Arpels - Geneva (Switzerland), Singapore

Thanks to my international experiences, I've been able to develop resilience and adaptability in the face of difficulties. In a professional context, I've learned new ways of thinking and working, particularly in relation to the culture of the country concerned. I was also able to learn to communicate in English with international contacts for whom English is not their mother tongue. 

A piece of advice?  "All it takes is one person, one discussion, one opportunity for everything to change: talk to people around you, ask for feedback, get in touch with locals and get in touch with people who have already done the mobility you want. It's all about perseverance!

Soft skills often make the difference abroad

Victor LELOUP, EMLV 2016 - General Inspector at BNP Paribas - Dublin (Ireland), Montreal (Canada)

I really enjoy working with people with very different profiles, whether in terms of age, origin, education... Fluency in English, the ability to adapt to another work culture, intellectual curiosity and a taste for challenge are the main skills I've developed through my international experiences.

Any advice? "The main thing is to be motivated, respectful, professional and to bring good energy and added value to the team."

  Technique, languages, coordination: being useful where it all counts

Jennifer Choi, EMLV 2020 - Senior Associate at PWC - Seoul (South Korea)

You get out of your usual environment, you learn to adapt, to be more autonomous, and it's beneficial both personally and professionally. Living abroad, even if it's not always easy, allows you to develop reflexes that you don't necessarily learn at school or from books.

In my field, fluency in three languages - Korean, English and French - is still quite rare. I told myself that I'd really made an impact during a PCAOB audit for a Korean company that was going public on the NASDAQ stock exchange. It was a complex project, with teams in Korea, Europe and the USA, so there was a lot of coordination and communication in several languages. As I mastered both the technical aspects and the working languages, I was able to play a central role in exchanges with the client. The project ended very well, and I felt that my contribution had counted!

A pice of advice? "When I was a student, I wanted to work in an auditing firm, particularly in a Big Four, but I didn't know how to prepare for it in terms of possible career paths, certification choices and ways of positioning yourself. For those interested in an international career in this field, I recommend considering qualifications such as the CPA, ACCA or a French diploma such as the DCG/DSCG depending on one's objectives.

In spite of their very different backgrounds, they all agree on one thing: an experience abroad is a powerful lever for personal and professional development.

Do you have an international experience you'd like to share?

Write to us or comment below: we're still collecting testimonials!

📩 alumni@devinci.fr

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