Amanda Chu
My name is Amanda Chu. I’ve lived all over the world—from being born and raised in Panama, to moving to the United States to do my undergrad, to completing a handful of exchanges around the globe. Now, I proudly call Madrid my home as I complete my master’s degree. For many years, I thought my career would be strictly in the corporate world, but after some time working in private consulting, I knew I wanted to explore other alternatives that have a more direct social impact. I knew that the Master in International Relations at IE University would be the perfect way to change career directions while learning what I need to excel in the political economy landscape.
“The IE Community is very diligent in providing you with the tools and resources necessary to advance or shift your career.”
Gaining a global perspective to make a local impact
Amanda Chu was born and raised in Panama City—but soon became a global citizen. She started experiencing other cultures when she moved to the United States to complete her undergraduate degree in economics and finance with a focus on global perspectives. Since then, she’s been to Taiwan and Italy for language exchanges, Singapore for a business exchange, and finally, her most recent international chapter—in Spain at IE University.
Given this thirst for cultural knowledge, it comes as no surprise that Amanda describes herself as an active and curious person, always striving to discover both sides of any story. She applied this insatiable quest for information to her career as a Transfer Pricing Consultant in Chicago and Barcelona. Her work included research, information and data management, development of client relations, and analysis of pricing policies from an economics perspective. Her team advised clients on the best practices to ensure compliance with local and global tax rules. However, after a few years of working in the field of international taxation, she felt the need to change directions, which is what brought her to the Master in International Relations.
She mainly chose IE University due to its worldwide network and recognition. Through its partnerships with international organizations and financial institutions, as well as multinational corporations and government agencies, Amanda and her classmates are gaining a solid understanding of the different actors in the political economy—which is her particular area of interest.
In fact, something that Amanda values about the program is that, in a short period of time, “you’re able to engage in multiple disciplines in a very diverse environment, both in terms of faculty and students.”
Amanda also finds the program particularly interesting for the well-rounded overview it gives of the field. She describes it as research-oriented and dynamic: research-oriented in the sense that students are expected to interpret and compare data through time, and dynamic in the sense that students are exposed to current issues through case studies and experience from faculty, serving as a great platform for insightful debate.
Another benefit of being a master’s student at IE University is the opportunity to work on a Capstone Project, where students work directly with an institution outside of IE University. Amanda was enthusiastic about this project because it allowed her to develop a client relationship with a potential employer in the field. For her Capstone Project, she is collaborating with the Organization of American States (OAS) on the topic of multidimensional inequality in Latin America—a controversial topic that has been studied for many years but remains unresolved. Amanda explains that she appreciates the opportunity to think critically about an issue that has shaped her life, but with the support and mentoring of IE University’s faculty. This experience may come in handy, she says, when the time comes for her to give back to her community.
When asked what she would like others to know about IE University, Amanda was quick to mention IE Talent & Careers, which has been very diligent in providing the tools and resources necessary to advance and shift her career. She explains that, even if you’re not sure what to do next, the university does a great job in helping you navigate your skills and potential interests to get on the right track. The department is currently working with Amanda to find opportunities in an international organization or an international financial institution, either in Europe or the United States. She hopes to find a role that mixes technical expertise and dynamic personalities with a shared passion for improving societies.
We wish Amanda all the best!
