Gabriela Gill
I left my home country of Venezuela after high school in the pursuit of better education opportunities. I consider myself a committed and passionate leader, always looking for ways to make a positive impact through my actions wherever I go.
“While the academics were rigorous and the networking opportunities were resourceful, the most unique and life-changing aspect of the program was the diversity represented by the students and professors.”
After graduating from high school in Venezuela, I spent a gap year in Paris learning French and trying to determine the best way to shape my career that would allow me to fulfill my passion for helping others. I decided that healthcare was where I could do the most good for others. I enrolled at Fordham University in New York and studied pre-med for three years before realizing that it wasn’t the right path for me. I discovered that there are other ways of making an impact on people’s lives and decided to transfer to the University of Miami to study a Bachelor in Business Administration with a focus on healthcare management.
After graduating in 2015, I moved to Washington DC to join the Office of Outreach and Partnerships at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) as a consultant. It was here that I developed my interest in international relations. I worked closely with Fortune 500 companies and public-sector agencies from across the globe, focusing on the development of countries from Latin America and the Carribean.
I made the decision to pursue a master’s with my husband, Carlos, who was also looking to further his education. He is an engineer who wanted to develop his general management skills with an MBA, and I wanted to gain the skills to progress professionally within the world of international relations.
“During my studies, I got to celebrate Ramadan with my Morrocan friend, Marjana, eat homemade pasta carbonara cooked by my Italian friend, Michele, taste Peruvian ceviche with my friend, Andrea, and celebrate Thanksgiving with my American friends Adelaide, Sophie, and KC.”
I needed a program that would allow me to deeply explore what international relations was all about; one that would provide me with not only the relevant theoretical background that I was lacking, but also the leadership skills and global perspective on current issues that would aid my professional development. The IE Master in International Relations embodied all of this and more, while the International MBA was a perfect fit for Carlos.
The decision to join IE University has led to some of the best experiences of our lives. While the academics were rigorous and the networking opportunities were resourceful, the most unique and life-changing aspect of the program was the diversity represented by the students and professors. During my studies, I got to celebrate Ramadan with my Morrocan friend, Marjana, eat homemade pasta carbonara cooked by my Italian friend, Michele, taste Peruvian ceviche with my friend, Andrea, and celebrate Thanksgiving with my American friends Adelaide, Sophie, and KC. I learned about traditions, historical events and cultures beyond what was taught in the class and have developed lifelong friendships with people from all over the world.
