Isild Monfret
I’m French, but I was born and raised in Belgium. I’m a sensitive, open-minded person with a passion for hospitality, well-being, new cultures, languages and customs around the world. I like skiing, running, playing music (the piano and violin), cooking and reading inspirational books. I want to translate my passion for hospitality into helping people in need and finding ways to protect and sustain our planet, so I enrolled in the Master in International Development at IE University.
“Worrying about where you’ll be in 10 months does not help you in the present.”
Lending a helping hand around the world
Born in Flanders, Belgium, Isild’s childhood and adolescence brought her into contact with a range of people and cultures. Opportunities to travel around the world—visiting countries as diverse as Slovenia and Senegal, the Philippines and Austria—meant that she learned to love the challenges of adjusting to new places and languages as well as the personal growth that results. Language exchange experiences in the US and Germany when Isild was 14 and 16 cemented the foundations for Isild’s global attitude.
Describing her passions, Isild cites her love of learning new things as well as her concern for others and the environment. Driven by a desire to serve and make people happy, Islid worked in restaurants and completed internships in the hospitality industry during her Bachelor in Hotel Management at Vives University in Bruges.
It is the combination of these passions that brought Isild to study the Master in International Development at IE University. In this program, Isild sought to find a rewarding purpose and to help the world become more resilient for future generations. Isild’s internship at the Thon Hotel EU in Brussels during the COVID-19 pandemic sparked the realization that there are many opportunities for the struggling hospitality industry to profit from the situation in a socially responsible way. Isild saw chances to open empty rooms up to the homeless, students in need, and so on, but she felt stuck by her lack of knowledge.
Studying international development has allowed Isild to fill in her gaps regarding policy, law, and the world of development in general. IE University’s diverse campus meant that Isild improved her teamwork skills, collaborating with diverse people and learning to deal with different characters, expectations and ways of working.
Isild cites the course “Partnership and Multi-Stakeholder Engagement” as particularly important to her academic development by showing her that every state is needed to create positive change. Again, the diversity of her class enriched the learning experience as students were able to openly discuss ideas, debate their positions and apply the examined theories to case studies. Isild took away from the course a broadened perspective on today’s world and the future.
Outside of the classroom, Isild took advantage of the range of extracurricular activities that comprise IE University’s thriving campus. She particularly enjoyed the IE Charity Club, the IE Aid & Development Club and the Eco Club, where she was able to gain hands-on experience in the development field and listen to inspirational speakers.
Isild also served as co-vice-president of the Student Advisory Board of the IE Center for Health, Well-being and Happiness, where she forged strong personal and professional relationships. In this role, she learned to enhance her own well-being and resilience and to inspire others to do the same by, for example, running a 5k for charity, walking to classes and being mindful of nutrition. In fact, Isild runs an Instagram page (Isild’s Kitchen) where she shares recipes and foodie inspiration!
Reflecting on her experience at IE University, Isild notes that it was challenging but worth it. She is proud to have jumped into the unknown and to have met her initial goal to keep learning and discovering. The “participation” component helped her find her voice and gain a deeper understanding of her course materials, while the Master in International Development overall gave her the tools and skills needed for success in the humanitarian sector.
Once she completes her degree, Isild aims to work for the United Nations World Tourism Organization or in the hospitality industry. In five to ten years, she envisions herself at an NGO, the UN or the European Commission—or else she will be at the helm of her own non-profit organization. Isild’s broader goal is to empower communities and be part of something bigger than herself.
To others considering studying the Master in International Development at IE University, Isild offers the following advice:
“Be proactive, dedicate yourself to the readings, but make sure to breathe, to enjoy the present moment and especially the process. Worrying about where you will be in 10 months does not help you in the present.”
