Patricia Ruivivar | IE School of Global and Public Affairs

Patricia Ruivivar

About me

I’m Patricia and I’m from General Santos, a city in the south of the Philippines. I would describe myself as idealistic, independent, and highly driven by my goals. I love exploring nature and experiencing new cities—I only have two more continents left to visit! After finishing my masters, I aspire to work on global social impact initiatives, preferably with a multilateral or intergovernmental organization.

Patricia Ruivivar
Master’s student
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Master in International Relations
Patricia Ruivivar | IE School of Global and Public Affairs

“My time at IE University is an unparalleled lifetime experience due to the diverse friendships I’ve made, accomplished faculty I’ve had the privilege of meeting, and the overall proficiency I have gained.”

Patricia Ruivivar

Making a social impact in the international arena

Patricia came to IE School of Global and Public Affairs with a résumé already packed with international development experience. Growing up in the Philippines, Patricia earned her bachelor’s degree in development studies at De La Salle University in Manila, graduating with honors in 2014.  Prior to arriving at IE University, she was working as a consultant on a bilateral foreign aid project between the Italian and Philippine governments, headquartered in Padova, Italy. There, she worked on a microfinance program aimed at reducing poverty in rural areas of the Philippines.

Her most recent role is just one of several engagements in the world of international development. In fact, Patricia has been exceptionally proactive, gaining valuable experience across a range of organizations and continents. In her home nation of the Philippines, she worked for consumer advocacy group CitizenWatch Philippines, as well as working with senior government officials as the Consulate of Mongolia’s point of contact in the Philippines. More research-based experience saw Patricia working for political consulting and policy firm Philippine Stratbase Consultancy, collaborating on efforts towards regulatory and legislative monitoring.

It was through her work there that she became involved as an analyst for BowerGroupAsia, a Washington DC-based government affairs and public policy consulting company that specializes in the Asia-Pacific. She has also engaged with US governmental activities directly as a project associate for the Integrity for Investments Initiative, the largest anti-corruption program backed by the US government. There, she was tasked with supporting the legislative priorities of the program’s public sector stakeholders.

Through a combination of job appointments and independent efforts to get involved with international development, Patricia has had some remarkable experiences. Not only has she organized and participated in training sessions on risk management, strategic communications, and gender-based development sponsored by major organizations, but she has also attended country meetings of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).

Behind Patricia’s strong engagement with international initiatives is her passion for helping people and contributing to society. This was the same reason she chose to pursue the Master in International Relations at IE University, strongly believing that the program would help her further her ambitious objectives.

What Patricia likes most about her program is the world-class faculty from top universities across the world, relishing the opportunity to learn from academics from the likes of Harvard, Oxford, and MIT. The diversity of the student body at IE University also stands out to her. Pointing out that diversity does not start and end at one’s ethnicity, language, and culture, she has also been pleasantly surprised by the mix of ages in the classroom.

“My experience at IE University is nothing short of a journey of self-discovery.”

Patricia Ruivivar | IE School of Global and Public Affairs
Patricia Ruivivar | IE School of Global and Public Affairs
Patricia Ruivivar | IE School of Global and Public Affairs

So far, Patricia’s time at IE University has shown her that collaboration and interdependence are incredibly consequential. Whether it be a university, workplace, or social setting, coordination and teamwork matter a lot more than we think. In the context of international development, Patricia also sees that solutions to global problems will not come from a single person, but a collective of minds that function together.

Patricia feels that her IE University experience is proving to be an important personal milestone. Coming from a non-Western background, she says she had to adjust to several challenges—but IE University has pushed have confidence in her abilities. Through the diverse friendships she has formed and the proficiency she has gained, Patricia believes her time at IE University has been a journey of self-discovery.

Outside of her work and studies, Patricia loves exploring nature and experiencing new cities. She is also quite the athlete, having had formal training in various martial arts and participated in volleyball tournaments at the national level.

After finishing her master’s degree, Patricia hopes to continue her strong track record of work on global social impact initiatives through a position in an intergovernmental organization. She feels that the Master in International Relations is equipping her to achieve this goal, providing her with practical skills that will allow her to drive impact in the international arena.

When asked for advice for those considering the Master in International Relations, Patricia is quick to answer—“do it!”. While she recognizes that the program is highly competitive and entails a steep learning curve, she is confident that it is a strong professional investment. The totality of the curriculum, faculty, and foreign exchange opportunities will offer a priceless head start in the international sphere.

In five to ten years, Patricia envisions herself advancing her goals on the global stage, working on social impact projects and finding solutions to endemic problems. She foresees a future of giving back to society, building communities, and—finally—visiting all the world’s continents! As a highly driven individual with a clear passion for international development, IE University is confident that Patricia will have every success.

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