Introduction to Me
A Brief Bio:
My name is Cecelia Cizek and I am a soon-to-be graduate of The Robert H. Smith School of Business at The University of Maryland, College Park. I transferred to UMD my sophomore year from a 4-year private institution. I spent my three years at UMD studying International Business, participating in an honor fraternity on campus, and working part-time. I am a vegetarian and a lover of all parts of nature - animals, trees, and everything in between... especially dogs. I am an avid proponent of women's rights and I currently intern at a non-profit in DC working to promote women and girls in all walks of life. I would like to continue this work into my career in the fundraising and corporate development departments of a non-profit in Washington, D.C.. There is a lot to fix in this world and I want to find the funds to do it.
Experience with International Actors:
Traveling wise, I have never left the East Coast. As a transfer student who also changed majors, I could not afford time-wise, nor money-wise. So I searched for international experience elsewhere. Surrounding myself with as much cultural diversity as I could, I've attended many museums, events, and workshops outside my "normal" comfort zone. My favorite of these experiences was a course I took last semester with the International Business Institute - BMGT488G. The course took place in the World Trade Center of D.C.. We met 7 times throughout the semester for a full day of lectures and site visits. We were able to visit The Singapore and Greek Embassies, The USTDA, World Bank, WIPRO, and BDO Consulting. This class gave me my own study abroad while only 45 minutes away from my apartment and on a budget too! It also gave me more insight into what I want to do with my career and how I can be a valuable asset to non-profits opportunity at home and abroad.
Experience with International Actors:
Traveling wise, I have never left the East Coast. As a transfer student who also changed majors, I could not afford time-wise, nor money-wise. So I searched for international experience elsewhere. Surrounding myself with as much cultural diversity as I could, I've attended many museums, events, and workshops outside my "normal" comfort zone. My favorite of these experiences was a course I took last semester with the International Business Institute - BMGT488G. The course took place in the World Trade Center of D.C.. We met 7 times throughout the semester for a full day of lectures and site visits. We were able to visit The Singapore and Greek Embassies, The USTDA, World Bank, WIPRO, and BDO Consulting. This class gave me my own study abroad while only 45 minutes away from my apartment and on a budget too! It also gave me more insight into what I want to do with my career and how I can be a valuable asset to non-profits opportunity at home and abroad.
My Distinctive Competencies:
My biggest strengths are my creativity, positivity, and my ability to persuade and inspire through writing. I want to be a grant writer for a women's or animal non-profit. I have spent the last four years learning how a corporation functions and how to properly persuade their executives to become more social responsible through giving programs to their local and international communities. But, while I am creative behind the scenes, I do need to work at my abilities to ask in person. When faced with strong corporations, with intimidating (and sometimes unethical) executives, I would much prefer to be the person who does the research and submits a written proposal, leaving my supervisors to do the talking and submit the official "ask" to a company. This is something I will need to work on if I want to become a senior manager or join the C-suite of a non-profit. I have been working with my internship on this competency by putting myself out there at networking events and just asking for interest - because the worst thing they can say is "no", right?
