An Interview with Ryan Haight
LinkedIn Contact: R.Haight
Current Role: Human Capital Consultant at Deloitte Consulting
“working on ‘people problems’ and helping clients support their most valuable resources: employees.”
Umbra: What inspired your current career trajectory?
Ryan: Consulting gives you a wide array of opportunities and clients. I figured, being just out of college and young in my career, that consulting would give me a chance to see what I did and didn’t like and to surround myself with problem solvers. I also wanted the opportunity to work globally, if given the chance, and didn’t see that as being very viable at a US-based company.
U: How did the Umbra experience impact your career decisions?
R: Studying at Umbra was the best thing to have happened in my academic career. I took a class called ‘International Business’ and, after completing that class, I promised myself to start my career with a global company. Global companies come with their challenges, but also with their opportunities. I’ve since been able to travel to many countries for my work and I attribute those experiences to Umbra. More broadly, my familiarity with Italy and Europe in general has been a foundational piece of many of my professional relationships with managers and colleagues.
U: You mentioned that your time at Umbra has influenced your current international relationships. Can you specify some of the experiences and benefits of study abroad that had the most impact?
R: Studying abroad just gives you such perspective on what is and isn’t uncomfortable. For example, I’ve been able to work with and travel to India on multiple occasions. When going to India, I felt prepared to be uncomfortable and I felt prepared knowing that the way teams work in other countries is different and, in many ways, better than our own ways of working.
U: Based on your experience so far, what advice do you have for aspiring consultants?
R: I’d encourage them to leverage their time at Umbra and actively make a choice to work with a global company. Ask in their interviews if the company has an international program or, if after a few years of working for them, they can be assigned to a global project/client/team. What you learn at Umbra is that the BEST, most valuable experiences come from being in a new place, with unique perspectives and that can only help you to grow in your career.
U: So do you have any final advice for prospective Umbra students, particularly those who aren’t sure yet where their career will go?
R: I cannot put enough emphasis into the value of studying abroad, and with Umbra in particular. My advice is to just GO. Just go and embrace the fact that it’s going to feel different. It’s worth every single second. Just trust those that have studied abroad before and others that regret not having done so. Never in your life will you have another opportunity to do this.
This article is part of Umbra’s Alumni Success Series. Study abroad inspires students from all backgrounds and with all sorts of career goals. Therefore, each article in this series is meant to provide advice for current and former students interested in pursuing the types of careers our alumni hold, with some offering opportunities to connect by email or LinkedIn for further advice. We encourage you to follow us on LinkedIn so you can read future features!
About the Author:
Sara is interning with the Umbra Institute through ISI Abroad as part of her gap year experience. A bilingual native of England and Italy, she’s traveled the globe seeking to learn diverse cultural and historical perspectives. She’ll be your guide this fall as you plan for your study experience in Perugia.