Taking a semester abroad as an exchange student involved great risks but also opportunities for personal and professional growth. The risks included using savings, resigning from a stable job, and delaying studies. However, the opportunity would challenge and expand the author's horizons. After evaluating the risks, the author decided the experience would improve career prospects and provide a unique educational and cultural experience. The outcome was that the author successfully challenged themselves, expanded their worldview, started a new global career, gained maturity and knowledge, and made lifelong friends while traveling Europe.

1. Taking Risks
Sometimes you go two steps behind to take four steps forward…
C. Describe a time when you took a great risk. What was the outcome?

2. Year 2007, let’s put things in context:
• Graduated of Construction Management from Chile’s
best university (PUC)
• Studying my second university degree by nights,
working (Civil Engineering)
• After four years of hard work, I became a commercial
manager, well positioned in a local company,
directly to the GM, earning a fair salary
• The company was growing and I had good chances of
developing my leadership role in the organization
• Leasing a great apartment, having a fantastic social
• Starting a love relationship (current wife)
• Enjoying my early 30’s
• Great family time
Semester as an Exchange Student
An Opportunity?

3. Semester as an Exchange Student
An Opportunity?

4. Semester as an Exchange Student
Master in International Management
While studying Civil Engineering, my second professional degree, the university
offered to take a semester abroad as an exchange student of the Master in
International Management at Flensburg University in Germany
The Opportunity

5. 1. A probability or threat of damage, injury, liability, loss, or any
other negative occurrence that is caused by external or
internal vulnerabilities, and that may be avoided through
preemptive action
2. A situation involving exposure to danger. The possibility that
something unpleasant or unwelcome will happen
3.The probability that an actual return on an investment will be
lower than the expected return
4.The chance that an investment's actual return will be different
than expected. Risk includes the possibility of losing some or
all of the original investment
Semester as an Exchange Student
Defining Risk

6. Variables to Consider Description
INVESTMENT
To use all my savings, to sell my car, to use unemployment insurance and loss work
compensation
CURRENT JOB To resign without the security of finding work at my return
CURRENT STUDIES One more semester of the Civil Engineer degree (time and money)
ALTERNATIVE COSTS
Possible salary rise, improved role, bonus, etc., at current work
Not perceiving a salary while studying and finding a new job at my return
Returning to parents’ house
NEW STUDIES No degree from the Master. Just a few marketing courses
PAST EXPERIENCES Already lived overseas (USA). However, first time in Europe
LANGUAGE No a German speaker, however an English speaker
AGE In the early 30’s, actually an old age for local structure of life
Semester as an Exchange Student
Evaluating the Risks

7. • It was something I always wanted to do, however I had
started to study my second university degree by nights
while working, right after finishing my first degree
• It would get me out of my comfort zone, involving a
great challenge
• I was convinced that it will improve the chances to
work for a multinational company. It will look great on
my resume
• It was a good opportunity to travel around Europe
• I would have the chance to learn the basics of German
language and experiencing a new culture
• It would develop my social skills, adaptability and self-
confidence
• It would require and improve budget and time
management
• It would expand my international social networking
• I would experience and learn from a new and unique
educational experience
Semester as an Exchange Student
Why doing it?
“The higher the risk of a particular investment, the higher the possible return”

8. After a semester abroad:
1. Challenged myself and got-out
victorious
I expanded my horizons, getting a broader
world perspective. I understood and
embraced different cultures, acquiring huge
experiences and memories that will last
forever
2. A new line of work, from products to
services, from local to global
I started working for a leading multinational
financial and professional services firm
specializing in commercial real estate
services and investment management
(current work), gaining global culture,
consultancy mind set, working daily with
people from different countries (USA, EMEA
and Latin America)
Semester as an Exchange Student
The Outcome
3. Maturity, Personal growth
I improved on flexibility, independency and
interdependency management, budget
control
4. New knowledge
I learned the basics of German language
and I improved my English skills. I learned
different topics related to marketing in a
completely different approach
5. Friendships
I got great friends from different countries:
Turkey, Germany, Cyprus, Colombia. We are
still in touch
6. Travelling
I traveled thru Europe: Germany, France,
Spain, Italy, Czech Republic, Hungary

9. Thank you