North Central students host international careers event with guest experts

North Central College students in the Chinese Club and Entrepreneurship and International Business Club (EIBO) cohosted an international careers event featuring four experts in the field of international affairs. The guests spoke to some 80 students on Oct. 1 about today’s international markets.

The four experts—Nevena Milanovic, John Li, Silvia Liu and Michael Wynne—shared their knowledge on various topics, including major cultural differences and how they affect the business world, ways to adapt American business techniques in other countries, and how students can prepare for the changing global career environment.

Milanovic, manager of learning performance solutions for McDonald’s Corporation, develops global performance strategies. Her advice for the students: “Find out what you love and become very good at it, because the people to your right and left are your competition!”

Li is president and CEO of Systemtek Technologies, a Naperville-based Internet marketing and IT consulting firm with global offices in China and the United States. He told students that when he interviews potential employees, he’s looking for people who are “hardworking, motivated and willing to do whatever is asked of them.”

Liu, founder and investment executive of Northern Lights Financials, works in wealth portfolio management, primarily with foreign customers and institutions that are looking for investment opportunities in U.S. markets.

Wynne, president of International Management Consulting Associates, has global experience training executives particularly in Central and South America. Noting that 95 percent of all people live outside the United States, he said, “Don’t be the invisible man, and never eat lunch alone because there’s always someone you can be talking to and networking with.”

Each of the experts stressed how important it is to network with others in the field and encouraged students to study abroad to learn about new cultures and different lifestyles.