I work in a team responsible for activating new projects in recently entered countries for the organisation, or on new projects in countries where we already have a presence, both in a surge support capacity, meaning we bridge a crucial staffing gap between the launch of a workstream and a permanent team taking over. My role is cross-cutting across the entire organisation, so I get to work with a wide variety of teams and countries around the world, based on whatever the current organisational needs are. The work is mainly project related, and thanks to my Sciences Po background, I get to work on gritty political projects, directly with a country's government. For example, since joining the team, I've spent three months in Togo and another three in Uzbekistan, where I worked with small embedded teams at the highest levels of those countries' governments on center-of-government strategy and policy issues. Between those, I contribute to internal-facing initiatives related to new operations and performance. Flexibility and a global outlook are definitely the two most important skills for the job, as well as a strong consulting mindset.

Someone at TBI reached out to me on Linkedin to invite me to partake in the interview process -- have a good Linkedin page, you never know who's looking!

The most fascinating part of the job is its rich international, high-level character. I get to work with amazingly smart people from around the world, in -- and on -- countries around the world, at the highest political level on fascinating topics. I do really love my colleagues, and we're a close-knit team. And it's so fun to take part in conversations that take place at the highest levels of government, to be a fly on the wall for those. The job is never dull -- quite the opposite really, but the intensity is part of the fun, as governments trust us to advise them on pressing questions they face: sometimes, they're just looking for a quick, outside and impartial opinion on something.

PSIA gave me three essential things that contributed -- and continue to contribute -- to the position I have today. First, PSIA provided a wide-ranging set of fascinating subjects to study at very advanced levels, with the best practitioners out there. The international, multi-disciplinary and engaging nature of the master's has been invaluable, giving me great background on so many topics. Second, the ways of working at PSIA prepared me for the fast-paced and challenging work at TBI: juggling loads of projects, many of them with small groups, on different topics at once, improving my writing and presentation skills, etc. Third, and perhaps most importantly to me, PSIA opened me to a community of fellow students that I will cherish forever: I know that in whatever role and whatever country I find myself in, I'll always carry the experiences -- great, less great, and formative -- I had with people I met over the course of my master's. 

Enjoy every second of your time at Sciences Po, every second of your master's -- it will go by so quickly, so try to slow down and really take it all in -- living in Paris, forging great relationships with your friends, fellow students, and professors, and doing fun internships. Take advantage of all that to the max, and also take any new, different, or intriguing opportunity that comes your way. And don't take it too seriously: have fun learning, discussing, researching things, and meeting new people -- do it for you.