After a stint working in the travel industry in Italy, Victoria was looking for a professional opportunity in Asia to increase her international exposure. She had already spent four years working in Africa and Europe after completing a degree in Travel and Tourism Management and wanted to gain experience in a new market. She found out about Leave UR Mark through a web search and got in touch. She got a reply immediately, and after discussing her needs, they agreed that her previous experience with an event management company made her a good candidate as an intern at a B2B event management company.
Victoria’s role as event management intern involves marketing and promotional work, research and event planning. So far she feels she has really benefited from the internship and that she has been able to grow professionally. “I’m gaining experience in managing events and other areas too and this is great exposure to this industry,” she says about her experience. “At the moment, I’m working on the content and layout for a website. It will be a portal for executives in the Middle East so that they can communicate with each other through peer learning. This has been a great new experience for me professionally.”
In the middle of Indian traffic full with scooters and autos
Victoria works in Bangalore’s busy central business district. “Since I live close by in Richmond Town, I can easily walk to the office,” she says. “I get there by 9am and leave around 6:30pm. My work is mainly research so I spend some of my time in the office, unless I’m on site at one of the events we’ve organized.” Victoria works and lives with locals, which is the best way to experience and be exposed to Indian culture and the way of life. “I work with a great bunch of people who are very helpful and I’m living in a charming old bungalow with an Indian ‘auntie’. I like to chat with her in the evenings. In my free time I call my family and keep in touch with friends through email. Sometimes I take a stroll around MG Road or Brigade Road. I have some local friends here who I meet for coffee.”
Bangalore’s busy Brigade Road
Though Victoria’s family and friends were a bit skeptical about her move to India, Victoria has no regrets and is pleased to have had such a positive experience. “So far it’s been great,” she says. “I was thrilled to get an opportunity to come to Asia and India is exactly what I expected. I’m pleasantly surprised by the experiences I’ve had here. Things like traffic and pollution are of course inevitable, but they don’t get to me. I find the people wonderful – very hospitable and genuine.” She also feels that the work experience she’s gained has exceeded her expectations. “I’ve gained more management experience and this opportunity has also given me a chance to gain hands-on experience. I’m running a project on my own. I’m planning an event next year in the Middle East for top IT executives which will bring them together to discuss technical developments in the region. This is very valuable for me because I would like to branch out to the Middle East. I’m happy that I have so much freedom and I’m hoping to learn more each day. My employers are open to initiatives and suggestions, which is great.”
