Kari Sicard has learned a lot from her travels.
Now, she shows students in the Terry College of Business how international travel can be its own education.
“I went on one big international trip as a kid, and I’m thankful for having the privilege to do that, and it opened my eyes to see that there are other places outside the United States,” she said.
Her own education included a few trips abroad, and her family also hosted exchange students. Sicard earned a bachelor’s degree in communication studies and a Certificate in Global Studies from UGA in 2017 while also working for international education programs like EF Education First, which specializes in language travel for international students.
After graduating, she spent two years in Italy and Austria working with students in those countries. When she returned to the United States, she knew she wanted to continue that work. She thought an advising role where she could incorporate some “international flair” would suit her talents and interests. That led to her position as program specialist and lead Cultural Intelligence (CQ) facilitator for the Terry College of Business’ international business program. CQ is a globally recognized way of assessing and improving effectiveness in culturally diverse situations.