My name is Amber Mckaveney, I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA! Having grown up in Pittsburgh and stayed here for college I am so excited to expand my horizons and make the move to Prague this summer! During my free time outside of school, I am a server at the Wyndham hotel, and am the VP of event management for my sorority Alpha Delta Pi. I love to spend time with friends and family, thrift, and binge watch netflix! 

I am going into my Junior year of college this upcoming year and am majoring in Economics with minors in statistics and political science. Economics has given me a solid foundation for understanding decision making, markets, and policy analysis. My minors are something I also really enjoy studying and tie perfectly with my major . Statistics has helped me grow my quantitative skills and studying political science offers many insights into public policy, governance, and political dynamics that affect economies! My academics are something I am very passionate about learning and take very seriously. 

My professional goals are something I am also very passionate about. Last semester I had the privilege to intern for the city of Pittsburgh as a data analyst for the city council.  One of my key focuses was diving into housing and police data to provide insights crucial for informed decision-making. This internship experience was not only fulfilling but also transformative. It solidified my interest in harnessing the power of data to address complex challenges and improve outcomes. As a result, I am now drawn to the dynamic landscape of the business world, particularly in areas such as finance, data analytics, investment banking, consulting, and various business analyst roles. The hands-on experience I gained during my internship and academics  has equipped me with valuable skills that I am eager to further develop and apply in my future endeavors. For the future I am committed to honing my analytical abilities, expanding my knowledge base, and seeking out opportunities to immerse myself in the vibrant intersection of data and business.

This summer I am embarking on a journey to Prague, Czech Republic where I am participating in the IIP Prague program which takes place from June 3-July 27. What interested me in this program and ultimately made me decide to go was first was a chance to explore a new country and gain invaluable professional experience. As someone who has never traveled abroad before, the prospect of interning in a foreign country feels like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Not only is it a great  experience but it holds immense potential for self, academic, and professional growth. Interning abroad truly is a unique opportunity, not only will I be able to learn about the professional field but also understand how business practice varies around the world. 

Academically, I hope this experience can deepen my knowledge, by allowing me to work hands-on in the business field, and gain new insights and perspectives that I gain by working abroad. I aim to learn from this experience and be able to apply it into my academics by having a whole new perspective of the economy, the business world, and having real life experiences that give me a new and better understanding of my future courses and past courses with my new  global perspective.

 Professionally I hope to gain a lot from this experience. My internship is at a property company where I will be working in the financial aspect of doing data, seeing how the investing works, and other financial aspects of the company. Finance being a very possible path for me after graduation I am going to take this experience and see if I enjoy the financial field and see if that is an option I would want to pursue. Learning the 9-5 schedule and professional setting is super important and something I want to learn to adapt to from this because this is something vital I experience before graduation and provides a glimpse at the corporate life work balance. I see this experience as an opportunity to embrace confidence in myself, my abilities, and the unique contributions I can offer to a workplace. By putting myself out there and immersing myself fully in this experience, I hope to gain a sense of self-assurance and empowerment that will serve me well in the business world. Ultimately I hope this program prepares me for insight on what field I would want to pursue and develop valuable professional skills.

I truly cannot be thankful enough for this experience and cannot wait to step foot in Prague tomorrow!