Hi, I’m Tracy! I’m a senior at the University of Pittsburgh. I’m originally from Mobile, Alabama (Roll Tide). I’m wrapping up a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration double majoring in the Dietrich School of Arts and Science’s Psychology and the Katz School of Business’s Global Management with the Frederick Honors College’s Joint Degree and a certificate in Conceptual Foundations of Medicine.

In the past, my experience has primarily been rooted in the science and health sectors, but more recently, I’ve begun exploring the field of business with the goal of integrating both psychology and business in my future pursuits. Last summer, I interned at a U-Haul Franchise Retail Center, where I managed daily operations, streamlined business processes, and improved customer satisfaction. Previously, I conducted cancer research on gastric cancer cells at the University of South Alabama Mitchell Cancer Research Institute. I was also a part of Carnegie Mellon’s Psychology Research Lab, contributing to studies on marital relationships by collecting and analyzing data through behavioral coding techniques. Additionally, I worked with University of South Alabama’s Center for Healthy Communities, a government-affiliated initiative that focuses on health equity and education.

I’ve grown up in Alabama all my life from the coast to the country sides. I have always enjoyed learning from a variety of native Alabamians from fishing, boating, hunting, trapping, herding, agriculture, sailing, navigating . I find having a wide range of skills and experiences to be useful. At home, I have 4 goats : Salt, Pepper, Cajun, and Creole (all seasonings). The latter two are the offsprings of the first essentials, all dedicated to the South’s best soul foods. I also previously raised a variety of chickens and ducks that accumulated to around 100, which unsurprisingly led me to become extremely skilled at understanding bird behavior for varying purposes. Obviously in hindsight, I should’ve trapped that fox sooner before he got to the coop because I don’t think even Pitt’s greatest economics professors could predict an egg inflation this rough.

As you can imagine, I was just roasting by the sea, soaking up a cancerous amount of UV in the thick, humid air, inhaling every grain of sea salt that my nose could filter from any post-BP oil spill fumes, eating the freshest batch of this season’s crawfish, when I remembered my flight for my IIP (International Internship Program) for Berlin was tomorrow. I was beyond from being prepared, but I quickly hopped on my plane from Bama to Pittsburgh, packed, and immediately hopped on a train to Newark to depart for Berlin.

In all honesty, I am doing the IPP because it is a requirement to fulfill my Global Management major and the Honors Degree. However, I have always wanted to study or intern abroad with Pitt ever since I toured the school post-graduating high school but really never had the chance or opportunity to come around to it. And honestly, I would have never imagined to actually be able to participate in such an opportunity, so this experience feels like a blessing. I am also truly super grateful for all of the scholarships and sponsors/donors from the Martinson Elevate Award, CBA Global Experiences Scholarship, and James B. Tafel Internship Fund that are providing me the support that is allowing me to experience such lifetime opportunity. This opportunity will not only allow me to gain experience in my field of studies and for my career goals but also learn and develop a global perspective, enhance my cultural competency, and grow both personally and professionally in ways that a traditional classroom setting simply cannot offer.

I chose to intern in Berlin because of its dynamic blend of global influence, strong economy, and rich cultural and historical significance. Berlin serves as a major hub for international business, innovation, and entrepreneurship—making it an ideal environment for someone studying Global Management. Its strategic location at the heart of Europe also provides access to key markets and fosters cross-border collaboration, which is essential for developing a well-rounded understanding of international business operations.

During my time in Berlin, I will be completing a full-time internship at Vencon Research, a global leader in compensation benchmarking for the consulting and professional services industry. The company specializes in analyzing and comparing remuneration data, enabling consulting firms to stay competitive in talent acquisition and retention across a wide array of markets. With offices around the world, Vencon serves over 85% of the world’s leading management consulting firms, from understanding market pay levels to optimizing their talent strategies.I am particularly interested in the in strategic decision-making in human capital management. I am eager to explore how my work fits into the larger effort of helping clients navigate complex compensation landscapes in a rapidly evolving consulting industry. My internship at Vencon will prepare me for a career in global management by giving me direct exposure to strategic decision-making across international markets.

In the future, I envision myself working in the business world, but not in the traditional corporate sense. While I’m passionate about strategic thinking, innovation, and driving impact through global business practices, I’m equally committed to building a career that values flexibility, creativity, and purpose. I don’t see myself confined to a rigid desk job or trapped in monotonous routines. Free me from the chains of the corporate world bounded by a 9 to 5 shift—I want a career that allows me to work dynamically across cultures, solve real-world problems, and continue learning in environments that challenge the norm. My goal is to combine business with meaningful human-centered work, whether that means consulting internationally, supporting social enterprises, or contributing to people-focused strategy on a global scale.

In my free time, I love exploring. If the weather finally warms up around Pittsburgh, it wouldn’t be uncommon for me to ride my motorcycle across neighboring states to hike mountains or swim in rivers. It eases the itch for realigning with my natural hick roots, especially for that “desperate feeling for freedom”. Sarcasm aside, often times, when the infamous business student workload un-shockingly grants us an ungodly amount of free-time, I’d abuse the Amtrak’s monthly rail pass and travel solo transcontinental, ridding the boredom from my mind. The days I choose to rest at home, I’d probably be doing something idle like sewing while pondering about my next blog post.