Undergraduate: From Belfast to Brussels - Abbie Kennedy's Career Journey
Meet Abbie Kennedy, a recent BSc Business Economics graduate currently working as a Manager based in UKDEL in NATO.
From Belfast to Brussels, BSc Business Economics graduate Abbie Kennedy sets out her career, which has taken her to NATO HQ!
“Upon securing my First-Class Honors, one thing I was certain on was that I wished to explore a non-traditional career path. By ‘non-traditional’ I mean not joining a graduate scheme directly associated with my UG degree from Queen’s.
Having acquired substantial knowledge through my degree, I kickstarted my graduate career in a managerial capacity. My role was that of ‘Operations, Communications & Marketing Manager’ in The Hub Newry; Newry’s first ever coworking space. This required daily consultancy and management of a vast portfolio of traditional SMEs & sole traders through to corporate coworkers and government organisations. Following this, I secured employment with InterTradeIreland as an ‘Executive Officer / Digital Content Editor’, and I was placed on the team that dealt with the fallout of Brexit.
Again, building on my consultancy experience, I was able to assist various cross-border businesses to navigate the complexities associated with Brexit, granting them access to a network of consultants to mitigate any impacts on their successes.
2023 was the year I decided to offer myself another challenge and relocate my life abroad. Various countries sparked my interest, but Belgium ended up being the destination of choice. I secured a position through FCDO as a ‘Manager/Officer’ based in UKDEL in NATO HQ. I have been working here now for approximately 2.5 years and to say I have loved every minute is a certain understatement. The exposure and experience to date have been incredible. Thanks to my previous experience and of course my degree, I have been able to apply myself confidently and explore every opportunity that has come my way.
My experience at QUB was nothing short of amazing. Upon the successful completion of my A-Levels, I secured my place at QUB undertaking BSc Business Economics which allowed me to commence my university experience with a blank canvas. During my degree, I decided to complete the optional year in industry to boost not only my professional development but also my personal attributes. I secured a position in First Derivative in Newry, based in the HR & Operations department. I cannot stress enough how beneficial this choice was. However, the immersion in industry allowed me to see theory put into practice, i.e. the real-world applications of what I had been learning the two years previous. The value in seeing real-world applications boosted my personal/professional development of course and allowed me to return to QUB to complete my final year with intricate knowledge that I could use to inform each of my subsequent module assignments. This allowed me to complete my degree and enter the graduate employment market with an informed approach on potential career opportunities.
I strongly believe that ‘everything happens for a reason’. As self-explanatory as it is, I’ve found that without the occurrence of a lot of situations in my life, I wouldn’t be where I am today in my career.
By adopting this view throughout my degree, it allowed me to determine the areas I enjoyed and wanted to further explore through my employment and career path (whilst also helping with my indecisive mindset!).
On that note, if you struggle with being indecisive (like myself), my key piece of advice would be, play to your strengths. Knowing what you can do/what you enjoy is indeed valuable, but I believe knowing what you don’t enjoy is even more valuable. There will always be professional career elements you might not fully enjoy, and I believe that’s human nature and part of life, per se. The key, however, is avoiding ending up in a professional career which ultimately stints your progress, job satisfaction and overall wellbeing.
You don’t need to have your life mapped with clear decisions to be successful. Following your gut will often place you on the right path, so, allow that to be your guide through life.”
Abbie’s journey is proof that there is no single “right” path after graduation, and a powerful reminder that ambition, adaptability, and the courage to take an unconventional route can open doors on a global stage. Congratulations, Abbie!
