Ashley Quigley

Could you tell us about the application process and your role at AlphaMundi?

I applied to the AlphaMundi Foundation through an internal job listing that was sent to someone I knew working at the DFC. I applied and had four interviews before receiving the job offer. The Foundation does sustainable impact investing with a gender lens, with the mission to catalyze and scale investment in social enterprises to improve the lives of the poor. My role at the Foundation is to support its operations, including monitoring portfolio companies / grantees, fundraising, and assist in other programmatic areas.

Tell us about your NGO Hope’s In.

Hope’s In was co-founded by my twin sister and I when we were 15. It is a 501 © 3 that is dedicated to impacting and empowering the Guatemala City garbage dump communities and developing the next generation of humanitarian leaders. We fundraise throughout the year to support our work of home building and medical clinics in the area. To date, we have over 475 volunteers who have traveled with us to Guatemala, more than 500 local volunteers from the Chicagoland area, which have volunteered in our fundraising events, built 42 new homes in the garbage dump communities, treated 800 patients in medical clinics , and have invested USD $10k in Guatemalan organizations’ medical initiatives.

How did your experience at IEU prepare you for your professional career?

My experience at IEU not only prepared me for my professional career through the academic classes I took, but also with its diverse environment. Being able to learn from international professors, peers, and interact with different cultures, has helped me to be adaptable and flexible in the workplace.

What is the competitive advantage that studying at IEU provides or has provided you?

A competitive advantage that studying at IEU has provided me has been its global partnerships. This was extremely helpful because it allowed me, coming from the US, to be able to network with companies all over the world. Also, their partnerships with other universities allowed me to study in Paris at Sciences Po and expand my education.

Do you have any advice for IEU students and alumni who are looking to pursue a career in International Relations (IR)?

The advice I have for IEU students and alumni looking to pursue a career in IR is to be open to all types of roles. With IR being a very broad field, being open to trying a role you didn’t envision yourself in will help you narrow down what type of work you want to focus on and develop professionally.

What skills do you consider are needed to succeed in your field?

You need to be patient, hardworking, and curious.

Why do you think it’s important to engage with the IEU alumni community?

It’s important to engage with the IEU alumni community because the University was such a good building block for me in my life and being able to be part of it after graduation helps me stay connected and do what I can to help the University. It also helps you further your professional connections and open yourself up to more opportunities.

What skills would you recommend job seekers develop in order to make them more competitive in today’s workforce?

I recommend them to develop more technology-based skills.

What’s the best career advice you have ever been given?

Don’t expect your first job to be your last.

If someone was considering going to IEU, what would you tell them?

I would tell them that going to IEU will provide them an experience that goes beyond their education. They will be able to develop as a person through the diverse environment the university provides.

Why did you choose the BIR program at IE University?

I chose BIR because it is a broad base of information allowing you to pursue a career in many different areas.

What is one thing you wished you knew, when you were a student?

That time at university goes by very fast, so it is important to always take advantage of the different events / opportunities that IEU provides.

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