Polly Kyle
I have dual American and Canadian nationality and grew up in New York City. I’m ambitious, open-minded and passionate about women’s rights in international organizations. I studied political science and international relations in Canada and worked as an intern for the US Department of State, Gucci in New York City and the United Nations. I completed my Master in International Relations at IE University and now work as a Staff Officer at NATO in Brussels. While at IE University, I was able to perfect my Spanish, enjoy Madrid, make friends for life and gain real-world experience in the international field—all in just 10 months.
“To be able to work alongside leading companies and institutions at IE University and develop a portfolio before starting the job hunt is an incredible opportunity.”
Career enhancing experiences at IE University
Currently working as a Staff Officer at NATO in Brussels, Belgium, Polly Kyle has forged herself a formidable career path in international relations. A Master in International Relations alum, her research and work in advancing gender equality has always been a key focus.
During her studies at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, Polly completed an internship with the US Department of State, where she assisted in an extracurricular program to teach English and leadership skills to people from neighborhoods with high poverty rates in Russia.
She also worked as an intern at Gucci in New York City, where she helped the vice president of HR on updating policy and the implementation of a new onboarding system. After graduating, she completed an internship at the United Nations in New York City assisting with the development of strategic action plans aimed at increasing geographical diversity and gender parity among UN staff.
Polly was first introduced to IE University by a classmate, and she saw it as the perfect opportunity to further progress her career path. The 10-month program allowed her to perfect her conversational Spanish, gain a lot of new skills and jump into the workforce quickly.
What’s more, she was particularly interested in the opportunity to work on a Capstone Project as an alternative to writing a thesis. Capstone Projects offer students hands-on, practical experience, as well as the ability to work alongside professors with notable knowledge in their own fields, and leading companies and institutions. Following the project, students graduate with a well-developed portfolio that can be used in any future job hunt.
“The courses for the Master in International Relations fully prepare you for the real world.”
She says the Capstone Project ended up being her most memorable experience at IE University. Her team developed an intelligence report for global strategic communications consultancy, Kreab Worldwide. Not only did Kreab publish the report, but it also gave them the opportunity to present their findings in a virtual panel to their employees and interested guests.
Taking full advantage of her time at IE University, Polly did an exchange program with SciencesPo in Paris and worked as a research ambassador for the startup Metta Space. The startup, created by two IE University alumni, aims to help companies prevent and deal with sexual harassment by ensuring that employees feel safe and supported during the process. Polly is still with Metta Space and has been promoted to a research and writing consultant, which she does alongside her role at NATO.
Apart from the practical experience she’s gained at IE University, she says the opportunity to live in Madrid was invaluable. She loved going to Retiro Park after class to do her assignments, relax or practice yoga. Madrid has an energetic atmosphere and amazing food. She found people to be patient and keen to help her practice and perfect her Spanish.
Polly urges anyone interested in studying the Master in International Relations to go for it. She says it fully prepares you for the real world, and the opportunities offered to go on exchange and to learn new languages are amazing. The program is engaging and dynamic and the people she met there are now not only some of her best friends but also destined to be future leaders in their respective fields.
