How did you get connected to Next Step Connections?
Before joining Next Step Connections, I was working as a research staff at the University of Hong Kong. Looking to jump into a more hands on role with international students seeking to gain experiential learning in Asia, I browsed the internet and discovered Next Step Connections. It sounded like (and turned out to be) the perfect fit. Speaking with Jerome, the CEO of Next Step Connections, and Jacky, the Associate director of Next Step Connections, confirmed that I would be working with a company that places students first and is always looking for ways to develop innovative new programs with Universities.
Dinner with students from Sydney, Australia during their study trip in Hong Kong
What does a typical day of work look like for you?
As the Commercial Director, my schedule varies widely every day. I spend the majority of my week in meeting with our clients via phone, video call, or in-person. Typically these are one-on-one meetings with various academic staff to go over our joint programs and catch-up on progress. I work directly with institutions in running student development programs, meeting with particular students, and employability training seminars. I also spend a part of my day focusing on improving our marketing, customer service, and sales needs. This would include working closely with the rest of management as well as our staff and interns. I always end my day setting goals for the upcoming week, updating my calendar, and replying any missed emails during the day.
How do you use your own travel experiences in your current role?
Having been blessed with many traveling experiences growing up, I know first-hand how traveling can change a person. From learning new survival skills, to discovering hidden parts of yourself, to appreciating your home, traveling is the greatest way to cure any ignorance and build one’s fortitude. Knowing the impacts that traveling can have, it becomes very easy for me to speak to our clients and partners about the importance of experiential learning and providing young adults with more mobility programs. It also benefits my role through allowing me to build programs that are truly rewarding for participants.
What are some of your earliest travel memories that still impact the way you travel today?
The first time I packed my own suitcase was on a school trip to Catalina Island. I was 12. The trip was only a two night stay, and as a nervous middle schooler, I packed everything I could imagine that I needed, being as it was the first time I traveled overnight without a family member.
At NAFSA 2017 preparing for Poster Fair
I remembered I had the biggest suitcase out of the entire school. I had extras of everything imaginable. Though I definitely had no issues of running out of socks, it was very inefficient. If I remember correctly, I came back with around 2/3rd of the suitcase untouched. From that experience, I gained a better sense of what I really needed in one day, and from then on, I always preferred to travel light.
Why do you think travel is more important than ever in the world today?
Technology today has opened the doors of possibilities in virtual traveling. We can see different countries, cultures, food, and people just by a few clicks on the internet or a quick scroll through instagram. Amazing 4k videos, to live streaming at 360 degrees makes users feel like they are virtually there. It is because of this very reason that I believe traveling is more important than ever in the world today.
Looking at images and reading articles about places will only give you a glimpse of the reality. This type of “backseat” traveling leaves a lot of room for interpretation without all the facts and elements. The information you receive is controlled by the person producing the material and only a one-way knowledge transfer.
Going out and experiencing through traveling is the only genuine way deepen your understanding of this world.
Traveling: Hiking at Yosemite Park, California
In your mind, what makes Hong Kong a particularly great place for international experience?
Hong Kong is a very unique place. You can meet people from all over the world outside your doorstep. Places like Soho, where you find a concentration of western foods and occupants, to Austin Ave where you can find anything made in Korea, to Mong Kok where you experience very local Cantonese life. Hong Kong has been home to people of the world for a very long time.
The strong use of English in daily life makes it a very easy place to settle. The dense and compact Hong Kong Island allows for endless opportunities to meet and connect with people. Living in Hong Kong really tests one’s skills in adapting to multiple cultures, all at the same time. You might find yourself getting coffee in English at one of the many Starbucks and soon after trying to bargain for a good souvenir with your minimal Chinese at the Lady’s Market.
How does Next Step Connections set itself apart from other international program providers in Asia?
Next Step Connections was founded on the idea that traveling, interning abroad, and experiential learning are the gateways to personal and professional growth.
It is through these experiences that one can find themselves and reach their full potential. Run by a team made up of people that have lived abroad, everyone at Next Step Connections not only knows how valuable these opportunities are for young adults, but also the anxiety of how scary it can be to jump into one of the many international programs.
At the Office
We empathize with every one of our students during their decision making process, as well as their time with us abroad. Our caring staff makes all the difference. They are great in helping students make the right program choices as well as providing 24/7 support in any situation. Our genuine care for our participants is what sets us apart.
What do you enjoy most about working for Next Step Connections?
It is knowing that I, along with everyone at Next Step Connections, am making a real impact on people’s lives. There is nothing more motivating and rewarding than providing quality and life-changing experiences everyday.
