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Eleven members of ���ϲ�����’s Class of 2020 graduated in May with two bachelor’s degrees – the BSBA in International Business from ���ϲ����� and a second degree from a European partner institution.

The Martha and Spencer Love School of Business holds dual-degree partnerships with the ESB Business School in Reutlingen, Germany; NEOMA Business School in Reims, France; Universidad Pontificia Comillas – ICADE in Madrid, Spain; and Universita Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore in Piacenza, Italy.

As part of the four-year dual-degree program, students spend their first two years studying at their home institution and their last two years studying abroad at the partner institution. While abroad, they deepen their international business experience by completing a full-time, semester-long work experience and a research portfolio.

“The dual-degree program taught me how to work with people from different countries and cultures, and obviously, helped me improving my English skills,” said Alina Prengel ’20, who completed her studies at ���ϲ����� after spending two years at ESB Business School.

“I increased my intercultural competence and wonderment,” added Umberto Canali ’20, who spent his first two years at Universita Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore and the last two at ���ϲ�����. “I improved my overall skills, such as organization and professionalism, and reached a great knowledge of the language. I became more open to diversity and grew my ambitions for the future.”

“I am particularly proud of this year’s class of graduating Business Dual-Degree students,” said Mark Kurt, associate professor of economics and director of the business dual-degree program. “They have been tested like no other in recent memory with COVID-19 while living, studying and working in another country and language. They have emerged as resilient leaders with their own set unique set of values and competencies capable of persevering through uncertain situations including our current circumstances.”

Business Dual Degree Class of 2020

���ϲ����� | NEOMA Business School

Abigail Mathews

Hometown: Waxhaw, N.C.

Internship: Program coordinator, VivaTechnology, Paris

Thesis: How strategic corporate social responsibility strategies provide companies with a competitive advantage

Post-graduation plans: Global technology analyst at Bank of America

ESB Business School | ���ϲ�����

Rebecca Ellrich

Hometown: Erlangen, Bayern, Germany

Internship: Sales support, XPO Logistics, High Point, N.C.

Thesis: Production decisions for multi-firms considering consumer preference in the car industry (mentor: Assistant Professor of Marketing Xin Liu)

Post-graduation plans: “Moving to D.C. and working there full-time. Hopefully in the area of supply chain.”

Alina Prengel

Hometown: Weilheim, BW, Germany

Internship: Business unit controlling, Bosch, Chicago

Thesis: Antecedents and Contextual Influences of Reneging Behavior (mentor: Associate Professor of Management Brian Lyons)

Post-graduation plans: “I want to get my master’s degree in Finance/BI, preferably in Munich or Mannheim.”

Carsten Raum

Hometown: Bonn, Northrhine-Westphalia, Germany

Internship: International operations, DHL eCommerce, Weston, Fla.

Thesis: Examining Factors that Influence Entrepreneurship across the 50 US States (mentor: Assistant Professor of Strategic Management Mark Mallon)

Post-graduation plans: “They are a bit up in the air right now. I would like to do another internship in consulting and then reapply to the top firms once recruiting goes back to normal next year.”

NEOMA Business School | ���ϲ�����

Pauline Escande

Hometown: Strasbourg, Alsace, France

Internships: Sales operations, DHLeCommerce, Weston, Fla., and HR assistant, Kayentis, Grenoble, France

Thesis: Does Instagram lead to conspicuous consumption? The mediating roles of envy, narcissism and self-promotion (mentor: Associate Professor of Marketing Lawrence Garber)

Post-graduation plans: “My plan is to explore more the professional world with additional internships and jobs (first in finance I think). Then, if needed, I will apply for a master’s program.”

Cecile Ferreira

Hometown: Porto, Portugal

Internships: Marketing, DHL, Weston, Fla., and sales assistant, Speaking Agency, Paris

Thesis: The Relative Effect of Small vs. Large SMI’s on Consumer Behavior: An Empirical Study (mentor: Associate Professor of Marketing Lawrence Garber)

Post-graduation plans: “I will be getting a Marketing Masters at The University of Manchester.”

Universidad Pontificia Comillas – ICADE | ���ϲ�����

Enrique Quemada

Hometown: Las Rozas, Madrid, Spain

Internship: DCM, BBVA, London

Thesis: The effect of technological advances in the financial system and sustainable growth in the long term

Maria Valero Gonzalez

Hometown: Madrid, Spain

Internship: Marketing and sales, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, London

Thesis: Lovebrands: How the Luxury World Connects Emotionally with its Clients

Post-graduation plans: Junior auditor at PwC Madrid

Universita Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore | ���ϲ�����

Umberto Canali

Hometown: Parma, Italy

Internship: Business analyst, DHL eCommerce Americas, Weston, Fla.

Post-graduation plans: “I planned to intern in Spain for the summer and start grad school at Cattolica in September. Unfortunately, I had to give up on having an internship abroad, but I will be helping my dad with his work and, hopefully, find a job in my area.”

Sveva Saggia

Hometown: Robbio, PV, Italy

Internship: Planning and pricing, Mercedes-Benz USA, Atlanta

Thesis: L’amministrazione e il controllo di gestione in una PMI: il caso S.V. s.r.l. (Accounting and Controlling in an SME: the case of S.V. s.r.l.)

Post-graduation plans: “Work for a few years and then do a master’s or MBA. Hopefully travel both for work and pleasure.”

Giovanni Valdata

Hometown: Silvano Pietra, Pavia, Italy

Internship: Financial planning and analysis, Lenovo, Morrisville, N.C.

Post-graduation plans: “Completing a co-op at Wayfair and then going to grad school for the master’s degree in International Management offered by Università Cattolica.”