I’m proud to say that I ran away with the circus. I toured the United States with Cirque du Soleil for four years, relocating every few months, working with an international team, and advancing from part-time usher to Client Program Manager. I realized my strengths in handling unforeseen challenges, working with a variety of personalities, and helping others meet their goals. Since then, I’ve lived in three other countries and worked with local staff, learning enough of the language to get by and understanding how different cultures approach situations. In Mongolia, I functioned as the lead liaison between 110 Peace Corps volunteers at remote sites and program staff in the office, advising those in the field, administering social media accounts, and providing logistical support for staff during training conferences.Through my diverse employment history, I’ve been able to identify the traits of each position that I’ve enjoyed:• Customer service and relationship building• Problem-solving, brainstorming, and other opportunities for analytical thinking• A mix of teamwork and self-paced operation• Managers who promote employee development and empowermentI'm excited to now be an active member of a community that I'm able to serve through nonprofit board and committee membership while pursuing an MBA, expanding my interests into agri-food supply chain sustainability and fair trade economic equity, and supporting the research enterprise of an R1 institution.