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Julia Dean

Incoming MAIS Student @ Diplomatic Academy | Former Fulbright Researcher & Strategy Consultant

Julia Dean is a Romanian-American professional with a people-first approach and a strong interdisciplinary background, excelling in problem-solving. With over 5 years of experience in business, HR strategy, and international relations, she is about to embark on her journey as a Master of Advanced International Studies (MAIS) student at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna. Julia holds a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Business Administration from Babson College, complemented by exchange semesters in economics, German language, and business administration at WU (Vienna University of Economics and Business) and Yonsei University. She also honed her German language skills at the University of Vienna and is an alumna of Los Osos High School.

Highlights

Jun 19 · linkedin

Last week, I passed my B2 German language course at the Universität Wien Sprachenzentrum, which means (drumroll) I've officially completed all beginner and intermediate levels in #German!

I'm extremely proud of my progress in the last six months, having completed both intermediate (B1 and B2) levels, and grateful for my capable teacher and supportive classmates who joined me on the B1-B2 journey. When I began, I started having weekly 'German-only' speaking days with my partner, which were disjointed and confusing at best. Now, I'm able to maintain conversation on a variety of topics, share opinions on news media, and recommend a coffee brand to the cashier at my local supermarket (real story ;). Next stop, C1!

PS: For those not from the EU or language nerds like me, the A/B/C leveling of language proficiency stems from the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Proficiencies are grouped in six levels, A1 to C2, which can be regrouped into three broad levels: Basic User (A), Independent User (B) and Proficient User (C). Feel free to read more here: https://lnkd.in/duQXksXx

Jun 12 · linkedin

Spring has sprung, or rather zoomed, by...before we get onto summer, I want to share some of my highlights of this season!

1: Attending The Gender Security Project's Feminist Foreign Policy course. As an incoming International Studies student, I'm grateful for the perspective kirthi jayakumar shared on what feminist foreign policy means - spoiler, it's not just about women. It's about involving all peoples and stakeholders affected by international politics to create 'positive peace' and flourishing of human potential, not just attaining 'negative peace', or the absence of war.

2: Keeping the #entrepreneurship (-curious) bug alive and testing my German by volunteering with AustrianStartups during their yearly Summit. I missed the event planning magic I experienced while leading a student community at Babson College. I also realized after many hours at the event registration table that I had been saying 'your name, please' in German incorrectly :P

3: Learning more about how public-private partnerships (like those supported by the Austrian Development Agency) support budding entrepreneurs and shape the impact space in Vienna/Austria/abroad as a volunteer during Impact Hub Vienna's yearly Impact Days. And, of course, feeling like a kid in a candy store (or an American in Europe) upon seeing the inside of the main imperial palace of the Habsburg dynasty, the Hofburg!

4: Voting for the first time as a European citizen in the European Parliament elections last week! I was able to vote for Austrian MEPs (Members of the European Parliament) as a Romanian citizen.

5: Hearing from ambassadors, parliamentarians, diplomats, authors, professors and many other experts at events held by the Diplomatische Akademie Wien, running the gamut from environmental diplomacy and nuclear disarmament to the one I most recently attended and greatly enjoyed given my #Fulbright experience - the Human Rights Forum on North Korea.

Julia Dean
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Location

Vienna, Vienna, Austria