A FLIE Alumnus Shares Their Experience

My choice to pursue a FILE (Japanese) degree at the University of Kentucky stemmed from my lifelong dreams of having a career in International Business. Well aware of the strong economic and trade relationships between my native Kentucky and Japan, with a father who traveled the world working in the manufacturing industry, I wanted to be well-equipped with the necessary understanding of international trade and foreign language to find success in my future career. During my course of study, my professors and faculty mentors helped to create an open, welcoming, and international environment both inside and outside the classroom which allowed me to broaden my horizons and connect with other students who shared similar interests and career plans. Being able to study Japanese in such a positive setting, with plenty of opportunities for practice and cultural immersion through coursework, seminars, and student organizations, helped me to strengthen my cross-cultural communication skills and introduced me to new ways of thinking and conveying ideas. These experiences gave me the background needed to find my first international job, working as a teacher in Japan's JET program, an immersive 3 year experience which allowed me to master Japanese and led to me being hired by a Japanese manufacturing company while still living in Japan.

My career eventually brought me back to the US and my home state. I worked in the Japanese automotive industry for 5 years, gaining new skills and knowledge, learning to better speak the "language" of International Business, building consensus and understanding that could overcome both cultural and economic barriers to development and trade. I eventually had the opportunity to advance my career by joining a fast-growing US manufacturing company that connects Fortune 500 businesses to manufacturing sites all over the world. I found that my business skills and cultural knowledge translated perfectly to this new position, even when speaking Japanese was no longer a daily part of my job. Now as I work on dozens of interesting projects every week, helping to strengthen US manufacturing supply chains across the globe, I often reflect back on my time at the University of Kentucky, and the valuable experiences, mentorship, and friendships that helped set me on this exciting and ever-changing path. In an ever more globalized world, cross-cultural bridge-builders are more necessary than ever, and I hope you will also strongly consider the FLIE program to jumpstart your own international career.

Thank you,
Amir Bahrami