From Switzerland to Italy, passing through Spain. This is how the life, professional and academic career of Cecilia De Vittori (ISSA '17), former student of ISSA - School of Management Assistants of the University of Navarra Ceci, as her friends and acquaintances call her, lives in Milan and has been working since September last year at Chiomenti, one of the most important law firms in Italy, with a staff of more than 300 lawyers and eight offices around the world.

It was her internship at Cuatrecasas, during her fourth year at degree program, that led her to her current employment as a Business Development Analyst, at department in Chiomenti's Marketing department. Specifically, he was an intern at the German Desk of the well-known firm, a area that offers advice to German, Austrian and Swiss business groups with interests in Spain. "The partner manager of this area is also coordinator of the European Network, a network of partnership between the European law firms Gleiss Lutz (Germany), Gide (France) and Chiomenti (Italy). I did some work for him and that's how I met the head of marketing at Chiomenti. When he told her that they were looking for a junior Business Development figure, who could also do some assistant tasks, it was clear to him that "it was exactly what I was looking for: what I knew how to do, together with what I wanted to learn. To get the job, I sent my CV, a motivation letter and two letters from reference letter. In addition, I had to have three interviews: with manager Human Resources, with the Marketing Manager and with partner manager Marketing and speech".

She explains that although she had never considered living in Italy, "because during the degree program I had always thought I would stay in Spain or go back to Switzerland, my native country", she finally moved to work at Chiomenti's headquarters in Milan in September: "It was a very difficult challenge , as the status labour market is quite bad, especially for a foreigner. Both from Switzerland and Spain they told me I was crazy, but I made it! I have always liked challenges and during my university years I learned how to overcome myself, how to face a new language and how to get used to the Spanish culture. It also helped me to join the University Choir and take part in concerts, or to do the Camino de Santiago - I couldn't leave Spain without that experience!

Ceci explains that the tasks she performs as Business Development are very diverse: "Customer, market and opportunity analysis, mainly. We also take care of International Office and referral strategy. Chiomenti is part of the European Network and Lex Mundi, so another of my tasks is to establish relations with these two networks and with the International cafeteria Association, an international association of lawyers that meets several times during the year. He assures that the training received during the degree program is of great use in his day-to-day life: "I think that what is most useful for me are the subjects of Economics and Marketing and, of course, German, language , a language that few people speak here and that gives me a differential value. Everything I've learnt at subject Business Communicationhas also been very useful". She says that at business she never stops learning: "My team is great and my boss is very professional. She also knows a lot of things that she teaches us, and that is another aspect that I like the most about work". On the other hand, she explains that she has the opportunity to speak several languages throughout the day "and that enriches me a lot".

Although he describes the pace of life in the city as "stressful", he says that there is a lot on offer in Milan: "You can see a lot of museums, beautiful churches and art in all its forms. And with Fashion Week, the Settimana del Mobile and all the other events the city has to offer, Milan is full of colour and life. The famous Milanese aperitifs are a good time to unwind after hours at work and a stroll along the Navigli financial aid will take your mind off the stress of the city centre." The office where she works is located in one of the best areas, next to La Scala, in the fashion quadrilateral, and very close to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele and the Duomo.

This stage, she says, is proving to be exciting, but when she looks back sheremembers her university years with nostalgia: "I have very good memories of the Cultural Activities Office offered by the University of Navarra, in my case the choir: they were very nice moments that helped me to disconnect and to meet real professionals. Also very enriching was the volunteer activities I did in Tantaka, the University's solidarity time bank; the branding courses staff; the moments of tutorial with my advisor; or the Erasmus experience. But the most important thing: the good friendships, people who have been fundamental in the years of degree program and who are now essential, despite the distance". That is why he does not hesitate to recommend to those who are still studying at programs of studyto enjoy every moment: "You are at an impressive campus : take advantage of the Cultural Activities Office, the courses offered and the opportunity to meet people from all over the world. That enriches you much more than getting straight A's". He also encourages them not to be satisfied with the academic training because "that's only the starting point; you have to do much more: summer internships, language courses, going abroad, seeing different realities... At final, put what you learn at internship what you learn at class. That will make a difference when looking for work". This is something that those who, on 2 June, will be celebrating their graduation ceremony are about to face and to whom Ceci wanted to address: "Don't throw in the towel at any time. The selection processes are psychologically very hard, but you have to be confident and keep trying. Don't settle for the first thing you find. If you are sure of what you want to do, the study of Management Assistant will allow you to get where you want to go".