25-year-old Toursim and Leisure Management student Alexandra Starke has always been passionate about travelling, but one city in particular captured her heart: New York.
Just before finishing school, her father took her to the city that never sleeps and for Alexandra it was clear: one day, she wants to live there.
After successfully completing her business and hospitality-focused school education, she first traveled as an Au Pair to South Carolina in the USA. She stayed there for a year and through her role, gained three "little brothers."
In addition to her love for exploring new places, Alexandra enjoys spending time with her family and friends, who describe her as a bubbly and sunny personality. These traits helped her adjust to her first job as an Office Manager in event and office organisation after returning to Austria.
The IMC Krems stood out to Alexandra with its bachelor degree programme in Tourism and Leisure Management. It is the opportunity to go abroad and the interactivity with other students that convinced her to pursue her academic career there. Her semester abroad took place in Florida, and through her internship, Alexandra fulfilled a dream she has had since graduation: living and working in New York for a while.
"Getting off the subway at Wall Street, holding a coffee in one hand and a cream cheese bagel in the other – it doesn't get more New York than that," Alexandra beams.
During these months, she gained valuable experience, collaborating with major cultural institutions from Austria on events, giving presentations during webinars, and thus representing her home country in her “second home.”
However, Alexandra's fascination with New York is far from being satisfied. The internship has shown her just how many opportunities life has to offer. So, it's no surprise that her plans after graduation include another stay there to gain more experience in event management.
Another highlight of her academic experience at IMC Krems was an excursion as part of Destination Consultation to Bad Ischl. This took place after her semester abroad and was a great opportunity to reconnect with her cohort, share memories, and prepare for the final stage of her studies. Alongside culinary delights, the European Capital of Culture 2024 was explored for the weekend, with insightful content included.
Among other impressive courses, Alexandra particularly remembers the Negotiation and Sales Skills class with Mag. Claudia Werba. “Here, I have learned how important and powerful communication skills are and how they influence our presence.”
What’s the last highlight on the agenda? - “At the moment, I'm writing my Bachelor thesis on the impact of the 'Present Moment' and how this can influence travel experiences. It's a very exciting topic that has already revealed many new aspects of travelling to me.”
For Alexandra one thing is certain. Without the experiences she gained through IMC Krems, she wouldn’t be the person she is today. Along with being described as a cheerful person, words like "independent" and "open-minded" have become part of her identity. And the realisation that it's important to surround oneself with people who dream as big as you do. By doing this, you motivate each other to believe in yourself. And, no matter where you come from, you can go anywhere.
