Haley shares some of her discoveries from her semester abroad at International College of Management, Sydney (ICMS)

Haley Scoggins

Home University: Lynn University

Host University: International College of Management, Sydney (ICMS)

Classroom and Networking Discoveries

I have found my classes to be more event based than I expected which needless to say was exciting! My cost control class, which is mainly budgeting, will be planning a large event this term as well as my event practicum class, where we are planning two charity events with real clients to raise money for cancer.
 
On the academic side of the event department, I had a chance to meet with the head of Event Management Education at ICMS, Anne-Marie Flynn this past week for a bit of mentoring. She was friendly, easy to talk to and surprisingly accessible for a woman of her importance. After asking me about my thoughts on a career path she gave me a few companies to look into, organizations to get involved with when I return home to network in the event industry, and also a website LinkedIn, where I can post my qualifications, get recommendations and network. Meeting with her made me rediscover all over again why I want to be in the event industry and refocus my energy on the big picture of where my studies and this term especially can take me. 

Discovering the Practical Side of Class and Real-World Experience

The past week or so I've felt much less like a student and more like a business woman, which is fitting since I am after all at a business college. I had my first client meeting with Dani Lombard, a refreshingly spunky PR Firm owner who has hired my event practicum Lecturer and in turn, our entire events class, to run a fundraiser benefiting Cure Cancer Australia through Can Too. It's been an exciting time as I've spent the weeks brainstorming ideas for a surf-themed cocktail party, visiting venues and listening to good music is hopes of getting some free locally sourced entertainment. I am the event manager of the evening that we've been calling 'Surf N' Sip' and I'm loving the organized chaos that is the event industry. I am very much looking forward to executing the event along with the team! I knew finding time to give back while abroad between school and work was going to be a struggle- Needless to say I'm ecstatic that we are organizing this charity event and another benefiting Relay for Life this term!

Professional Discoveries

Full speed ahead at the Novotel. We have been working on various conferences and events. Each day I come into work is a surprise and I can't believe some of the organizations that I am getting to work with. Most recently, we hosted a conference for APEC (Asia Pacific Economics Corp.), and representatives were present from all around the world. 
 
On a social note; I happened to meet the event organizer, Jo Lynas, of SurfAid while having a glass of wine in the Charlie Bar connected to the Novotel. SurfAid is the leading charity associated with the surf industry and puts on several fundraising events each year. We got to chatting and before I knew it, she was telling me how she had just finished her event management degree two years prior, landed the job of her dreams, and then invited me take her last volunteer spot for their biggest event ever coming up this month, The Blackberry Ball!