Career Essentials

In a world where workplaces are more connected than ever, international experience and cultural awareness have become powerful career assets. This session will help you recognise the value of your cross-cultural background and show you how to effectively communicate these strengths to potential employers.

Whether you’ve studied overseas, collaborated with diverse teams, or engaged with different cultures in any capacity, you’ll learn how to turn these experiences into clear, impactful examples. Discover how to showcase your unique perspective, build confidence in professional settings, and navigate a variety of workplace cultures with ease.

By taking part in this session, you will:

• Recognise and confidently communicate your cross-cultural strengths.
• Discover how to showcase international experience across CVs, interviews, and professional networking.
• Develop practical approaches for thriving in diverse and multicultural workplaces.
• Learn how to position cultural awareness as a key asset that sets you apart from other candidates.

David Gee, Director, Gradlink

David is Head of Global Employability at UWE Bristol and creator of GradLink, the award-winning careers site for international students and graduates from the UK. David has worked with graduate employers across the world. He has contributed to national press articles and government research on international student employability.

Amanda Conway, Careers Manager, Division of Student & Academic Services, Directorate for the Student Experience, University of Manchester

Amanda Conway is a Careers Manager at The University of Manchester leading the service’s support for students across the Science, Engineering, Medicine and Health faculties. Amanda has over 20 years’ experience working closely with and supporting the career development of international students at the University as part of her various roles and is a strong supporter of international experience. Amanda has observed students making the most of the varied cross-cultural opportunities open to them during international study and has seen how they have built capability, understanding and opportunity for the future. Amanda will share insights and strategies for making your global experience work for you.

Charlie Landale, Managing Director of IKEA Indonesia

Charlie Landale is Managing Director of IKEA Indonesia, leading one of IKEA’s most dynamic and fast-growing markets. Originally from the UK and having built his career across Europe and Asia, Charlie brings extensive experience working with diverse cultures, teams and customers. Passionate about the value of international exposure, he believes cross-cultural experiences are among the most powerful ways to develop leadership, adaptability and global perspectives. Drawing on his personal and professional journey, Charlie will share insights on navigating different cultures, building meaningful relationships across borders, and developing the mindset and skills needed to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.

Srinidhi Sathyamurthy, AI Developer Advocate at Oracle

Srinidhi Sathyamurthy is an AI Developer Advocate at Oracle with a background in frontend development and machine learning, bringing experience across software engineering and AI systems. Masters from the University of Southampton, with a focus on deep learning and data-driven problem solving. Awarded the Dean’s List Award for my dissertation on depression classification using multimodal behavioural data. Previously worked as a Frontend Developer at Publicis Sapient, building scalable and user-centric web applications using modern JavaScript frameworks. Now focused on bridging AI and real-world applications, making complex technologies more accessible, practical, and impactful.

This session is ideal for:

• Final year students and graduates with international study or work experience.
• Individuals interested in working in global or multicultural environments.
• Anyone looking to enhance their employability through cross-cultural skills.
• Professionals seeking to better articulate their diverse experiences.

In today’s global workforce, employers are seeking individuals who can work effectively across cultures, adapt to different environments, and contribute diverse perspectives. This session will equip you to:

• Differentiate yourself in a competitive employment landscape.
• Communicate your experiences with clarity and confidence.
• Broaden your career pathways across international and multicultural settings.
• Leverage your cultural awareness as a valuable professional advantage.