THE SEMINARS • WORKING AND LIVING ABROAD • VISIT TO THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION BRUSSELS• APPLYING FOR A JOB ABROAD• INTERNATIONAL SALES IN PRACTICE

“THE WHY, WHAT AND HOW OF INTERNATIONAL, INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCIES;A PERSONAL POINT OF VIEW”

1 DECEMBER 2015, A4 AT 15:00PROF DR DIRK BUYENS VLERICK BUSINESS SCHOOL

WHERE THE SPEAKER LIVED AND WORKED

Valencia Minneapolis

Beijing

St Petersburg Belgium

WHY? : “THE TIMES THEY ARE CHANGING…”• The world is “flat”

vs.

• The world will never be flat

• “Being out there” is one thing, “having learned

something” is however the key question

WHAT? : 5 CORE INTERNATIONAL COMPETENCIES

1. Language skills (good enough beats perfect)

2. The outside-in-view

3. The Multi-ethnocentricity reflex

4. The Homelessness skill

5. The seeing through the cultural facade

HOW TO ADDRESS IT IN A LOCAL CONTEXT?PRACTICAL TIPS• Read/watch (international/other local) news(papers).

• Boost the Erasmus experience even if you stay home:

• Have the internationals take the floor.

• Inform yourself on ‘their’ background

• Take internationals to your “home place”.

• Look for any international experience, but only leaveif you can “master” it.

HOW TO PREPARE: ‘IN ADVANCE’

• Think it over before you decide• Learn the local language of where you go to• Jump when you feel you have to• There is no ‘right’ nor ‘wrong’ place in the world to go to• Inform yourself on the place you go to• Get to know yourself

• What I like the most is that aside from being a motivator, the speaker gave us a positive insight on how we should enjoy our life on our chosen field. It is important to listen carefully and be attentive on this kind of a seminar.

VISIT TO THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION BRUSSELS

• We have visited the European Commission and we’ve seen different departments where the workers work. Our guide gave us a chance to ask questions on how do they manage different issues within the EU, when and how to the leaders of the EU work together and so on.

INTERNATIONAL SALES IN PRACTICEEline BlanchaertInternational Account Manager - Klingele Chocolade

Discover a world of ingredients

10th November 2015Arteveldehogeschool

INTERNATIONAL SALES IN PRACTICE

Two Main Parts:• About Klinngele Chocolade and its growth• How to do an International Business?

ABOUT THE SPEAKER: ELINE BLANCHAERT

• Started in the company as a job student. She passed her business plan in 2004 and now an International Account Manager of the Company.

• “ If you believe on something, you can realize it”

KLINGELE CHOCOLADE

• Founded by a Food Engineer Mr. Koen Klingele. His main goal is to produce chocolates with less or even no sugar added and organic fair trade chocolates.

• Brand Name: “BALANCE”

KLINGELE CHOCOLADE

• After the company’s crisis, they lost several customers. To recover, their only goal now is to find new customers.

• Started sales and product: “Balance” brand

KLINGELE CHOCOLADE- INTERNATIONAL EXPORT• Each countries has their differences, different distribution, differences on

prices, different interpretations that’s why it has to be clear when it comes on negotiations.

HOW TO DO BUSINESS WORLDWIDE?• Know your product and determine the strategy & competitors• Exhibitions• Flanders Investment and Trade• Follow up! Combination of Desk and Field Research• Sales alone will not lead to turnover• Keep up to date• Networking and open your eyes and ears

AND FINALLY! WE GOT OUR OWN CHOCOLATE FROM THE SPEAKER!

It was an inspiring seminar. She started only as a job student of the company but because of her perseverance and determination, she tried and now an International Account Manager of the company. It gave me inspiration to dream big and not to lose hope.