“The company is strong globally; working for them helps me to develop my full potential with my International Business degree,” said Vy Nguyen Tuong Vo, an alumna of the University of Colorado Denver. Vo is bringing her knowledge of supply chain economics and her skills in information systems to Terumo BCT, a B2B company that provides medical devices for hospitals and clinics worldwide.  Headquartered in Colorado, the company serves customers in 130 countries.

“Through involvement with healthcare services, I feel like it’s a way for me to contribute to society,” said Vo.

She is also grateful that the company has provided her with a unique opportunity to work in Vietnam for a year and come back to the United States on an L-1 visa,. “I’ll fulfill my responsibilities in the Vietnam branch office while still reporting to my supervisor in the Denver area headquarters,” she explained. “While in Vietnam, I’ll be close to my family and can help them throughout that year. They understand that the plan is for me to return to the United States, and they’re very supportive of me pursuing my career path.”

As an international student at CU Denver, Vo feels she “put 200% effort” into her education and future career path. In her sophomore year, she began searching for internship possibilities and found Terumo BCT through Handshake, CU Denver’s online job board. In her junior year, she was hired for a part-time internship that focused on logistics, and thought “it was a great starting point.”

During her senior year, the manager asked her to join Terumo BCT Day, where she discovered that another job was open for the procurement chain. Vo was able to work for the company in her junior and senior year as a Curricular Practical Training (CPT) student.

“In my senior year, I started to narrow down my interests, chose Information Systems, and took classes that included Python, Sequel, and other systems,” said Vo. She prepared for post-graduation employment by applying for Optional Practical Training (OPT). “My employer offered me a full-time job as a procurement analyst, which fit perfectly with my niche industry goals.”

Throughout her education at CU Denver, the staff in International Student and Scholar Services, Office of International Affairs, was, according to Vo,  “so helpful at guiding me through the necessary documentation and processes to maintain my immigration status.” They also answered her questions about immigration and visa status when she was deciding to work for the multi-national company for 12 months in Vietnam.

In reflecting upon important competencies that she refined during her educational journey, Vo determined that, “The most important skills sets are critical thinking, communication, problem-solving, and leadership. They are a foundation for you, both directly and indirectly, as you progress in your career.” 

She also found that working on campus and being a part of student organizations helped her develop leadership skills. Vo served as President of the Business Student Ambassadors Committee at CU Denver’s Business School. She accessed the School’s resources and other resources on campus.

“I relied heavily on the Business Career Center to refine my resume and practice interviewing skills,” she said. “They saw me many times and were always supportive. The Center even allowed me to use one of their offices for my first job interview during my junior year.”

“There’s a university Writing Center, a LynxConnect Career Center, and other resources; you just have to ask. The Writing Center staff even helped me to write essays for my scholarship applications.” Vo applied for and was awarded four scholarships.

She considers CU Denver to be very diverse, and met students from many countries. Vo found the faculty to be “very respectful of the different cultures in the classroom.”

“It’s valuable for a student to gain an international perspective during their studies, because the world’s economies, businesses, and societies are more integrated today,” Vo commented. “Companies are more diverse; understanding cultural differences can help you to better support your customers and collaborate with teammates from different backgrounds.”

As an example, she is currently working with her company’s team members in Costa Rica, Ireland, Singapore, Vietnam, and the United States. In weekly virtual meetings, they develop projects, share ideas, and find solutions together. “Having an international perspective really helps in communications.”

Going to university in another country can sometimes pose challenges. “Being an international student can feel difficult sometimes,” said Vo. “I’d advise other students to use the university’s resources and get involved in student clubs. I did, and there was always a faculty or staff member to answer my questions and help me.”

Well on her way on a rewarding career path, Vo concluded, “CU Denver gives international students many opportunities to shine.”

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Employment Opportunities During School & Up to 3 Years After Graduation

Eligible CU Denver | Anschutz international students take advantage of internships during their education through Curricular Practical Training (CPT), and Optional Practical Training (OPT) upon graduation. With more than 50 degree programs eligible for Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) OPT, the university is an international students’ gateway to professional development and work experience and a successful career in their home country or other global regions.

Professional Development & Work Experience in Colorado

Colorado has ranked in the top two of the Milken Institute’s State Technology and Science Index since 2016 (and top five since it began in 2002), with 113,400 information technology companies in Colorado representing $41.1 billion in annual sales. Examples of Colorado companies include an international media conglomerate that owns Formula One and SiriusXM; a firm that built a rewards and cash back mobile digital application that has paid back $700,00 million to its users; a company that plans, runs, and builds personalized cyber security solutions to more than 7,500 clients in more than 70 countries, and more. In the biosciences industry, companies fulfill a number of important functions that include specializations in vascular intervention and lead management solutions. Examples include a company that provides kidney dialysis in centers throughout the U.S. and in 10 other countries; a company with eight locations in Colorado that develop and manufacture neurosurgery and enabling devices; and 2,500 other companies that foster collaboration, innovation, and growth of technologies that save and enhance lives. (Source: Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade [OEDIT])

Learn more:

Office of International Affairs

Employment Opportunities for International Students

CU Denver | Anschutz Course Catalogs            

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