Mulele Simasiku, an international alumnus of the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), has worked in the Zambian Embassy in Beijing for over eight years, gaining many insights on governmental affairs.
During his studies at UIBE, he came in contact with an international environment and various cultures. "Given that the world is now a huge global community, it is important to know how to work with people coming from different cultures, with different skill sets and different mindsets," Simasiku said.
We asked Simasiku about his career and his experiences studying abroad.
Q: How did you choose your job after graduation?
A: I worked in the private sector when I first graduated. Shortly after that, I joined the Embassy of Zambia in Beijing, which was a significant shift. I chose this job because I have always wanted to serve my country. Therefore, when there was an opportunity, I quickly took it.
Q: What difficulties have you encountered in your work, and how did you overcome them?
A: I have met with some challenges when a lot of expert knowledge is required in my work, when new tasks were given to me and when I was in charge of high level programs that require a lot of coordination. I took them as learning opportunities, however.
Q: Did you encounter cultural differences during your time in China? How do you deal with them?
A: Cultural differences are normal, and the best way of dealing with them is to understand the other culture before imposing your own. I'd first make efforts to understand other people's culture, after which I would introduce my culture as well. This helps people to bridge the gap.
Q: What do you think of the cooperation among international alumni?
A: I have attended multiple alumni activities arranged by UIBE. I was honored to have a chance to meet with the alumni and exchange information with them. I think UIBE can arrange forums for alumni to exchange knowledge and experience and better cooperate with each other, especially for those in complementary industries.
Q: What are your future plans?
A: My future plans are to work in international organizations so that I may continue to serve my country, which has been the greatest privilege for me.
Q: What suggestions do you have for those who plan to study abroad？
A: For those planning to study abroad, my first advice would be having patience and tolerance for other cultures. This gives you the opportunity to learn about others and their ways of doing things. The second is networking. From my experience, networking helps people open doors, it helps people connect, it helps people find common interests that could bring business opportunities. So, it's important to prioritize networking. Another piece of advice is to invest early. For those thinking of growing wealth in the future, you should take risks and invest in small business. It will give you both wealth and knowledge.
