Hi, my name is Maarten Pennings, TDM graduate 2010/2011. I just received the TDM Alumni book and I must say that it is a pleasure to read what career paths people started to follow after the Master program. It shows once more that the world has a lot of opportunities to offer you after gaining this degree.

For me it resulted in a career that is quite similar to what you experience in the second phase of TDM. I currently work as an international Media Consultant for the company Mediaplus that produces country investment reports, either via print or via television. And when I say international – I mean international. While writing this story I am sitting on my bed in a five star hotel in Bujumbura, the capital city of Burundi. I am here for a project of approximately three months. Before this I did a four month project in Kyrgyzstan – Central Asia. Basically we are active in countries all over the world. What to do in those months? Well my job cannot be explained in a few sentences, but it comes down to meeting and interviewing the most influential people in your project country, ranging from the President, Ministers, Ambassadors, Country Directors of Institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank and last but not least the CEO’s of the country’s largest companies. In order to be as prepared as possible you do research on all economic sectors of the country and the relation to it’s macro environment. Many job titles can apply to the work I do: Journalist, Researcher, Consultant, Diplomat, Marketer, Sales Manager, Guest Relations Manager, TV Producer, Magazine Writer, etc…

In 2011, the second phase of TDM appeared to me as a once in a lifetime opportunity. I am truly happy that I can say that I prolonged that wonderful experience for a few extra years.

If you are interested in applying for this dynamic job, please go to the following website: http://www.mediaplusapplicant.com and fill out the application form. Don’t forget to namedrop me 🙂 If you want to have any additional info or you other questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I wish you all the best of luck with successfully finalizing all three phases of TDM and I hope to see you some day at a TDM Alumni event (if I am in the neighborhood of course)!

Meeting H.E. President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi during his weekly community work

Minister of Economy Hon. Temir Sariev – Kyrgyzstan –

Prince Saad Bin Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Bin Musaed Al Saudi – Saudi Arabia –

EU Ambassador H.E. Chantal Hebberecht – Kyrgyzstan –