A view from the inside
By Costanza Piciollo & Giulia Cassani
This week we had the chance to interview Anna Bolengo, Junior Policy Analyst at OECD. The latter is a member-driven organization with the general goal of promoting “Better policies for better lives”. It supports member countries in finding solutions to common problems and challenges, by helping them in the development of innovative and effective policies.
She works in the Tourism unit for the Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities (CFE). Specifically, Anna analyzes policies and trends affecting the Tourism sector at international level, gathering data and drafting outlooks in collaboration with the Ministries of Tourism’s delegates of the various countries. In the last months, Anna’s unit has focused on the recovery interventions and policies aimed at mitigating the economic impact of Covid-19 on the sector.
Educational background
Anna’s background includes a bachelor’s degree in International Economics, Management and Finance and a master’s degree in Economics and Management in Arts, Culture, Media and Entertainment at Bocconi University in Milan.
During the interview, Anna told us that her international experiences as the Erasmus in Barcellona at Pompeu Fabra and at SciencesPo in Paris made her feel comfortable with an international environment. As a matter of fact, by working at OECD she has the possibility to get involved in a multicultural and open environment, exchanging information with different stakeholders, governments and other organizations.
Her international experiences […] made her feel comfortable with an international environment at work.
Work environment: the best sides emerge and blend
When asked to describe her working environment, Anna has said: “It is a very stimulating place where you can find different work cultures, harmonized with each other. The best sides of every single culture emerge and blend together.”
Moreover, she has provided us with some useful tips on how to get an internship or, even better, start a career at OECD. Her choice to specialize in one specific sector during her Major has been crucially functional to the possibility to start an internship at OECD. “I believe having a specific interest and developing competences in a particular policy domain makes you distinguish. But if you want to join the organization, a proper cover letter is needed as well. It is very useful to constantly check job offers on the most common platforms such as LinkedIn (each Directorate has a specific one) or on your own university’s one. Don’t hesitate to get in contact with people working in your areas of interest directly (mail or LinkedIn” as this proactivity is much appreciated in the organization”.
As final advice, Anna has given us an encouraging message:
“young people do not have to be afraid to work or study abroad, because any job/place is not inaccessible. You can quickly learn and grow. It is very important to give it a try”.
