Elizabeth McWhirt has just completed a one-year independent program, The Mountbatten Internship Programme, in London and is looking forward to her next adventure, perhaps in the Asia-Pacific.  The recent Robins School graduate is having the time of her life.

“I can’t rave enough about this program and the opportunities and possibilities it provides,” said McWhirt.  “Attending classes and writing papers isn’t exactly ideal but it’s something I’m not going to complain about when I’m living in a foreign country, working at a top investment bank, making network connections all over the world, traveling all over Europe and throughout Egypt, and loving life more than ever before…all at the age of 23!”

According to McWhirt, the program is similar to an exchange program.  Citizens of the United Kingdom work in New York for a year and Americans work in London for a year.  Americans can choose to work towards a “Certificate in International Business” from Cambridge University, or work towards an MBA where the program finishes with three months of study in Thailand.

McWhirt has been working as a business analyst at Deutsche Bank (DB) in the Prime Brokerage division, which handles Hedge Fund clients.  She works in the Client Reporting Group, which generates daily and monthly statements for clients, resolves issues and maintains the Web site.  She works closely with people in Hong Kong, Mumbai, and Australia, as well as New York.

Due to current market conditions, DB has instituted a worldwide hiring freeze, so after doing some research and working her network, it appears that all signs are pointing to Australia for McWhirt, who would move "Down Under" in a heartbeat.

“Australia and the United States recently made the “working/holiday” visa agreement, where a citizen from one country can live and work in the other country for a year.  I am working with recruiting agencies and talking with people in other banks. They all told me the banks are still hiring there and that they would set up interviews with me as soon as I get the visa and move there,” continued McWhirt.

McWhirt found the Robins School extremely challenging and acknowledges that this is where she acquired the discipline and determination to succeed–skills that apply not only to classes but to a successful life and career.

“I would like Australia to be a stepping stone to another area in APAC, like Hong Kong.  I am open to whatever comes my way as long as it is challenging and the work varies from day to day. I would like to have a career that allows opportunities for travel and living abroad.  I am a very sociable person, so a career in something that allows client interaction would be ideal.”

McWhirt graduated from the Robins School in May 2007.  She concentrated in finance and completed an international business-Spanish major.  She spent a semester at Deusto University in Bilbao, Spain.  During the summer of her junior year she was one of eight students in the U.S. selected for the U.S. Congress–Korean National Assembly Youth Program which included activities in Washington, D.C. and Seoul, Korea.  She is from a small town of about 2,800 in southwest Kentucky (Fulton).  Her entire family spent the Christmas holiday with her in London and is looking forward to her next assignment.