Ronja, International Security

Ronja Ganster has graduated Summa Cum Laude in International Security. She is >Research Assistant to the Director, German Marshall Fund of the United States (Berlin Office).

What skills and/or strategy helped you to succeed at PSIA?

Being open to new knowledge, people and skills helped me succeed at PSIA both academically as well as making social connections. I’m a very curious person and always interested in broadening my horizon, learning new skills and finding out how different aspects of the world work. This could mean joining an additional language or special features course, reading an extra article on a topic we talked about in class or not being afraid to ask professors questions. But curiosity alone (unfortunately) isn’t sufficient to succeed at PSIA. I cannot deny that it also takes a great deal of self-discipline to complete all assignments, prepare for classes and at least attempt to do all of the readings while Parisian life tempts you with many distractions.

What part of your PSIA experience do you think will be of greatest help in your career?

Although I was able to profit from great professors and broaden my academic background, the hands-on experience that PSIA provides to their students will be most helpful to me going forward. This includes being used to fast-paced environments, the ability to prioritize between tasks as well as effective time management and self-organization especially in times of working from home during a global pandemic. In addition, the countless countries represented at PSIA and the many languages spoken were a great training for working in a multicultural environment.

What advice would you give to current and future PSIA students? 

Practical experiences are key to finding a job after finishing your studies. First, because previous internships and professional experiences help you figure out what your strengths are, what to expect from a job and what you actually like to do in the “real world” outside of the university campus. This will help you narrow down your job search and enable you to strategically look for jobs. Even if you don’t have the time to pursue a full-time internship, try out different “jobs" on the side. Write an article for a student newspaper to see if (think tank) writing could be for you. Or join a student initiative and organize an event to see if you like to handle finances or project management. Second, past experiences are great because they can help you actually get a job. Many young graduates I know (including myself) found a job at an organization where they had previously interned or through past colleagues. Ideally, keep in touch with old colleagues a few times a year because this will make reconnecting with them when you need their help for the job search much easier. 

• About the German Marshall Fund
• About the Master in International Security