Hi all! I’m Clodagh a graduate of BA Applied Languages from the University of Limerick. I’m a Paris based graduate working in the Bord Bia Smurfit International graduate programme. It's truly an amazing programme that allows you to gain industry experience and a masters from UCD Smurfit!

Why did you apply for this programme?

For me the international and practical aspects of the course were what motivated me to apply. Having already lived abroad as a part of my bachelor’s degree I knew it was definitely something I wanted to pursue a programme that incorporated this. The fact that the Bord Bia Smurfit programme provided a masters from one of the highest ranked business schools in Ireland combined with industry experience made the decision for applying for this programme a no-brainer.

Msc in Global Business practice

The MSc in Global Business Practice is composed of 8 modules carried out over a period of 2 years, with a focus on marketing and business. These modules take place every 6 months (July and January) during 2 weeks, covering one module per week. The coursework is based on projects and class participation making it hands on and flexible allowing you to adapt your work schedule around school work. The modules are all designed with a focus on the food industry which allows you to apply what you learned in the classroom to your every day working life. The best part is you don't need to have any background in business to do this masters. This adds variety to the classroom with people from all sorts of backgrounds such as languages, arts, business, food science, agricultural science and the list goes on!

Life in the Paris office

The Bord Bia Paris office covers France, Belgium and Luxembourg so safe to say there’s never a dull moment. We are a total of 9 people, including 3 international graduates, working in the office across 3 departments: PCF (prepared foods), dairy and alcohol all in one department, meat and seafood. I work mainly in the meat department but sometimes help out with different projects in the others when needed which provides me with a broader understanding of the food industry as a whole. Together we all work in the goal of helping Irish companies to export to France, Belgium and Luxembourg.

Do you need a language for the programme?

Half of us are based in Dublin so living abroad or the ability to speak another language are not mandatory for this programme. Not all international markets require a language, however France, Italy, Shanghai, Germany and Spain do. If you are looking for an international experience and do not speak another language than English you have the option of New York, Dubai, Stockholm, London and Amsterdam.

Previous to starting at Bord Bia I did a 6 month internship with AirFrance in Paris. I found this a huge advantage when arriving in Paris already knowing my way around and how things work with renting an apartment in Paris etc. I use French at work every day. Some days it could by ringing up supermarkets about in store tastings, coordinating events, helping Irish companies communicate with buyers at trade-shows… Every day is different!

Favourite part about working in Bord Bia?

I would have to say the connections made through the duration of the course are really what make it. We’re 32 in total on the global graduate course, half of us based in Dublin and the rest overseas. Despite the distance we’re all quite close.

Furthermore, on the job you’re dealing with different clients all the time which is a great opportunity to network with people in various sectors of the food industry. Working in Bord Bia has been a great opportunity to gain an overall understanding of the food industry as a whole. Through trade shows and various events carried out throughout the year, you get the chance to network and interact with people across various different sectors.

Moreover, the international experience has been a valuable experience for my personal career development. Working in an international environment, provides you with communication and cultural skills which are key when developing an international career.

Are they any challenges you've faced during the course of this programme?

I found that juggling a full time job, a masters and a social life can be a challenge at times when there’s projects due etc. However the workload is reasonable and realistic it's just a question of managing your time right.

Furthermore, as one could imagine it with international placements learning to adapt to other cultures can be challenging at times. However, it’s also a very rewarding part of the job and an invaluable experience for my future career.

What did your first 6 months at Bord Bia looklike?

My first 6 months at Bord Bia flew! To start off we had a month of training in July which included our first two modules in UCD Smurfit. This was a great way to ease into the programme and to get to know everyone and the company before jetting off to Paris. We spent the whole of the first month getting to know each other, spending our time between the Bord Bia offices and Smurfit.

I started in the Paris offices in early August. The first 2 weeks of August everyone in Paris takes their holidays which at the time was practical to be able to transition from student to working life and get to know the ins and outs of life in the office.

Upon arriving at Bord Bia I got to participate in the organisation of events such as in store tastings, meat academies, media dinners and our Christmas Trade reception event held at the Irish Embassy in Paris.

Christmas Trade Reception 2019 at the Irish Embassy Paris

Life in Paris?

Living in Paris is truly an amazing experience! There’s always something going on. My advice is that when here, do your best to get involved in as much things outside work as possible. There’s an endless choice of concerts, museums and exhibitions to choose from on the weekend, you can even join the local GAA team, Paris Gaels, take up an evening class in something you’ve always wanted to try.. the list goes on!

Interested in applying? The application process is demanding but worth it. If you're a new graduate with a passion for the Irish food industry and the desire to travel the world then this programme is perfect for you! For more information on the programme and how to apply visit the official page for the Msc in Global Business Practice.