Alumnus Sean Hanebery, BSBA international business 2007, recently became the business development manager of the Prague branch of Consolidated Graphics in the Czech Republic. He is shown here in the quad on UMSL's North Campus in a 2006 file photo. (Photo by August Jennewein)

Traveling the globe is nothing new to Sean Hanebery. Having spent time living in London, France, Germany and the United States, the University of Missouri–St. Louis alumnus didn’t hesitate when offered the opportunity to move to Prague.

Hanebery, BSBA international business 2007, recently became the business development manager of the Prague branch of Consolidated Graphics in the Czech Republic, a commercial printing company.

He began working for Consolidated Graphics in 2008 after graduating from UMSL. Beginning as an associate in the leadership development program, Hanebery worked his way up to become a project manager at the Houston branch before he was offered the position in Prague

“The experience has been great,” he said. “An expatriate assignment is what I have been looking and working toward since graduating from UMSL and I feel the skills and tools I picked up during my time at UMSL are helping me be successful in my new role.”

Hanebery chose UMSL for its top-ranked international business program and partnerships with area businesses. While at UMSL, he was a member of the Pierre Laclede Honors College and the International Business Club. Hanebery said professors at UMSL were the key to his successful experience.

“People like Betty Vining (assistant teaching professor of marketing at UMSL) who have a real interest in the subjects they teach make the best kinds of teachers,” he said. “Her passion and enthusiasm about the subject inspires her students to feel the same.”

Hanebery credits the international business program at UMSL for preparing him for the global business world.

“Being in a business development role in Europe I need to communicate with people from different countries and cultural backgrounds on a daily basis,” he said. “The classroom in the international business program at UMSL is very diverse as the IB program draws students from all over the world. Learning in that sort of environment definitely made me sensitive to different cultures and allowed me an opportunity to learn how to work with people from different backgrounds.”

He said he tells people all the time about UMSL’s program and would recommend it to anyone.

“In my opinion, UMSL’s IB program is top-notch and could hold its own against some of the top schools in the nation,” he said.

Hanebery knows taking risks is the key to success for business professionals.

“I tell students entering the business world today to step out of their comfort zone and to challenge themselves continuously in order to advance,” he said.