Life begins here - Queen’s graduate on working at Coca-Cola

The US-NI Mentorship Program is a planned one-year work placement for recent graduates from Northern Ireland to work with leading corporations in the United States of America.

Now in its fourth year the prestigious program selects around 20 graduates who have demonstrated academic promise and have shown an interest in developing entrepreneurship and management skills. Host companies include Coca-Cola, UBS, Bank of America, HBO, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Moet Hennessy.

Bregeen Campbell, a BSc 2012 graduate in Business Information Technology, on placement with Coca -Cola in Atlanta, Georgia was selected from more than 160 applicants. Reflecting on her experience to date Bregeen said: “This program has allowed me to learn from, and work alongside senior professionals within a leading company in the beverage industry. I have developed a strong, creative work-ethic and developed my knowledge of information technology, within a commercial environment.”

The goal is for the participants to return to Northern Ireland with the skills and experience to start businesses and become business leaders in their own communities.

“I can firmly say that as a graduate, the US NI Mentorship Program has given me an international edge, and has firmly jump started my career. I would encourage all recent graduates to apply, as my experience thus far has been invaluable.”

Declan Kelly, founder of the program and previous U.S. economic envoy to Northern Ireland said: “The program offers participants the opportunity to work in world-class organizations, and develop the skills that will allow them to return to Northern Ireland prepared to become business leaders in their communities.”

The current group of mentees recently got together in New York to attend the American Ireland Funds Young Leaders event at which the actor Chris O’Dowd was honoured with the Irish Spirit Award and Peter Ryan, Deputy Irish Consul General to New York received the Community Service Award.

Pictured above are (l-r) Bregeen Campbell, Chris O’Dowd and Dawn Porter, Susan Kearney and Sarah Templeton

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