Ashley A. Van Dyke

AVanDyke@taftlaw.com

What was your major at Butler? Have you pursued any graduate degrees post-Butler?

Marketing and International Business double major | French minor. No.

Where are you currently working? Where have you worked before now?

Currently working as the Digital Marketing Manager at Taft Law — first in the Indianapolis office and now in Columbus, Ohio. I never thought I would end up in the legal industry since I put off taking Business Law until my senior year — but I love it! Many of our competitor law firms are international, and we occasionally host webinars with firms based in Europe. I also work regularly with two UK-based vendors and the firm’s work related to “Forever Chemicals” receives ongoing coverage by global media sources.

Prior to that, I worked as a program manager at the Loyalty Research Center (LRC). At LRC, I was assigned international companies and associations as clients due in part to my IB major and interest in travel and learning about different cultures. I also had the opportunity to translate some surveys into French. About two weeks into my role there, I was offered an English teaching assistantship with TAPIF and almost dropped everything to move to Versailles, France!

Have you worked or traveled internationally since graduation? If yes, where? If not, do you anticipate going abroad in the future?

Yes, my husband and I went to Croatia for our honeymoon – with short stops in Germany and Bosnia. We’re going to The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, and France this spring. A trip we originally planned to take in 2020! I’m looking forward to dusting off my rusty French.

What advice would you give an IB major who is not sure about what they want to do with their major after graduation?

Don’t steer away from opportunities that may not seem directly related to your IB major. Neither of my job descriptions involved working with international organizations, but I have found opportunities in each one by expressing interest and sharing travel stories and aspirations with colleagues.

Are there any skills (soft skills, language skills, communications, etc.) that you would advise that IB majors prioritize while still in school?

Practice your language skills as much as possible while on campus, and don’t be shy about it!