Anna Zakaryan

A new career journey

Working as a translator for many years in Armenia, I missed having a direct connection with people. I was working with texts, but I always knew that I wanted to work with people. I was already assisting the HR Department in KPMG with recruiting, branding and corporate social responsibility projects. I also felt drawn to HR while I supported some projects for Cascade People & Business of Armenia as a freelancer. This experience helped me realise that HR was the right career path for my future. I chose IU (formerly known as IUBH) for this significant step in my life because of the high quality of education the university offers, focusing on practical experience from professors with a high level of expertise, as well as the international environment of the campus.

A view to inspire

IU (formerly known as IUBH) exceeded all of my expectations. Besides many subjects in HR, the degree included business management studies, financial management, accounting, statistics, and marketing, which were so important to understand how businesses work. I would like to stress the high level of expertise of the professors, who shared their experiences with us, which made their practical classes priceless. Overall, the international environment, the warm atmosphere, the bright classrooms and so many interesting and talented students from all over the world created an unforgettable experience for me. The cozy and bright library, with its motivating and inspiring view of the green campus, was my favourite area.

Career success & personal project

My IU (formerly known as IUBH) experience played an essential role in my career, providing a strong foundation for my current role as Talent Manager with JustWatch. Here, I am responsible for the recruitment and employer branding. My main goals are to bring the company the best talents in many different career fields, engineering, marketing, product management, etc. I also feel very strongly about giving the candidates a wonderful experience interviewing with the company. I am proud to be able to help my company to scale up. Since graduating, I have also had the opportunity to hold presentations for students at several universities, including IU (formerly known as IUBH), in which I share my career experience and provide helpful tips and strategies for finding the right job. Finally, I have been able to use what I learned at IU (formerly known as IUBH) in launching my own project, Sequoia Talents, which is focused on career coaching and talent development.

IU Alumni Award 2020 nominee

Being nominated for the IU (formerly known as IUBH) Alumni Award was fantastic, giving me the opportunity to showcase my career achievements and learn from my former classmates about their success. I feel more motivated than ever now to excel and advance, continue to bring positive change to the business world, and hopefully improve others’ lives. It’s important to remember that we are always learning and growing!