Course studied: Advance Diploma in Business Studies

I studied the ICM Advance Diploma in Business Studies in Sarajevo. After graduation, I gained employment at KBR’s division in Iraq. KBR is a leading global engineering, construction and services company supporting the energy, hydrocarbon, government services and civil infrastructure sectors. It is headquartered in Texas, USA, and employs more than 5,000 people globally, including many in the Middle East.

I have progressed through the company, initially joining as a Food Service Worker. My current position is as a Document Control Specialist in the company’s Procurement Department. It’s a demanding role that requires concentration and long hours – I work 12 hours a day, am based at an on-site camp, and only take a holiday every four months, so it can be stressful.

However, the company is very supportive and has many programmes in place to help its employees, including ‘Health and Wellness’, which aims to promote the necessity of good health and stress-relief. I was chosen as a ‘Health & Wellness Star of the Week’ for my commitment to improving both mine and my family’s health.

I am very proud of my ICM qualification and am working to highlight the advantage of being internationally educated – an attribute that HR departments sometimes do not recognise. In the future, I hope to return to Bosnia to re-start a small business that I began in 2003. At the time, I was not prepared for everything that came with running my own business, however having completed the ICM course and by working for KBR, I am ready to return with expert knowledge and new ideas.