This event will be held at 11am EST (New York USA), 4:00pm (London UK), 7:00pm (Dubai UAE). Please convert to your timezone. League members will have access to a recording of this program in the members-section of the website.
As we emerge from this pandemic in the coming year, many companies have had time to reflect on their role in contributing to and solving national or global problems. There is pressure from key stakeholders—whether customers, partners, suppliers, politicians, governmental entities, and more—to “build back better.”
Learn how three companies in the study abroad and travel space are addressing two of the most pressing issues of the day: social justice and sustainability. How can you do the same in your own organization?
Kate Simpson, President of Academic Travel Abroad (parent company of CET Academic Programs), Niklas Eriksson, United Airlines Sales Manager, and Dr. Keshia Abraham, Abraham Consulting Agency will share their organizations’ approach, process and goals, and invite questions.
Kate, daughter of an American diplomat, spent most of her youth in France, where she was born. Kate has lived and studied in Australia, Algeria, Ireland and Taiwan. Kate graduated from Yale with a degree in East Asian Studies and pursued a post-graduate fellowship in Chinese Literature at Taiwan National University before settling in Washington, D.C. After stints in public relations and working on the Hill for Senator Harry Reid, Kate began her career at Academic Travel Abroad, Inc (ATA) in 1988 as their China Program Manager and is now a proud owner of the business with two partners. Her company’s vision is to “enhance global understanding through travel and education.” In 2008, Kate completed a three-year executive education program for owners and presidents at Harvard Business School. In 2010, Kate and her partners founded a non-profit, the Fund for Education Abroad (FEA), to support Black and other students of color, as well as first-generation students, in their quest to study abroad. Kate now serves as FEA’s Finance Director, Co-chair of the Campaign Steering Committee, and a Trustee Emerita. Kate has also served on the Board and on leadership committees for the NTA (National Tourism Association) and was awarded NTA’s Woman of Vision title in the fall of 2019. Kate currently serves on the Yale President’s Council on International Activities.
Niklas Eriksson, Sales Manager Atlantic Region at United Airlines. Niklas main focus is to grow business in the Washington Metro area by partnering with corporations and travel agencies. Niklas came to Washington, DC in 2018 from United Airlines in Stockholm, Sweden where he was handling seven countries in the Nordic and Baltic regions in both the travel agency and corporate space for 5 years.
Beginning his education in music, Nik attended Vasa International College with a concentration on Jazz. Changing his career path, although never leaving music or stopped recording songs, he then graduated at the University of Gavle studying Political Science. He pursued his IATA certification and embarked on his travel career with Carlson Wagonlit (CWT) as a travel agent for two years before moving to Menzies Aviation where he worked in ticketing for several airlines. After studying Airline Business Management, he held an internship for CWT Supplier Management which led to the birth of his airline career in 2013 with United.
Keshia Abraham, PhD, founder and president of The Abraham Consulting Agency, is a Black feminist J.E.D.I (Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) educator committed to facilitating personal and organizational development and intercultural growth. Keshia firmly believes in the transformative power of international education and the long term impact it has, hence her unwavering commitment to comprehensive internationalization/global learning especially at HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities). The daughter of two HBCU educated educators, Keshia grew up steeped in HBCU culture and international intercultural experiences and has worked successfully with all higher education institution types. She has served as a tenured faculty member, department chair, academic dean and program director at several MSIs. A current elected council member at the Forum on Education Abroad, Abraham has collaborated on working groups, presented at forums, seminars, and conferences on both international education and African (diaspora) literature all over the world. Abraham earned a PhD in comparative literature with an emphasis on Postcolonial literature and culture (specifically African diaspora women’s literature) and popular education, and her bachelor’s degree in English (emphasis on women’s studies) at the esteemed Spelman College. Prior to starting her own agency, she was the inaugural senior director of diversity and inclusion at CIEE.
