Four burning questions for four inspiring international alumni
Last week on Monday evening, four international Leiden Law School alumni working in various sectors and areas of expertise came back to their alma mater to talk to current students. So who are these alumni?
In three rounds, each lasting 15 mins, the students could totally pick their brains, no question was off-limit. The four 'stars' of the evening were:
- Jel Samar, born in the Philippines and raised in California, and Public International Law/International Criminal Law alumna
- Naz Sipahi from Turkey who obtained the Advanced Master in Law and Digital Technologies
- Manuela Dias Fonseca from Brazil with a Master in Crime and Criminal Justice
- Nicolai Alexander Santaniello from Italy who did the Advanced Master European and International Business Law
To get to know them ànd to understand why they chose to spend their evening here instead of on the couch, we thought it’d be interesting to ask the four alumni four questions.
What's your current job title, for which company/organisation and what does it entail?
Jel: I'm a legal officer at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers. My job requires me to provide legal advice and support to the relevant Units in the Registry.
Manuela: Currently, I’m a PhD candidate at the Department of Criminology of Leiden University. I research drug policies in Brazil and the Netherlands, and I’m currently on my third year, mainly focused on data collection.
Nicolai: I'm a Senior Consultant at Deloitte in the Digital Regulations team. I support companies with legal and governance matters relating to privacy (General Data Protection Regulation), AI , cybersecurity compliance, and antitrust (Digital Markets Act).
Naz: I'm the Data Protection and AI Officer for Fossil Group Inc. I oversee the privacy programme of Fossil, fulfil regulatory duties as a DPO and control the AI practices within the company.
How did you 'end up' in the Netherlands?
Jel: I wanted to obtain a master's degree in International Criminal Law, and my research indicated that Leiden University is the top choice. So, I moved to the Netherlands from Los Angeles because of Leiden U.
Manuela: I came to the Netherlands in 2018 to do the master's in Crime and Criminal Justice. I fell in love with the country (and a Dutch man) and decided to stay and make a career here.
Nicolai: I really liked the International Relations and Organisations (BSc) programme at Leiden University and I thought the country would be a good fit for me. I came to do my bachelor's, then stayed for my master's (Advanced Master in European International and Business Law), and I've now been living in The Hague for almost seven years.
Naz: I visited the Netherlands once and already liked the country and the people, so I knew that I would like to live here some day. However, the actual reason why I came here was to pursue my Advanced Masters in Law and Digital Technologies at Leiden University. After graduating I found a job, so my plans to stay here became permanent.
Why do you spend your free evening doing this (career alumnus for the Career Café)?
Jel: I want to assist students, in any small way I can, in their journey whilst at Leiden U and in their search for a job here in the Netherlands. While life after obtaining a university degree may be difficult, and at times a bit of a struggle, I hope that the students will remain motivated and inspired to pursue their passion.
Manuela: Besides research, I'm also a lecturer and I love teaching. I find the exchange with students, especially international students, extremely valuable and insightful. This was the third time I participated in the Career Café, and I always have a good time!
Nicolai: I enjoy coming to the law school and talking to students, hopefully being able to help them a bit in their search for a job. It is a stressful period (I remember) but I think I have good tips to try and make it a bit easier. It's only a couple of evenings a year, really not a burden for me, and I enjoy the events as well.
Naz: I know the struggle of being a student in a foreign country and trying to juggle everything at once. We also had alumni visiting us and sharing their experiences, so I wanted to be helpful to other students as well (plus, I like being back at the KOG and in Leiden).
What won't miss at all about our country?
Jel: The heavy gusts of wind and the relentless rain are always a subject of conversation here in the Netherlands. BUT, surprisingly, I think even those I would miss because they add a bit of spice to my day. If I have to choose, then maybe the random days when shops and cafes are closed!
Manuela: I'm planning on staying here for a long time still to come, but one day when I'm back in my homeland, I won't miss the unpredictable Dutch weather nor the complicated health care/insurance system.
Nicolai: I guess it's kind of a cliché but I will definitely not be missing the weather, and specifically the wind. I also don't like complaining about it too much though - no place is perfect!
Naz: I'm planning on staying and living here, so hopefully I won’t have to 'miss' anything! But the first thing I wouldn’t mind losing/won’t miss if I leave is the healthcare system here… I think it doesn’t even need an explanation why :)
Interested in participating as a career alumnus at our Career Cafés (International and/or Dutch)? Email alumni@law.leidenuniv.nl