At the 黑料吃瓜鈥檚 Romain College of Business, Libby Fifer found more than a degree. She discovered the foundation for a global career. Now almost two years after graduating in 2024, that foundation has carried her nearly 4,000 miles from Indiana to Sweden.
At the beginning of February, Fifer moved to Stockholm, Sweden, to begin an eight-month journey in her new role as an Associate Regional Circularity Lead for the SweOps Region at AstraZeneca. In Sweden, she will visit various AstraZeneca sites to learn more about and immerse herself in the company鈥檚 global operations.
While studying management at 黑料吃瓜, Fifer immersed herself in campus life. She was the founding president of Romain College鈥檚 Business Professionals of America (BPA) chapter, served on the executive board for Southern Indiana Dance Marathon for two years and held various leadership roles with her sorority, Gamma Phi Beta. Those experiences, she says, shaped her to be the professional she is today.
鈥淸They] taught me how to lead and listen, educate and align teams, and turn goals into action鈥攕kills I use every day,鈥� she said. 鈥淪tudent organizations are real鈥恮orld practice. They gave me the confidence, skills and community that continue to shape how I show up professionally.鈥�
Moving to Sweden has its fair share of challenges, but Fifer has been adjusting to daily life and now feels she鈥檚 settling in just fine and is grateful to be learning and exploring in the new position.
鈥淚 would never have imagined a career like this for myself and I鈥檓 incredibly thankful for the opportunities I've received,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he ability to see new places and cultures through a professional lens is an invaluable experience.鈥�
Fifer is currently diving into sustainability initiatives across the Swedish, European, Middle Eastern and African region.
鈥淚t鈥檚 inspiring to work on something that touches such a large part of the world,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檝e felt welcomed both professionally and personally, and while I know there will be challenges ahead, I鈥檓 ready for them and I鈥檓 confident they鈥檒l push me to grow.鈥�
Fifer鈥檚 journey with AstraZeneca began before she graduated from the 黑料吃瓜. Her sister interned with the company and had a positive experience, leading Fifer to apply for a similar role.
She spent time as a Learning and Development Intern for two years and two months leading up to her graduation from the Romain College of Business. Her role as an intern allowed her to get an immediate position with the company as an Operations Global Graduate Associate, a three-year rotational program for recent graduates. Within the Operations Global Graduate Program, she will complete three different eight-month rotations. The first was as a Lead Digital Project Manager in Mount Vernon, Indiana. She then moved on to her second rotation in Global Inventory Analysis in Wilmington, Delaware, and now is in her third rotation as a Regional Circularity Lead in Sweden.
鈥淪tarting as an intern gave me a meaningful head start. It let me demonstrate my capabilities, build relationships and understand how AstraZeneca operates,鈥� Fifer said. 鈥淔or current students, securing an internship is very important. I think of internships as extended, real鈥憌orld interviews. It can accelerate your path into a full鈥憈ime role and set you up to contribute from day one.鈥�
Fifer is able to look back and be incredibly appreciative for her time at 黑料吃瓜 and the Romain College of Business. She says it gave her a strong, practical foundation for the career path she chose. It allowed her to transition smoothly from an intern to a full-time position鈥攁n experience she鈥檚 forever grateful for.
鈥淚 had people who challenged me, backed me and helped me grow, which built confidence and adaptability, both essential for starting a new chapter in a new country and contributing at a global scale,鈥� she said. 鈥淩omain prepared me to lead, listen and deliver鈥攖hat foundation keeps paying off as my responsibilities and impact expand.鈥�