Travel Changes People, People Change The World: A Q&A With Avdeep Dhillon

Travel changes people, people change the world. This is our motto at EdOdyssey, and a concept that drives our work. In an ongoing interview series, we meet individuals whose study abroad experiences have shaped them professionally. 

Meet Avdeep Dhillon, the co-founder and Executive Director of the nonprofit, First Gen Empower, and a perfect example of someone whose professional journey was well and truly influenced by study abroad experiences. Below, Avdeep tells us about some of her most impactful travel opportunities, shares one unexpected skill that she gained abroad, sets out some advice for highlighting study abroad on a resume, and offers a useful strategy that students can lean into when it comes to translating your growth abroad from personal to professional. 

EDODYSSEY: When and where did you study abroad?

AVDEEP DHILLON: I first studied abroad in high school through a program called Global Glimpse that took me to the Dominican Republic. Then, after my first year of college, I spent the summer teaching English in a primary school in rural Panama. I also studied abroad in the U.K. at the London School of Economics. After graduation, I moved to Nairobi, Kenya, as part of the Princeton in Africa fellowship. 

EO: Tell us a bit about yourself and your career path.
AD: I’m the co-founder and Executive Director of First Gen Empower (FGE), a nonprofit that strengthens institutional capacity to support undocumented and first-generation students' college and career success. I immigrated to the U.S. from Punjab, India, when I was thirteen, and thus I've experienced firsthand the complexities of navigating higher education as a first-gen student. My career has been focused on social impact across different sectors; I’ve worked on social enterprise investing at Kiva, built a social enterprise through Princeton in Africa, consulted for nonprofits at Bridgespan Group, and managed rent relief programs at Esusu. I have a degree in Political Economy and certificate in Entrepreneurship and Technology from UC Berkeley. Each role taught me different approaches to systemic change, from direct service to policy work to scaling solutions. My experiences living and working internationally helped clarify that I wanted to focus on creating more equitable opportunities, particularly in education.

EO: Did your study abroad experience play a role in your career path or have an impact on you professionally?
AD: My study abroad experiences were pivotal in shaping my career direction. Observing how vastly different economic and social systems created unequal opportunities for people around the world confirmed that I wanted to work in social impact, specifically on expanding access to opportunity. In the Dominican Republic, during a Global Glimpse program, I met an activist named Esteban who had been fighting mining companies to protect his community's land and environment since he was eighteen. Watching him advocate so effectively for his people showed me what community advocacy could look like in practice. That experience directly influenced my decision to focus on advocacy work for immigrant and first-generation students; I saw how powerful it could be when someone from a community stands up to fight for systemic change within it. Additionally, my early study abroad experiences gave me the confidence to pursue the Princeton in Africa fellowship after college, which became a tremendous launching pad for my career in social impact.

EO: If you agree that it is, why is study abroad important on a professional level?AD: Study abroad is crucial because it forces you to step outside your comfort zone and develop skills that you simply can't learn in a classroom. When you're navigating a foreign country, learning to communicate across cultural barriers, and solving problems with limited resources, you're building resilience, adaptability, and global competency. Even something as basic as figuring out public transportation in a new city develops your problem-solving abilities and confidence in unfamiliar situations. These are exactly the skills that employers are looking for in today's interconnected world. Moreover, it gives you a deeper understanding of humanity—recognizing that despite our differences, we all share the same fundamental needs and desires. This perspective is invaluable when working on social impact initiatives or in any role that requires collaboration across diverse communities.

EO: Did you gain any unexpected skills or knowledge during your time abroad that you now find invaluable in your career?
AD: One unexpected skill I developed was the ability to build trust quickly with people from completely different backgrounds. In Panama, I had to earn the confidence of rural families who were entrusting me to teach their children, despite language barriers and cultural differences. I learned to listen deeply, observe non-verbal cues, and find common ground through shared experiences rather than just words. This skill has been absolutely critical in my work at First Gen Empower, where I'm constantly building relationships with students, educators, and partners who come from vastly different experiences than my own. I also developed what I call "resourcefulness resilience”—the ability to create solutions with whatever tools are available, which has been essential in the nonprofit world where resources are always limited.

EO: Were there any challenges you faced during your study abroad experience that later helped you professionally?AD: Absolutely. In Panama, I had to teach English to students while my own Spanish was still developing, which created some genuinely awkward moments in the classroom. I learned to communicate complex ideas through gestures, drawings, and creative problem-solving when words failed me. More importantly, I had to get comfortable with making mistakes in front of others and asking for help when I was confused. This experience taught me that effective leadership sometimes means admitting what you don't know and finding collaborative solutions. In my current role, I regularly navigate complex policy discussions with stakeholders who have different expertise than I do, and that comfort with intellectual humility and creative communication has been essential.

EO: What specific aspects of your study abroad experience were most impactful in your career?
AD: Cultural immersion was by far the most impactful aspect. Living with host families in Panama and fully integrating into the London academic environment taught me that real understanding comes from lived experience, not just observation. This shaped my entire approach to social impact work; I always prioritize listening to and learning from the communities I'm trying to serve rather than making assumptions about their needs. Additionally, the independence required to navigate completely new environments built confidence in my ability to tackle complex challenges that has been fundamental to my entrepreneurial journey in founding FGE.

EO: Have you found that employers value or take interest in study abroad when spotted on a resume? If so, what questions do they ask?
AD: Definitely. My international experience, particularly building a social enterprise in Nairobi, was a key differentiator when I applied to Bridgespan Group. The competition for consulting roles there is intense, but my interviewers were impressed by how I had navigated the complexities of launching a business in an unfamiliar market. They asked specific questions about stakeholder management, cultural adaptation, and how I approached problem-solving with limited infrastructure and resources. What really resonated with them was that I had real experience working in the types of challenging, resource-constrained environments that many of their nonprofit clients operate in. My international work showed I could think strategically while being operationally flexible.

EO: Can you recommend any strategies for students to translate the personal growth they experience abroad into professional growth?
AD: First, document everything; keep a detailed journal not just of what you did, but how you felt, what challenged you, and how you adapted. The documentation will help you reflect deeper in the moment, and will be an invaluable resource to look back on. Second, don't just observe cultural differences; analyze them. Ask yourself why systems work differently and what you can learn from alternative approaches. Third, and perhaps the most important, build a global network. The relationships I formed abroad have led to many new and unexpected professional opportunities, funding support for my non-profit, and ongoing mentorship.

EO: What tips would you give current and future study abroad students for making the most of their experience professionally?
AD: Make the most of your study abroad by deeply immersing yourself in the culture. Get to know the people and the places. Build genuine relationships with locals and peers beyond a professional context; these interpersonal skills are incredibly valuable.

On your resume, don't just list study abroad; highlight specific accomplishments: "Designed and implemented English curriculum for 30+ rural students" sounds much more impressive than "Taught English abroad." Most importantly, view every challenge as a professional development opportunity. Getting lost, dealing with bureaucracy, managing homesickness…these all develop skills that employers value. When you return, immediately update your LinkedIn and resume while the experience is fresh, and practice telling your study abroad story in a way that connects to your career goals rather than just being a travel anecdote.

Thank you, Avdeep!