Tim Adamson, MA International Affairs, Class of 2013, #ElliottProud Alumni
Tim Adamson is a Regulatory Advisor with FedEx, based in Brussels, Belgium. He holds an MA in International Affairs from the Elliott School and a BA in Politics from Newcastle University, UK. In his current role, he advises on regulatory and political developments at EU level in the fields of international trade and customs. Previously, he was a Policy Manager with the American Chamber of Commerce to the EU. Tim is a British and French dual national.
When did you realize you wanted an international career?
I come from an international family, so I was always interested in learning about and experiencing other cultures. Towards the end of high school, I discovered – for better or worse – a love of politics. From there, an international career sort of came naturally.
Describe your current position and what new skills have you developed since starting?
I just started as a Regulatory Advisor at FedEx, the American Express transportation company, based in Brussels, Belgium. In my role, I advise internally on the impact of EU regulation on the business and influence external policymakers to help shape a positive commercial environment.
My previous role, at a trade association, was almost exclusively external facing. Here, I am also learning practically about how a business operates and what it needs to thrive.
What part of your experience at the Elliott School best prepared you for your current position?
What I valued most about the Elliott School was (and is) its vision to make the world a better place. Understanding how the world works and trying to improve it is crucial in business, from a commercial perspective but increasingly also from an ethical one too. If anything, the School’s message has only become more important in the years since I graduated, given all the challenges society is currently facing.
What advice do you have for prospective students who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree in international relations?
It may sound obvious, but I believe that reading is a really important – and undervalued – tool in our personal and professional development. Staying up-to-date on current affairs and learning about all different types of history are essential to help us contextualize the things that we do. I try to push myself to read more fiction as well, which allows us to see the world through another person’s eyes (real or not) and develops empathy.
From a practical perspective, learning how to write clearly and concisely is useful in any international career.
If you would be any type of food/drink, what food/drink would you be?
From as early as I can remember, I have always been able to eat an inordinate amount of pasta. I think I’ve developed some decent pasta-making skills over the years, but my Italian friends would probably disagree…
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The #ElliottProud profile series is managed by the Elliott School Office of Graduate Admissions and highlights graduate program alumni to answer common questions posed by prospective, incoming, and current students. For more information on this series or to submit questions, e-mail the Office of Graduate Admissions at esiagrad@gwu.edu.
The views expressed by students profiled do not necessarily represent those of organizations they work for, are affiliated with, or the Elliott School of International Affairs.
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