Alumni Stories

Aistė Ridikaitė
2005 LCC graduate
Currently: Working as a Kiteboarding Instructor all around the world
LCC Major: English Language and Literature
LCC Minor: Business and Psychology
Home town: Panevėžys, Lithuania

After graduating from LCC I completed my Master's in Journalism at Vilnius University and later spent three years working for the widely known public relations company "VRP Hill & Knowlton". Then my life changed. I now teach people how to pilot power kites. That means that I teach people how to pilot the power kite, how to behave in the water, how to ride on the board and, most important of all, how do it safely. On the other hand, I learn. I learn from my students, from different situations, from very different kinds of people that come here to learn.

For quite a long time water sports was my way of relaxing after a long week in the office. In the summer season I have spent almost all of my weekends at the seaside. When you get there - it's a totally different world. The one and only anxiety you have there is whether it will blow tomorrow or not. And of course when you are in the water, everything else disappears. So one day I just started to call the place my home. I guess it was the moment of the shift. Realities switched. Yes, the decision wasn't easy. But that's the hardest part. Once you make it, everything else just follows. You just have to know exactly what you want.

An LCC education provides an excellent background for any other further studies. Maybe LCC doesn't provide many different programs, but it teaches how to think creatively and critically. These two features are the most important for any employer or any other further education. I wasn't the best student at LCC, but in Vilnius University, after all the entrance exams, I was first in line. I guess it should count for something.

Jolita Valaikaitė
2006 LCC graduate
Currently: "Švyturio" arena, Klaipėda, Marketing Projects Manager, LCC Business Administration Faculty
LCC Major: Business Administration
LCC Minor: Psychology
Home town: Klaipėda, Lithuania

I have always known that the global world is somewhere OUT THERE, but I never realized it was so close to me, in Klaipėda, at LCC International University. It is unquestionable that LCC played a crucial role in my life. This university embodies the positive outcomes of globalization – it erases borders between countries and people. Now, living in New York and studying Media, I actually feel like a global citizen more than ever before. Everyone here has his or her own history, everyone comes from somewhere else, all meet here, in New York. In Lithuania it’s easy to become absorbed by routine and forget that we have the same opportunities to become global citizens as do people from New York, London or Chicago. I think one should be open to the opportunities the world has to offer.

I am glad I had a chance to experience real cultural diversity while being at LCC, which is a minimized version of New York – a melting pot of races, cultures and attitudes. I am also thankful to LCC for teaching me communications skills, for giving me opportunities to develop friendships all around the world, and for deepening my knowledge of English language. Without these things I wouldn’t be able to compete in the global market. Being at LCC International University helped me to understand how many different routes my life can take and that I am the one to decide which way to choose.

Gražina Bielousova
2005 LCC graduate
Currently: LCC Theology Faculty
LCC Major: English Language and Literature
LCC Minor: Theology
Home town: Vilnius, Lithuania

Right after graduating from LCC, I entered Duke University Divinity School - a seminary in North Carolina - where I gained a Master's degree in Divinity. This is how I spent the three years following the graduation from LCC - understanding a new culture, being taught by famous professors, working for a number of churches and meeting people. I had been studying the English language and literature at LCC, but I finally realized my calling only when I was a 4-year student. Before that, I dreamt of studying marketing and communications - I even chose several universities I wanted to study at. I spent three years at LCC's Marketing Department, in the Publications and Promotions Office. My life was planned very precisely - I knew what I was going to do five years ahead. It was only during my last year at LCC when I realized that the time I spent working as a volunteer at LCC's Spiritual Life Office was the most joyful experience for me. While working for my church, I understood that this kind of work is what I like the most. So, I had to rethink my life, get rid of the plans and let God work the way He intended. Here I am - the pastor of St. Luke's United Methodist Church.

Even though I spent three years at the seminary and worked in different churches, from the beginning of October 2008 I became a true pastor, not a practicum student anymore. The work a pastor performs is very complicated, though interesting. S/he is invited to be with the people during the most important moments of their lives - birth, death, wedding, mourning, illness, the search for one's calling... I perceive this as a huge privilege, special responsibility and commitment.

I agree that women rarely become spiritual leaders in Lithuania. But I, as a Christian, was brought up by female pastors. They were missionaries from the USA and I did not imagine it could be different. I was also surrounded by female leaders while studying at LCC.

Diana Kuznecovienė
2003 LCC graduate
Currently: PAREX BANK Klaipėda branch manager
LCC Major: Business Administration
Home town: Klaipėda, Lithuania

LCC International University had a great impact not only on my career, but also on my personality. It was at this one-of-a-kind university that I learned to invent aims and challenges and seek them with stubborness. Yes, sometimes these aims seemed to be too far away or completely unreachable, but I learned to overcome my fear and keep going. At LCC I also learned to grow through difficulties, as only they ensure progress. I truly believe that LCC International University helped me to uncover my leadership skills. It is impossible to create a leader from nothing, but to help a person unfold as a leader is what LCC does so well. My story is the perfect example. LCC shapes leaders, not only skillful managers. It also develops leaders who have integrity. I have four years of executive management experience, but I have never allowed myself to think that this is the highest point of my career. On the contrary, I, as a manager, seek improvement, so that both me and my staff will feel more confident and comfortable. I am grateful not only to my family, but also to LCC International University for giving me a chance to become a person I am now.

Deivydas Pagojus
2004 LCC graduate
Currently: SEB BANK Senior business clients manager
LCC Major: Business Administration
LCC Minor: Theology
Home town: Klaipėda, Lithuania

One month before graduating from LCC International University I was hired by "SEB Vilniaus bankas" as an assistant for business clients manager. Just seven months later I was presented with the opportunity to become a manager. Now, four years later, I am the senior manager and was humbled to receive recognition as Manager of the Year for Western Lithuania. My career so far has been very rewarding and I do not doubt LCC's role in this success.

Professors at LCC International University used to emphasize the importance of critical thinking and careful evaluation of circumstances. They encouraged us to doubt and not to make decisions without proper analysis. In this way, I have a "healthy skepticism" towards many things, am able to argue for my opinion, and evaluate a problem within its broader context, not only on the basis pure theory.

If I were to describe LCC International University to a new high school graduate these things come immediately to mind: LCC is not a standard academic institution, because here the learning of theory is combined with students‘ personal perspective and professors' practical business and living experience. The result is an optimal combination of knowledge that is easily aplicable in everyday life. LCC provides education – this is what the main purpose of an academic institution is, but it also shapes you as an individual, and that is equally important for success in the future.

Goda Aženeckaitė-Petravičienė
2003 LCC graduate
Currently: Co-owner and director of a busines consulting company "Grand Partners"
LCC Major: Business Administration
LCC Minor: Psychology
Home town: Klaipėda, Lithuania

Me and my husband Andrius own a consulting company. At "Grand Partners" we inspire leaders, energize organizations and discover talent. In other words we provide executive coaching, organizational development consulting and human resource training. We started our business in 2004 while we both were in our early twenties. What a paradox to set up a business where you teach people who are twice your age or more to do business! But actually we only set up a structure for people with very deep knowledge in their area of expertise. Our business is still small because the Lithuanian market is very small as well. However, the level of problems that we tackle has grown dramatically, our projects are much bigger, the number of clients is fairly large, comparing to other companies in this business.

Critical thinking skills are absolutely necessary for any business owner. A strong belief in the core values that I've mentioned before. LCC has nurtured our ability to be our true selves. As you know, a business is a mirror or an extension of its owner. Even very successful business owners or leaders face a very tragic crisis when they don't know who they are or what they want any more. At LCC we've developed the desire to be authentic. In addition to those core things, we also got access to the best academic resources. The question was - how willing were we to use them to the full potential?

Vitaliy Sobko
2008 LCC Graduate
Currently: IMMORENT UKRAINE Contract manager
LCC Major: Business Administration
LCC Minor: Theology
Home country: Zolotonosha, Ukraine

Being among the first Ukrainian LCC International University graduates to return to Ukraine, I questioned how my diploma and education would be received when I returned home. I was pleasantly surprised when I started looking for a job. Most of the time employers asked of my work experience, skills, traits, etc. They admired my having studied in English and they highly respect western style of teaching.

During the summer after my graduation I was interviewed by 10 companies: Procter&Gamble, Deloitte, GfK, Immorent, Innoware, Apple, Discovery, Real, and several other. In the end, five of them offered me jobs. I chose to work at Immorent Ukraine, a subsidiary of Erste Bank Holding which is a European market leader in real estate leasing and one of the largest financial groups. Every day I thank God for this wonderful opportunity and work hard to excel in my position. I know of other LCC graduates who returned to Ukraine, and they also have had no problems with the recognition of their LCC diploma. It is clearly of great value!