Stepping in for a sick coworker has taken Ines Schnittke from selling real estate to building it and starting afresh in a new country.
Ms Schnittke, the valedictorian for the Faculty of Society & Design’s June 2024 graduating class, told the crowd about her journey from Hamburg, Germany to Bond University.
She graduated with a degree in real estate management and went on to work for a German real estate company for the better part of eight years before a chance introduction to project management.
“I kind of just slid into it because one of my colleagues from the construction department fell sick when we had a massive construction project on,” she said.
“I ended up going on site every week and being really involved in the project, engaging with the architect and trades on site.
“I thought, this is really fun, way more hands-on than just sitting in the office and listening to complaints.”
Ms Schnittke had already made one trip to Australia and planned to return someday.
She signed up for a Master of Communication/Master of Project Management and hopes to work in Australia for at least five years.
Her new path is something she could have never predicted for herself.
“It's okay to change,” Ms Schnittke said.
“I feel like I'm a good example for this. I started one career and I could have stayed with the company probably for eternity, to be honest.
“It’s okay to change your interests, try a completely new thing. Why not?”