Internationalie

Ruth Tekleab
  • 4.9 (14)
  • Society & Culture

From academics to social life, to time management skills, tune-in to listen about how to make the most out of your college experience as an international student.

  1. 1d ago

    Episode 35: Dealing with Friendships

    This week, I am joined by my very dear friend Xavier Ibrahim. Xavier is originally from the Bronx, New York, with additional ties to Connecticut and Maryland. He attended American University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in International Relations. He then attended Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), where he earned his Master of Public Administration (MPA). Xavier brings a multidisciplinary background spanning diplomacy, African Affairs, economic and political development, technology policy, intellectual property, and business development. He is deeply committed to advancing inclusive economic growth in emerging economies, shaping sustainable business strategies, and fostering innovation. His work reflects a strong focus on leveraging technology and policy to drive equitable development and long-term global impact. In this episode, we delved deeper into what friendship actually means, whether it is how people show up for you in unexpected ways or how your friends share resources with you to propel you forward. We talked about the importance of showing up for your friends not just in their best times but also at their worst. Most importantly, we talked about finding people who align with your values in college because those same people will be the ones in your life for a very long time. Please send questions and feedbacks you have to internationaliebyruth@gmail.com or DM on the Instagram page @internationaliebyruth

  2. Jun 30

    Episode 34: Dealing with the Cost of Global Ambition

    This week, I am joined by Aarya. Aarya is an Indian woman born and raised in the UAE, with a formative chapter at a boarding school in Kodaikanal, India—an upbringing that shaped her global outlook from an early age. She completed her undergraduate education at Loyola University Chicago before earning her Master of International Affairs from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, where she focused on humanitarian policy and international conflict resolution. Her work spans policy and humanitarian contexts, including experience with the U.S. Department of Defense and frontline advocacy on human rights and crisis response. Now based in Dubai, she works on global health and policy initiatives while building a career focused on navigating complex conflict environments, protection of civilians, and strengthening humanitarian systems. In this episode, we talked about the cost of being international students whether it is how it affects our identity, the way we see the world and most importantly the sacrifices made behind such a life-changing decision. We discuss the current climate international students are in with particular emphasis on uncertainty and how to best navigate this time of transition. Please send questions and feedbacks you have to internationaliebyruth@gmail.com or DM on the Instagram page @internationaliebyruth

  3. Apr 30

    Episode 33: Dealing with Finding Your People

    This week, I am joined by Noah. Noah is a San Francisco–based builder, traveler, and community creator. Born to an Ethiopian family and raised just outside of Washington, D.C., he’s always been drawn to new places, big ideas, and bringing people together. He graduated from Pepperdine University with a degree in Finance. By day he works in tech as a Product Manager at Google, and by night he’s usually hosting something, chasing a new project, or planning his next adventure. Noah loves good conversations, spontaneous trips, staying active, and creating spaces where interesting people can meet. In this episode, we talked about how we each navigated finding our people in college and how the friendships we made then still impact us today. We discussed the importance of being open-minded and self-aware as we navigated a challenging and new environment. Tune-in to laugh, learn and appreciate our experience as college students! Please send questions and feedbacks you have to internationaliebyruth@gmail.com or DM on the Instagram page @internationaliebyruth

  4. 12/24/2025

    Episode 32: Dealing with Roommates

    This week, I am joined by my very dear friend and honorary roommate Alda from Indonesia. She studied her Master's in Human Rights at Columbia University (US), and Psychology at Universitas Nusa Cendana (Indonesia) for her undergraduate degree. Currently, she’s working at Plan International Indonesia as Project Manager. Plan International is an NGO focusing on fulfillment of children's rights and equality for girls. At Plan, she manages a project called Girls Football, focusing on integrating sport as a platform to promote girls' leadership and transform the community into a safe and equal space.  In this episode, we talked about what it means to move from complete strangers to close friends in a short time. We discussed not only how we navigated the challenges of sharing space with roommates but also the rewards that come with it. A candid and personal one-on-one conversation that lets you see a glimpse of what’s it’s like to live with roommates in New York City! Tune-in to laugh, learn and appreciate the international student experience! Please send questions and feedbacks you have to internationaliebyruth@gmail.com or DM on the Instagram page @internationaliebyruth

  5. 08/30/2025

    Episode 31: Dealing with Unwritten Rules of Success

    This week, I am joined by my very dear friend Kuleni. Kuleni is originally from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She is currently a cybersecurity consultant with a passion for all things digital defense. She majored in Cybersecurity Engineering at George Mason University and went on to earn her master’s in Digital Forensics and Cyber Analysis. Outside of work, she’s an active mentor with WiCyS (Women in CyberSecurity), supporting the next generation of women in cybersecurity. In this episode, we talked about the unwritten rules of success whether it is identifying helpful habits early-on, self-awareness, networking, mentorship or how learning new things such as hobbies will help us lean into joy. We delve into the behind the scenes of what success looks like and how it is different for everyone. Tune-in to laugh, learn and appreciate the international student experience! Please send questions and feedbacks you have to internationaliebyruth@gmail.com or DM on the Instagram page @internationaliebyruth

  6. 07/22/2024

    Episode 30: Dealing with Belongingness

    This week, I am joined by my very dear friend Bereket. She was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She received her Bachelors degree from Brown University in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and her Masters from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Pharmaceutical Sciences. She is currently pursuing her PhD as a Chemistry graduate student at Columbia University. In this episode we talked about the idea of belongingness and how that played out in our college experiences as international students. We discussed the importance of finding belongingness in ourselves and how it’s a lifelong journey and not a destination.  Tune-in to laugh, learn and appreciate the international student experience! Please send questions and feedbacks you have to internationaliebyruth@gmail.com or DM on the Instagram page @internationaliebyruth

  7. 01/30/2024

    Episode 29: Dealing with Mental Health as a Child of Immigrants

    This week I am joined by Elyas Tecle. He is currently a Cloud Sales representative at Google, originally from the Philadelphia area. His parents are from Ethiopia and Eritrea and he has lived in New York for the last 5 years. He studied International Relations and Consumer Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, but pivoted towards tech in his career - working his way through roles at IBM, Salesforce, and now at Google.  In this episode, we talked about the struggles we faced to prioritize our mental health particularly as children of immigrants and international students. The constant need to fulfill the expectations set by our parents and ourselves can sometimes be draining. We discussed the stigma associated with seeking professional help in our community and addressed the importance creating a support system that we can lean on during difficult times. Tune-in to laugh, learn and appreciate the international student experience! Please send questions and feedbacks you have to internationaliebyruth@gmail.com or DM on the Instagram page @internationaliebyruth

  8. 12/01/2023

    Episode 28: Dealing with Mentorship

    This week, I am joined by my very dear friend Susan. She is from Maputo, Mozambique and graduated from Smith College with a double major in Economics and Government in 2019. Susan is currently pursuing a PhD in international studies, with a research focus on sustainable economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa. Her current research projects investigate the effects of foreign capital investments from three emerging economies (Brazil, China, and South Africa) on development outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa.  In this episode, we talked about the importance of mentorship and the significant role it played in both our personal and professional lives. We discussed how to identify a potential mentor, what to look for in a mentorship relationship and the importance of giving back to others. Tune-in to laugh, learn and appreciate the international student experience! Please send questions and feedbacks you have to internationaliebyruth@gmail.com or DM on the Instagram page @internationaliebyruth

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4.9
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

From academics to social life, to time management skills, tune-in to listen about how to make the most out of your college experience as an international student.

Information

  • Creator
    Ruth Tekleab
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    37
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Ruth Tekleab
  • Show Website
    Internationalie