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Tatiana Trepado began dancing at the age of six and pursued a master’s degree in dance from the University of Lisbon, where she also trained in dance teaching. Apart from her passion for performance, she was eager to explore another side of dance: production and management. Driven by a desire to deepen her understanding of the dance world and to experience life beyond her home country, she set her sights on studying abroad through the Erasmus exchange program.  

As a volunteer in the World’s largest gymnastics event, Gymnaestrada, Tatiana supported Finnish athletes, whom she later befriended. Their connection and encouragement played a key role in inspiring her to choose Finland as her exchange destination. At the Ģ��ֱ��, Tatiana studied in the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, where she took courses in dance pedagogy, adapted physical activity, biomechanics, and physiotherapy.  

This experience left a lasting impression on her, and the values she gained during that time continue to guide her to this day. The sense of community, both from her Finnish peers and the professors, helped her build meaningful and long-lasting friendships that she cherishes to this day! Beyond that, it also gave her valuable insights into, and a sense of appreciation of, cultural differences. Moreover, the Finnish openness to learning and experiencing new things encouraged her to stay true to herself and be brave in pursuing a challenging and unconventional career path.   

The power of community and cultural understanding 

In Finland, there is no distance between professors and students, allowing Tatiana to actively engage in her classes all while developing bonds with her professors outside of the classroom. She was impressed with the way her professors asked about the students' feedback. They also often invited students to share their thoughts, emphasizing that they, too, learn from their students. This inclusive approach gave Tatiana a strong sense of belonging, not just within the student community, but within a wider, supportive network where everyone she met was a part of the same collective.  

Tatiana shared that, despite some initial language barriers, her sense of belonging remained strong. She built close relationships with a diverse group of friends, local Finnish students, Erasmus peers, other international students, and even locals outside the university, through various activities and classes.  

The learning environment at JYU was not exam-focused, but engaging, facilitating interaction and collaboration. This inclusive atmosphere, combined with the chance to connect with people from different backgrounds, helped Tatiana develop a sense of belonging in Jyväskylä, and later develop an open-hearted appreciation for diversity, an outlook that has been invaluable in both her personal and professional life.  

As a Global Procurement Specialist at Nestlé, Tatiana collaborates with colleagues and partners across different regions, such as Latin America, Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America, making her encounter individuals with different communication styles, cultural backgrounds, and perspectives. The inclusive and respectful environment she experienced in Jyväskylä taught her how to understand cultural nuances and engage with people as they are:  

“To work effectively together or succeed in negotiations in a global context, it's essential to stay open-minded and embrace the fact that everyone is different.” 

Engage with people as they are and respect their cultures.  

Open-mindedness and continuous learning 

At the Ģ��ֱ��, students have the freedom to design their own educational path, a flexibility that deeply resonated with Tatiana. Although she had been dancing from a young age, she also held a growing interest in business. The supportive and exploratory learning environment at JYU, combined with professors who value student input and believed in mutual learning, inspired Tatiana to embrace continuous learning and remain open to new and challenging opportunities. 

Tatiana recalls how her professors not only supported her academically, but also encouraged her to experience Finland beyond the classroom by attending cultural festivals, engaging with local communities, and trying out new activities. Even local residents, such as those working at the tourist office, were eager to recommend exciting things for her to try, from winter sports to witnessing the Northern Lights, ice fishing, or visiting remote places. In this supportive and curious environment, Tatiana learned an important lesson:  

The first path you take doesn’t have to be the one you follow for the rest of your life.  

 With that mindset, she found the courage to eventually shift from dance to a successful business career. After her exchange, she took another master's degree in management and industrial strategy at Lisbon School of Economics & Management. Following her studies, Tatiana successfully built a career across various roles in global corporations, including sales, project management, customer experience, and procurement, showcasing her adaptability and dedication to continuous growth. 

Making the most out of your student exchange  

Looking back, Tatiana thinks that her time in Jyväskylä was a turning point in both her career and personal life, and she doesn’t see herself where she is today without her Erasmus exchange at JYU. It was not just about academics, but about learning to communicate across cultures, adapting to change, and building meaningful connections.  

To future exchange students, Tatiana offers heartfelt advice:  

Choose a destination that’s completely different from what you know, go as far as you can. That’s how you truly discover new perspectives. Once you're there, connect with others, engage, and always show respect. An open and respectful attitude naturally attracts positive experiences and meaningful connections.