Anna was always passionate about the educational field, and after graduating with a bachelor’s degree, she realized that education was one of the fields that really interested her to work in. One of the main aspects important to her in finding a job was the workplace atmosphere and setting. As she was already familiar with ICLT’s environment, she decided to apply even though there were no open job positions or announcements. To her surprise, she was invited to an interview, and that is how her career as a future operations and educational manager began.
Before the role of an administrative director, Anna was a front office representative at ICLT, which was the first phase of the company. She gained the chance to strengthen her communication skills within her first role, and it also helped her to explore herself as a professional and grow beyond her comfort zone, especially as she is an introvert, and this kind of job made her discover the extrovert hiding inside of her.
As she started working in the operations field, she realized that she thoroughly enjoys it. She was always eager to explore new things and never hesitated to ask questions, whether they were within her responsibilities or not. After one year of being a successful administrative assistant, during which she developed strong self-confidence, she was offered the position of director of a language school at a young age. This professional path naturally led her toward further education, and she is now pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at CITY College, University of York.
The transition from an administrative role to a managerial one was particularly intriguing, as she was stepping into leadership within the same team she had once worked alongside. Having already built close and friendly relationships with the staff, she now had to redefine those dynamics while taking on the responsibilities of a director. Although maintaining a warm and approachable manner remained important to her, the role required clearer boundaries and a shift in how she was perceived within the team.
Later, Anna became the administrative director of BISA, and as she was familiar with the work setting, the change was not difficult. The teachers and the administrative staff share the same values, which made her sure that the decision of the change would not be wrong, but the change also came with challenges. She had to work on time-management skills, as having a managerial role and pursuing a full-time master’s program cannot be a piece of cake.
Anna’s message to our audience is to take the opportunities that life throws your way. Facing challenges is a natural part of any journey, and being open to them allows growth to happen. She encourages not being afraid of taking risks and staying positive throughout the process. Her journey shows that with dedication, curiosity, and passion for what one does, meaningful growth and leadership can begin at any age.
By Anush Grigoryan
Head of Communications
