Laurie Ford

Cookware is one of the most important things you’ll buy for your kitchen, but even professionals can get confused with the hundreds of choices of materials and types of pans out there. Restaurant owners think carefully about the equipment they purchase, and pots and pans are no exception.

While there are a lot of options for home chefs, knowing the pros and cons of the most popular choices and which type of cooking they are best for, is important in deciding what to buy for your kitchen.

Cast Iron

Cast iron is a popular type of cookware for many chefs, both professional and amateur. It’s got a lot of benefits, but there are a few things you need to consider.

Pros:

Cast iron is prized for a number of reasons, starting with the fact that it’s got a natural, nonstick surface if you take care of it properly. It’s also extremely durable and will last a lifetime. In fact, many people who own cast iron skillets will tell you that they’ve been in the family for generations; it really does last forever.

Perhaps the biggest reason to use cast iron is that it heats evenly, and will brown meat and fish like virtually nothing else. You end up with a perfectly golden browned crust on your food, and it doesn’t stick. It’s ideal for cooking meat, vegetables, eggs, burgers, and more.

Cons:

With all the pros of using cast iron, it doesn’t come without a few negatives. For starters, the durability of cast iron makes it extremely heavy. This can make it difficult for some people to use. Draining a cast iron pot can be quite the task, even for the strongest chefs.

It also requires special care. Although not difficult to care for, it does require maintenance to keep it working properly. Cast iron must be “seasoned” on a regular basis, or coated with a thin layer of oil and heated for an hour or so. This is what makes it such a slick non-stick surface. You can’t put cast iron in the dishwasher, and you should avoid using soap or abrasive cleaners on it. Properly taken care of, cast iron will rarely need anything more than to be wiped down with a paper towel.

One more word of caution about cast iron: Raw cast iron (a typical black skillet) shouldn’t be used to cook acidic foods. Citrus juices, tomatoes, or vinegar can break down the seasoning of your pan, which can take time to build up again.

Bottom line: If you’re willing to learn to care for it, and don’t mind the weight, cast iron can be an amazing tool for cooking flavorful foods.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is one of the most popular types of cookware, and for good reason, not all stainless steel pans are created equal. Let’s go over the pros and cons of this cookware.

Pros:

Stainless steel retains heat fairly well, but not as well as some other materials. For this reason, most stainless steel cookware has a copper core, which helps it heat food evenly. Good stainless steel cookware is heavy and durable and can last years if taken care of properly. It’s also budget-friendly; you can buy everything from a cheap set at your local discount retailer to expensive high-end cookware in your favorite gourmet kitchen shop.

It’s easy to clean, and in most cases can be put in the dishwasher, although you should check with the manufacturer of the specific pieces you own. It can go from stove to oven as long as it’s all stainless steel (pieces with plastic or rubber handles may not be oven safe.)

Cons:

If you’re looking for a versatile set of cookware that will be useful in most types of cooking, stainless steel is the way to go. The only real cons come from the type that you use.

If you buy cheap pots and pans made of lightweight material, you will likely have trouble retaining heat, and the metal may warp or pit over time. Handles made of plastic mean you can’t put your pan in the oven if necessary, which can be a pain if you do a lot of stove to oven cooking.

Bottom line: You don’t need to buy the most expensive set of stainless steel pots and pans on the market unless you are an experienced chef looking to get the most out of your cookware. The cheapest products won’t do you any good, and will likely need to be replaced. There are plenty of high-quality mid-priced sets that will serve the average cook well.

Copper

Copper is one of the best conductors of heat available, but it’s not as widely used today as it once was. This is mostly due to the availability and durability of other materials.

Pros:

In addition to being strikingly beautiful, copper cookware offers some of the best heat retentions you’ll find in pots and pans. This means even cooking for all types of foods.

That’s about it for the pros of copper, and unfortunately, there are quite a few cons.

Cons:

It was expensive. Unlike stainless steel, which is readily available at all price points, you’ll only likely find copper in high-end cookware stores, and you’ll pay several hundred dollars for a single small pot or pan.

It’s also reactive, which like cast iron, means that you can’t cook everything in it. Acidic foods may have a metallic taste, and the compounds in the copper may even discolor some foods. It’s not necessarily dangerous, but it’s visually unappealing.

Copper also requires regular maintenance and polishing with the copper cleaner to maintain that beautiful look. You definitely don’t want to put it in the dishwasher, and depending on what you cook in it, cleaning can be a drag.

Bottom line: Unless you are a professional with the knowledge and desire to care for copper pots (and the money to invest in a set), stick to stainless steel with a copper core. While not as pretty, it’s a much better option for the average cook.

Non-Stick

If you’re new to cooking, you may think that non-stick cookware is the way to go; after all, why would you want your food to stick if it doesn’t have to? Unfortunately, there’s more to this popular cookware than meets the eye.

Pros:

If you cook a lot of foods that tend to stick like eggs or fish, non-stick cookware can be your friend, especially if you are inexperienced in the kitchen. Most non-stick cookware is easy to handle, and fairly inexpensive, which makes it a good choice for new cooks that don’t know exactly what they want.

Cons:

The cons of non-stick cookware should not be taken lightly. For starters, the Teflon coating that is used to keep foods from sticking to these pans has been shown to be toxic. They’re still deemed safe to use by the FDA, but the more you use these pans, the more of this toxic material you are ingesting. If you use metal utensils or regularly heat your pans to high temperatures, you’re ingesting even more of these fumes or materials.

Another reason not to use them is that they simply aren’t the best when it comes to actual cooking. Most won’t heat evenly, and if you like a browned crust on your fish or meat, you will have a difficult time achieving that in a non-stick skillet.

And, finally, non-stick pans don’t last long if used regularly, no matter how careful you are when using them, which means you’re looking to replace them fairly often.

Bottom line: Even if you eat a lot of foods that tend to stick, non-stick cookware isn’t the best option. A better choice would be to learn cooking techniques that make using other types of cookware easy to use. Cast iron is a much better non-stick option.

Conclusion

Choosing cookware can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Whether you are new to cooking or have been cooking for years, the right cookware can definitely make the job easier. Before shopping, figure out your budget, as well as what types of foods you’ll be cooking. You’ll likely find that a decent set of stainless steel pots and pans, with maybe a cast iron skillet or two, will be more than enough to meet your needs.

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If you are considering starting a business, it’s important to put careful consideration into the type of business structure you will have. The type of business you select can impact how much you pay in taxes, the paperwork you must file, your personal liability and even your ability to raise money. Choosing the right type of business takes research and careful assessment. In this article, we will discuss the different types of businesses and offer tips on how you can choose which type to start.

Types of businesses

Here are the most common types of business structures, although it’s important to note that liability, ownership rules, taxes and filing requirements can vary by state.

Sole proprietorship

This is typically the simplest type of business, with only a single person or a married couple responsible for all the company’s profits and debts. If you intend to work alone, this may be the best option for you. This type of business can be especially appealing because income and expenses are included on your personal income tax record. Your profits and losses are recorded on the Schedule C tax form and the amount is transferred to your personal tax return. Losses you suffer in the business can offset income earned from other sources. With this type of business, you also have complete ownership and make all the decisions.

The disadvantage of a sole proprietorship is that you are liable, personally, for your company’s liabilities. This means that your personal assets could be placed at risk to satisfy a business debt or settle a legal claim filed against you.

Partnership

A partnership can be an ideal choice if your business is going to be owned and operated by multiple people. This type of business comes in two forms: general partnership and limited partnerships. With a general partnership, the partners assume responsibility for the debts. With a limited partnership, though, there are both general and limited partners. The limited partners are investors only and have no control over the company and are not subject to liabilities. The general partners own and operate the business and assume the liabilities.

Unless you intend to have multiple passive investors, the limited partnership may not best the best type of business to start as a new business owner because of the administrative complexities and required filings. If you expect to have two or more partners who are actively involved in the business, a general partnership is easier. One of the advantages of this type of business is the tax benefits. A partnership doesn’t pay tax on its income but instead passes the profits and losses on to the partners. They are typically more expensive to start because more extensive accounting and legal services are required.

Limited liability company (LLC)

This type of company allows owners, partners and shareholders to limit their personal liability to protect their personal assets. An LLC is not incorporated but it enjoys the limited liability of a corporation. The LLC can be taxed as a sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation.

Some of the benefits of an LLC include no limitations on the number of shareholders the business can have. Also, any owner or member can have a full participatory role in the operation of the business. There is also flexibility with the distribution of profits. Profits and losses don’t have to be distributed in proportion to the money that the investor puts in. The disadvantage of this type of business is that because LLCs are a relatively new business structure, the tax treatment can vary by state.

Corporation – C corp

Corporations offer the strongest amount of personal liability protection, but the cost to form a corporation is also higher. Corporations also require more extensive reporting, record-keeping and operational processes. Corporations are completely independent of shareholders. They pay income tax on profits and in some cases can be taxed twice. They do have an advantage when raising capital because they can raise money by selling stock. Stock options can be useful in attracting employees.

Corporation – S corp

An S corporation has the liability protection of corporations along with several tax benefits. The owners of S corporations can use the cash method of accounting if they don’t have inventory. They can have up to 75 shareholders, which makes it possible to attract more capital. S corporations must file articles of incorporation like all corporations and hold directors and shareholder meetings. They also must allow shareholders to vote on major decisions. S corporations can only issue common stock, which could impact the corporation’s ability to raise capital.

Corporation – B corp

A B corporation, also called a benefit corporation, is a for-profit corporation that is driven by mission and profit. They are taxed in the same way as C corporations but are focused more on purpose, accountability and transparency.

Corporation – nonprofit

Nonprofit corporations are organized with the intent of doing philanthropic work. Because their work benefits the public, they can receive tax-exempt status and not pay taxes on profits. They follow organizational rules that are like a C corp but also have special rules regarding profits.

How to choose which type to start

Here are the main factors you will need to consider before choosing the type of legal structure for your business.

Flexibility

Your goal when selecting a type of business is to identify the one that allows for maximum flexibility with the ownership structure. You need to consider the goals, concerns, needs and financial situations of each owner.

Liability

Another factor you need to consider when forming your business is the extent to which you need to be protected from liability. You need to examine the potential liability of your organization and decide if you can personally afford the risk. If you cannot, a partnership or sole proprietorship is likely not the best type of business to start.

Complexity

You will need to establish the level of complexity you want to take on with your business. Sole proprietorships are the simplest option and incorporating your business can become highly complex, with state and federal reporting requirements.

Taxes

You will also need to consider the tax implications for the organization and what the opportunities are for minimizing taxation. There are more tax options for corporations than partnerships or sole proprietorships. Double taxation can be a problem with corporations but can be avoided with an S corp.

Control

You need to determine the amount of control you want over the business. If you need to have complete control, an LLC or sole proprietorship may be the best choice. While a single person can control a corporation, as the business grows, it will become a board-directed entity.

Capital investment

If you plan to seek outside funding for your business, you may want to establish a corporation. Corporations can secure additional funding and sell stock as opposed to sole proprietorships, which can only obtain funding through their personal bank accounts or by taking on partners.

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“A good friendship is a wonderful antidepressant,” says psychologist Janice Kiecolt-Glaser. “Relationships are so powerful, we don’t always appreciate the many levels at which they affect us.”

Humans have an inherent need to build relationships, and when these relationships are healthy it can lead to better mental health and emotional wellbeing. A positive relationship can be shared between any two people that support, love, and encourage each other. Annually, we recognize National Friendship Day on the first Sunday of August to celebrate the positive relationships in our lives. At Acenda, we are celebrating this day by sharing the four benefits of having uplifting and healthy relationships.

1. Healthy relationships encourage personal growth.

There’s no better feeling than having someone cheer you on during life’s ups and downs. When you have someone in your life who will support you no matter what, you are more confident and self-assured. These relationships will enable you to take greater risks and chase after your dreams because you have a strong foundation of support no matter the outcome.

2. Positive relationships add meaning to our life.

It’s human nature to want to feel needed and to be a part of something that is bigger than ourselves. Many people strive to make a positive change in this world and enjoy the feeling of doing something good for someone else. Being in a loving and healthy relationship, romantic or platonic, can give a person a sense of purpose and fulfillment. In fact, supporting others will in turn make you happier and stronger!

3. Healthy relationships can decrease stress and lead to a longer life.

Research suggests that the social and emotional support from a committed relationship or strong friendship can be a buffer against stress. Studies also suggest many biological benefits, including lower blood pressure and stronger immune systems. Reversely, studies have also suggested that a lack of social relationships can have the same effect as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

4. Social support in life.

It’s helpful to surround yourself with people that you trust and can learn from. This could mean being an excellent listener, a wise mentor, or being available to a helpful friend in any situation, like moving houses. No matter how big or small, these are all supportive ways to strengthen your social support system.

Above all, everyone deserves to have healthy relationships that provide joy and promote personal growth. Agenda is here to help if you or someone you know is experiencing challenges in their lives that are causing increased isolation and loneliness. Our clinicians are trained to help adults and youth overcome social anxiety, depression, and trauma so that they can thrive in the modern world.

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Relationships are all about giving and taking.

A manager at IBM once told me to think of relationships as bank accounts. You must deposit into them before you can make a withdrawal. This holds true not only in business but also in any relationship. Strong relationships are very important in business. This is especially true in international business, where there needs to be so much trust and dependability because big things are happening across large distances.

Although the foundations upon which relationships are built are similar for domestic and international markets, building relationships internationally comes with its own challenges. Domestically, I can usually drive my car and go for a face-to-face meeting. I don’t really have this luxury when working internationally.

Your actions will need to speak louder than your words.

The following five considerations will help you build strong international business relationships with your global partners so you can maintain a healthy and well-deposited ‘bank account’.

1. Focus on building credibility with your global business partners You’re credible if you’re honest, transparent and tell it like it is. This quality will naturally make its way to the products you represent. I once had an issue with a cheap imitation of one of the brands I represent. The deal was almost sealed with the distributor, but we were hit with the news that a knock-off product from China that claimed to do what our product does was already on market shelves for a fraction of our price. This news negatively affected our distributor’s willingness to continue negotiations with us, and the deal never materialized.

Our intention was never to hide any information; we just didn’t know. This also speaks to the importance of proper research on the foreign market in which you’re interested.

As a corrective action, and to maintain our credibility, we modified all our proposals to include the names of such knock-offs. We also now offer guidance on the differentiating factors and the benefits of representing only original products.

2. Set the right expectations so you can always follow through Nobody likes it when expectations aren’t met.

I had a situation once with the display boxes that we ship with our products. They’re white in color. Why? Because they’re targeted for the international market, which comes with different languages and tastes. A blank canvas enabled the distributors to add their own name, logo, and the language most suited for their local market.

However, at the time our website featured a display box that wasn’t white. It was one of the display boxes used as a sample, and it was printed with graphics and names. The distributor assumed that the box listed on the website is what they’d receive, but to their surprise when they received it, it wasn’t.

We fixed the situation by sending them high-quality posters to use, and future shipments were no longer an issue. However, this led us to do a complete review of all our materials to ensure we always set proper expectations and follow through with them.

Our proposals now include the white display boxes, and we clearly state the added benefit of using that color.

3. Listen to your global customers and adapt your offerings accordingly

Everyone and every business has their motivations for being in relationships

This is a simple sales concept, but you have to be able to answer their question, “What’s in it for me?”

For us at Canada Topp, listening and adapting our offerings resulted in redesigned packages with different colors and languages. We modified images, instructions, and leaflet sizes. Many customers were also not reading the instructions, so we created fun videos which were easier to follow.

We put all instructions on websites in different languages so they can be read online easily via computer or smartphone. Don’t make the mistake of expecting that what’s working for you at home can be forced onto a foreign market. Listen and adapt.

Listen to your partners’ preferred communication style too. If you’re not getting prompt replies to your emails, they may prefer talking over the phone. I usually like to ask what works for them. One of the distributors I work with prefers text chatting over Skype. It works for him, and I managed to adapt to his style. As a result, we have a more successful relationship.

Contact us for more information.

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In today’s global economy, companies of all sizes are establishing operations in foreign markets. This type of expansion can provide several advantages, including greater opportunities for market growth and diversification. The trend of Americans going global is also likely to continue. A 2016 survey by Wells Fargo found that 87 percent of U.S. firms believe that international expansion is necessary for long-term growth.  

However, despite the growing number of U.S. companies expanding abroad, there are still many firms that haven’t made the leap overseas. If you’re on the fence about taking your company global, consider these five benefits of international business expansion.  

1. New markets  

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, 96 percent of the world’s consumers live outside of America. For many companies, the international expansion offers a chance to conquer new territories and reach more of these consumers, thus increasing sales.

For example, U.S. firms like Nike and IBM maintain operations in the Netherlands because it offers direct access to 170 million European consumers within approximately 300 miles. In fact, Holland’s connection to European markets is one reason why UPS recently opened a new $150 million facility in Eindhoven, one of the company’s largest investments in Europe.

2. Diversification 

Many businesses expand internationally to diversify their assets, an action that can protect a company’s bottom line against unforeseen events. For instance, companies with international operations can offset negative growth in one market by operating successfully in another. Companies also can utilize international markets to introduce unique products and services, which can help maintain a positive revenue stream.

Coca-Cola is an example of a company that diversifies through global operations. This quarter, the company reported increased sales in China, India, and South Korea, which benefited Coca-Cola worldwide. Coca-Cola also recently bought Mexican sparkling water brand Topo Chico in an effort to grow a more globally attractive and diverse portfolio.

3. Access to talent

Another top benefit of going global is the opportunity to access new talent pools. In many cases, international labor can offer companies unique advantages in terms of increased productivity, advanced language skills, diverse educational backgrounds, and more.

For example, when Netflix expanded to Amsterdam earlier this year, the company praised the city for enabling Netflix to hire multilingual and internationally-minded employees who can expertly “understand consumers and cultures in all of the territories across Europe.”

In addition, international talent may also improve innovation output within a company. For instance, that’s one reason why foreign markets that welcome global entrepreneurs and skilled workers often have denser and more successful start-up climates.

4. Competitive advantage  

Companies also choose international expansion to gain a competitive edge over their opponents. For example, businesses that expand in markets where their competitors do not operate often have a first-mover advantage, which allows for them to build strong brand awareness with consumers before their competitors. International expansion can also help companies acquire access to new technologies and industry ecosystems, which may significantly improve their operations.

International business can also increase a company’s perceived image, as global operations can help build name brand recognition to support future business scenarios, such as contract negotiations, new marketing campaigns, or even additional expansion.

5. Foreign investment opportunities

Finally, companies considering international expansion shouldn’t forget about the additional investment opportunities that foreign markets can offer. For instance, many firms are able to develop new resources and forge important connections by operating in global markets.

Companies with multinational operations can also benefit from lucrative investment opportunities that may not exist in their home country. For example, many governments around the world offer incentives for companies looking to invest in their region. Thus, U.S. firms should always do their research before making an international expansion decision.

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As a Fine Cooking editor, I’ve had the chance to observe lots of great cooks at work. From them, I’ve learned plenty—including the fact that good-quality pots and pans made of the right materials really can improve your cooking.

Rather than having a rack filled with pots and pans of all shapes and sizes, owning a few well-chosen pieces will give you the flexibility to cook whatever you want and the performance you need to cook it better.

I polled some of our authors to find out which pans were the most valuable to them and why. I then came up with six pieces, starting with two indispensables: an anodized-aluminum stockpot to handle stocks, soups, stews, some sauces, blanching, boiling, and steaming; and a high-sided stainless-steel/aluminum sauté pan with a lid for frying, deglazing sauces, braising small items like vegetables, making sautés and fricassées, cooking rice pilafs and risottos, and a whole lot more. The other four pieces I picked make for even more cooking agility and add up to half a dozen ready-for-action pots and pans that you’ll really use (see For every pot, there’s a purpose…).

For every pot, there is a purpose…

The letters identifying the pots key to the photo below.

A. Calphalon 8-quart (or bigger) stockpot, with lid. Simmer soup or cook a big batch of tomato sauce in this sturdy, nonreactive stockpot. It will do double-duty for boiling pasta and steaming vegetables, too. (www.calphalon.com)

B. All-Clad 3-quart sauté pan, with lid. Stainless coating with aluminum sandwiched all the way through makes for a responsive, durable, attractive pan. Great for frying, deglazing, and, of course, sautés. And it goes from stove to oven. (www.allclad.com)

C. Mauviel Cuprinox 3-quart stainless-lined copper saucepan, with lid. Top-performing copper is heavy-duty and responsive, with a shiny stainless interior that’s easy to see and durable. Copper tarnishes easily, but when it’s cared for, it looks great.(www.frenchcopper.com)

D. Lodge cast-iron skillet. Old faithful needs thorough drying and constant seasoning, but nothing takes high heat better, holds it as long, or puts a better crust on cornbread. It’s durable — and cheap, too. (www.lodgemfg.com)

E. Le Creuset oval enameled cast-iron casserole, with lid. Great for stove-to-oven roasts and stews and long, slow simmering. Its light-colored interior makes it easy to see into for deglazing sauces. (www.lecreuset.com)

F. Circulon Commercial nonstick skillet. This heavy-weight nonstick stands up to high heat and wear, goes from stove to oven, has an easy-gripping handle, and cooks delicate omelets as well as Cajun pork chops. (www.circulon.com)

All good pans share common traits

In a well-stocked kitchen store, you’ll see lots of first-rate pots and pans. They may look different, but they all share essential qualities you should look for.

Look for heavy-gauge materials. Thinner-gauge materials spread and hold heat unevenly, and their bottoms are more likely to dent and warp. This means that food can scorch. Absolutely flat bottoms are particularly important if your stovetop element is electric. Heavy-gauge pans deliver heat more evenly (see “Good pans are worth their price…,” below).

To decide if a pan is heavy enough, lift it, look at the thickness of the walls and base, and rap it with your knuckles—do you hear a light ping or a dull thud? A thud is good in this case.

Good pans are worth their price because they manage heat better

“Good conductor” and “heavy gauge” are the key features of good cookware. Here’s how these characteristics affect cooking.

You get responsive to heat. Good heat conductors, such as copper and aluminum, are responsive to temperature changes. They’ll do what the heat source tells them to do—heat up, cool down—almost instantly.

You get fast heat flow. Heat flows more easily through a good heat conductor, assuring a quick equalizing of temperature on the cooking surface.

You get even heat diffusion. A thicker pan has more distance between the cooking surface and the heat source. By the time the heat flows to the cooking surface, it will have spread out evenly, because heat diffuses as it flows.

You get more heat. Mass holds heat (heat is vibrating mass, so the more mass there is to vibrate, the more heat there will be). The more pan there is to heat, the more heat the pan can hold, so there’s more constant heat for better browning, faster reducing, and hotter frying.

You’ll want handles and a lid that is sturdy, heatproof, and secure. Handles come welded, riveted, or screwed. Some cooks advise against welded handles because they can break off. But Gayle Novacek, cookware buyer for Sur La Table, has seen a few such cases. As long as handles are welded in several spots, they can be preferable to riveted ones because the residue is apt to collect around a rivet.

Many pans have metal handles that stay relatively cool when the pan is on the stove because the handle is made of a metal that’s a poor heat conductor and retainer, such as stainless steel. Plastic and wooden handles stay cool, too, but they’re not ovenproof. Heat- or ovenproof handles mean that dishes started on the stovetop can be finished in the oven.

All lids should fit tightly to keep in moisture. The lid, too, should have a heatproof handle. Glass lids, which you’ll find on certain brands, are usually oven safe only up to 350°F.

A pan should feel comfortable. “When you’re at the store, pantomime the way you’d use a pot or pan to find out if it’s right for you,” advises Fine Cooking contributing editor and chef Molly Stevens. If you find a pan you love but you aren’t completely comfortable with the handle, you can buy a rubber gripper to slip over the handle. Just remember that grippers aren’t ovenproof.

Some pans need special talents

Depending on what you’ll be cooking in the pan, you may also need to look for other attributes.

For sautéing and other cooking that calls for quick temperature changes, a pan should be responsive. This means that the pan is doing what the heat source tells it to, and pronto. For example, if you sauté garlic just until fragrant and then turn down the flame, the pan should cool down quickly so the garlic doesn’t burn. Responsiveness isn’t as crucial for boiling, steaming, or the long, slow cooking that stocks and stews undergo.

For sautéing and oven roasts, it helps if the pan heats evenly up the sides. When you’ve got a pan full of chicken breasts nestling against the pan sides, you want them all to cook quickly and evenly, so heat coming from the sides of the pan is important. Even heating up the sides of a pot is important for pot roasting, too. Paul Bertolli, Fine Cooking contributing editor and chef of Oliveto restaurant in Oakland, California, counts on his enameled cast-iron oval casserole by Le Creuset for braising meat because “it’s a snug, closed cooking chamber with even heat radiating off the sides for really good browning.” Bertolli finds that meat fits especially well into the oval shape.

For cooking acidic foods, such as tomato sauces, wine sauces, and fruit fillings, a pan’s lining should be nonreactive. Stainless steel, enamel, and anodized aluminum won’t react no matter what they touch, while plain aluminum can discolor white sauces and foods that are acidic, sulfurous, or alkaline. It can even make those foods taste metallic. Eggs, vegetables in the cabbage family, and baking soda are some of the other foods vulnerable to aluminum’s graying effect. In the past, there was concern about aluminum and Alzheimer’s, but evidence has been far from conclusive.

Interview yourself to help you choose the right pans

There’s nothing wrong with matching cookware in principle. Packaged starter sets are attractively priced, and a whole lineup of matching pants can be attractive, too. But a single material isn’t suited for every kitchen task—with sets, you’re often stuck with pans you don’t need. That enameled cast-iron casserole is just right for the cassoulet you’ll move from stovetop to oven. But its matching saucepan overcooked your last caramel because the pan was too heavy to heft quickly once the sugar turned color.

You’ll get more use out of pieces that you hand-pick yourself. You may already own a matched set (the red Le Creuset ensemble I got years ago as a housewarming present is still hanging in my kitchen), but as you add new pieces to your collection, you’ll have a chance to branch out to different materials (see “Materials that make the pot”).

To decide what you need, ask yourself questions like the ones that follow.

Materials that make the pot

The letters identifying the materials key to the photo below.

A. Stainless steel is a poor conductor of heat all by itself, but it’s a peerless surface metal: easy to clean, durable, shiny for good visibility, and completely non-reactive.

B. Copper is a superb heat conductor and radiates visual warmth, too, if you keep it polished. All alone, copper is highly reactive with food, so the pans must be lined. It’s often used as a bottom layer for better heat conduction.

C. Aluminum is a top-notch heat conductor and is lightweight and easy to handle, but it reacts with acidic, sulfurous, and alkaline foods. Aluminum is often used as a core or bottom layer for better heat conduction.

D. Cast iron is an excellent retainer of heat and great for high temperatures. It’s relatively slow to heat up and cool down and needs thorough drying and oiling.

E. Nonstick coatings have greatly improved to withstand high heat and abrasion.

F. Anodized aluminum is aluminum that’s been electrochemically sealed, making for a nonreactive, hard surface. The dark interior, though, makes it difficult to see the color change in pan juices and translucent sauces.

G. Enameled cast iron’s coating solves the maintenance problems of cast iron, but the heating benefits remain. The enamel coating can chip with wear and abrasion.

Are you more likely to make saucy dishes like fricassées and sautés than delicate foods like omelets and crêpes? A bigger sauté or frying pan with high sides and a lid may be a better choice than a shallower, slope-sided omelet pan without one. “At home, I make a lot of dishes where the pasta gets thrown in with the other ingredients for the last few minutes, and my anodized-aluminum sauté pan is the one I always grab,” says Molly Stevens of her favorite Calphalon pan. “It’s responsive, I know the food won’t scorch, and I love the handle.” She adds that its anodized surface is easy to clean.

Do you cook lots of soup on weekends to freeze for meals during the week? A heavy stockpot may be essential. “I always choose heavy-gauge for anything that stays on the stove a long time,” says Larry Forgione, chef/owner of the New York City restaurant An American Place, who says food burns and sticks whenever he uses a thin stockpot. Abby Dodge, Fine Cooking’s recipe tester, agrees. “With soups and stocks, a heavy bottom comes first,” she insists. “And if your budget allows it, go for the best.”

Do you make pasta several times a week? Don’t toss that big, thinner-gauge pasta pot if you already have one; it’s fine for boiling and steaming — and lighter is better when you’re carting a boiling pot from the stove to sink. But if you don’t have a big pot yet, think about doubling up your pasta-boiling with stock- and soup-making by using a heavy stockpot.

Do you like making sauces? “When I’m browning or deglazing, I need to see what the pan juices are doing,” says Jim Peterson, Fine Cooking contributing editor, and chef. For such jobs, he avoids pans with a darker interior, such as anodized aluminum, and prefers a shiny stainless-steel lining.

Nancy Silverton, baker, pastry chef, and co-owner of La Brea Bakery and Campanile in Los Angeles, agrees. “I love the steady heat and surface of seasoned cast iron, but seeing the color change is crucial, so I need a pan that’s bright inside, like stainless,” she says. Silverton cautions that tin- and aluminum-lined pans affect the taste of acidic foods, such as compotes and fruit fillings. Both Peterson and Silverton love the visual warmth of copper but agree that top-notch stainless with an aluminum core, like All-Clad, works just as well.

Do you often serve stews, pot roasts, or braised meat dishes? Paul Bertolli loves the way Le Creuset enameled cast iron handles such dishes. “I can start dishes on the stove, transfer them to the oven, and all the juices will be ready to deglaze in the same pot.” He adds that one-pot cooking makes for swift cleanup, too. And Scott Peacock, a southern chef, loves enameled cast iron because “you can put on a lid, set the pot at the back of the stove, and it will hold the food at a good serving temperature a long while.”

Do you like cooking chops, steaks, or thick fish fillets? Cast iron may be heavy, but chef and writer Regina Schrambling says that “for searing fish at intense heat and finishing it in the oven, I trust it.” Scott Peacock likes it, too, especially for making golden-crusted cornbread, but cautions that unless cast iron is well seasoned, it can make acidic foods taste metallic, and that metal utensil themselves are apt to scrape off the seasoning.

Are you trying to cook with less fat? Nonstick may be a good choice, and happily, nonstick technology has come a long way in the past few years. With the old-style, lighter-weight nonstick pans, it was hard to get the pan hot enough to sauté properly. Nonstick pans are now being made of harder, high-heat-tolerant metals, such as anodized aluminum and stainless steel, and the coatings themselves can withstand more heat and abrasion — no more nonstick flakes in your food. Another potential disadvantage of sautéing in nonstick is the difficulty in deglazing. The nonstick surface can be so effective that you never get any good brown bits in the bottom of the pan. With Circulon, which has a finely ridged nonstick interior, browning takes place more like in a conventional pan, and Circulon’s Commercial line is super heavy duty.

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While living and working in China for more than four years, I had my fair share of cultural disconnects. Like when a man invited me out for dinner with all his friends a number of times and I learned—weeks and one very awkward situation later—that we were, in fact, dating. Or when my host family invited me over for dinners and I brought them gifts, they got very close to offended because they felt that true friends and family wouldn’t be so formal as to bring gifts. 

Navigating the waters of cross-cultural communication are choppy, confusing and either really funny or really offensive. But when you’re doing so in the context of a business, you really want to avoid being the unknowing offender. 

So if you have any clients, contacts or contractors outside of your home market, how do you maintain a positive relationship with them? It’s not a one-size-fits-all answer, but here are some considerations to get you started.

Educate yourself

The most important thing to note is that cross-cultural communication is far more than knowing what the local holidays are and adjusting your spelling for location (though those things are important). What it really comes down to is being willed to listen and learn. People are generally forgiving and tolerant, but if they think you’re not even trying to learn about them and their context, they’ll be understandably less so. 

So approach all international communications from a place of understanding and respect. Diplomacy is an art, and you have to be willing to put yourself out there and learn from your mistakes.

Speak to people differently

Even if your customers speak English natively, you’re going to have to speak (or write) to them differently if you want to really connect with them. This may involve adding or deleting letters (like “colour” instead of “color”) but more importantly, you’ll need to watch your slang and colloquialisms.

In your email, phone and in-person conversations, you’ll want to cut out idiomatic expressions, because their meaning could be totally lost on your counterpart, or you could be inadvertently using a word that actually means something else (or worse, something offensive) in their country.

Talk to people differently

You’ll need to moderate not just your words, but also your tone of voice. Especially if you’re naturally more boisterous or very reserved, you’ll need to find a happy medium, since many people may perceive overt emotion as intimidating or gauche, or extreme reserve as cold and removed. 

Find a tone that’s in your natural range and ever so slightly cheerful and stay within that range for the entirety of your conversation. 

Understand their time

Time zones: Live them, love them, post them on your wall, set different clocks on your phone, and then make sure that any applicable webinars, support or communication channels are available to overseas clients during their daytime hours.

As someone who routinely dealt with 15-hour time differences, I understand the frustrations of trying to call U.S.-based customer service from China at midnight or later. Your customers or clients will not appreciate having to do the same thing, so while it might not be easy for your small business, you have to give your international clients some way to have a conversation with you during your customers’ normal waking hours.

You’ll also want to be well versed on local holidays, but not so you can send out holiday messages and offers. In fact, you should be very, very careful in regard to holidays; our international team recommends that you avoid them altogether if you don’t understand all the nuances that come with the holiday (and its resulting message) or if you don’t practice it yourself. Not understanding nuances or context around certain holidays can lead to huge gaffes which are hard to recover from.

You do want to know about local holidays so you can know if you’ll be facing delays. For example, take Chinese New Year. If you have any clients or contractors in China, you’ll probably know that the whole country has essentially shut down for the next five or six days, so the chances that you’ll be able to reach anyone there for any reason are all but nonexistent. 

Understand their seasons

Consider this your friendly reminder that Christmas does not fall during the winter for many people—the whole Southern hemisphere, to be exact. Infusionsoft by Keap learned this lesson the hard way.

We once held a promotion called Own Your Summer, which fell during summer in North America, but we promoted it to all our customers—which included our substantial base in Australia. The promotion didn’t resonate for them, and for good reason: It showed them that we overlooked basic science and forgot that it wasn’t summer for them. And makes it seem like we hadn’t considered them as we should have, which, to be fair, we didn’t. You can bet we won’t be making that mistake again.

Tailor their emails

If you use Infusionsoft by Keap, you can schedule emails for each contact’s time zone instead of sending everyone the same email when it’s 8 a.m. for you, but not necessarily for them.

That way, you don’t have to worry about creating multiple international versions of your communications or about sending the wrong communications to the wrong people. 

Give gifts they can use

If you’re promoting a giveaway or prizes or meeting them in person and exchanging gifts, you need to consider what they can use. Let’s say you’re based in the U.S. and giving away a TV and a person in the U.K. wins it. Well, plugs look different on either side of the pond, and voltages vary, so if you send over an American TV, all it will be for them is a large flat dust collector. 

Food is a popular gift, but you’ll also want to be super cognizant of customs and border control. Bottles of alcohol are often subject to limits and taxes, and most fresh foods like fruits, vegetables, cheese and more are often banned completely, whether you’re sending the food via postal service or taking it on a plane with you.

Tailor what they see

If you have products for sale online but certain products that aren’t available globally, make sure that people entering your site no matter where they are only see the products they can actually buy and receive. There’s nothing more frustrating than finding what you want or need and seeing that it’s not available in your country, and you don’t want that frustration associated with your brand.

It’s also a good idea to test any images you want to use on your site with a small group of your target audience. Because images can have such varying connotations in difficult cultures, you want to know how they’ll resonate with your target audience before you put them out there.

Don’t pretend you know everything to save face—do what you can to learn everything you can and then test it with your target. And again, the most important part of successfully navigating international relationships is to always come from a place of respect and acceptance. The rest will follow as you learn.

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If you’re looking to enter the international business, keep in mind that the majority of global roles prefer or require an advanced degree. According to a 2017 report from Burning Glass Labor Insight, 57 percent of employers prefer or require a graduate degree for positions within international relations.

A graduate degree, therefore, may be the best path to advance your career, whether you’re looking to earn a promotion, boost your income, enhance your professional network, or change careers. If you’re considering a career in international business, here are seven popular roles an advanced global studies or international business degree can provide.

In-Demand International Business Careers 

1. Management Analyst

2017 Median Pay: $82,450
Estimated Job Growth through 2026: 14 percent

Management analysts, also known as consultants, create new ways of improving an organization’s efficiency. They advise upper management on how to enhance company performance by solving organizational problems, such as evaluating a new market expansion program or adapting to a different operations strategy.

In particular, global analysts help companies find solutions to issues regarding foreign markets. They work with companies on specific projects within a wide range of areas on a global scale, including management, market research, corporate strategy, finance, and information technology.

An international analyst’s responsibilities may also involve:

• Gathering and analyzing company data, such as revenue, expenditure, and employment reports, across international divisions
• Determining how to lower company overhead, such as supply expenses, financial expenditures, and global staffing
• Interviewing management overseas to determine the best methods and resources needed to resolve company issues on an international scale
• Recommending new systems, practices, and organizational changes to be implemented within each global office
• Working with managers to ensure that changes are being implemented effectively

Analysts work in both the public and private sector, including the government, nonprofits, small and medium-sized businesses, and large corporations. They may be freelancers or employed by consulting agencies. The largest international consultancies, such as Deloitte and PricewaterhouseCoopers, boast hundreds of thousands of employees.

“Consultants have to look at problems from a wide range of perspectives,” Marcus says. “They access issues objectively and distill facts by being able to analyze problems and trying to understand the root cause. They also need to have strong interpersonal skills, as consulting is as much about the analytical work as it is about building relationships.”

2. Marketing Manager

2017 Median Pay: $129,380
Estimated Job Growth through 2026: 10 percent

Marketing managers must balance a competitive business strategy with a creative vision. They often work with art directors, sales executives, product developers, public relations managers, and other employees to create engaging marketing campaigns.

In addition, international marketing managers are responsible for increasing global sales. They must be aware of global market trends and develop products that meet demand worldwide.

Global marketing managers’ duties also include:

• Overseeing budgets, contracts, marketing plans, and advertising media with management and team members across international markets
• Planning marketing campaigns to reach target markets, including specific age, gender, income, and education demographics, based on global needs
• Initiating market research and analyzing findings to determine customer opportunities
• Examining the international demand for company products and services while studying what their competition offers
• Developing pricing strategies for a company’s products or services
• Ensuring consistent brand tone and messaging across all platforms
• Leading content generation and production across digital and print media

3. Executive

2017 Median Pay: $104,700
Estimated Job Growth through 2026: 8 percent

Executives plan organizational strategies that align with their company’s mission while managing employees and resources, with global executives overseeing company goals, policies, and procedures across international divisions. Their responsibilities may include:

• Directing operational activities to create in-demand global products and services
• Discussing company performance with other executives, staff, and board members worldwide
• Negotiating and signing off on contractual agreements
• Assigning department heads and managers overseas
• Analyzing company reports, including financial and sales data
• Identifying areas to reduce costs, increase revenue, and improve company performance

Executives can include chief executive officers, chief operating officers, and general managers, whose responsibilities vary based on the size of their company. In general, the larger the company, the broader the executive’s responsibilities. They can be found in every industry, including education, project management, and data analytics.

Executives need strong decision-making, management, and problem-solving skills to handle their organization’s needs. As company leaders, executives are effective multi-taskers, managing numerous projects while making sure their work is completed under deadline.

4. Human Resources Manager

2017 Median Pay: $110,120
Estimated Job Growth through 2026: 9 percent

Human resources managers recruit and hire employees, discuss organizational objectives with executives, and serve as a liaison between top management and employees.

International HR managers manage workforce diversity, legal restrictions, and the relationship between training and professional development on a global scale. They align legal compliance with labor and tax laws worldwide. In addition, an international HR manager’s duties comprise of:

• Aligning management with its employees to support global organizational development and culture
• Coordinating and directing employee benefits programs across foreign divisions
• Working with other managers on sensitive HR issues in accordance with national laws, such as equal employment opportunity
• Handling staffing issues, including disciplinary action, productivity, training, compliance, payroll, and outsourcing
• Supervising international contractors, support staff, and employees
• Overseeing company retention procedures and ensuring a supportive, collaborative company culture

HR managers also enhance their company’s efficiency by identifying ways to keep employees motivated. For example, they might notice a decline in a department’s productivity and, as a result, recommend several strategies to keep employees motivated in order to maintain employee happiness and performance.

5. Financial Analyst

2017 Median Pay: $84,300
Estimated Job Growth through 2026: 11 percent

Financial analysts produce reports, guide investment activities, and develop strategic planning to support the long-term financial goals of a company. They combine the technical and communication skills needed to enhance their organization’s bottom line.

As investing becomes more international, global organizations want financial analysts who understand the region’s language, culture, environment, and political background. International analysts must understand how global currencies, diplomacy, and worldwide stock exchanges affect their company’s bottom line.

Global financial analysts may also focus on:

• Recommending foreign investments and portfolios
• Analyzing current and historical financial data to determine global market trends
• Studying international economic and business patterns
• Examining their organization’s financial records across global divisions
• Preparing financial reports and presentations to review with management
• Evaluating their company’s financial decisions to help enhance company performance
• Listening to and understanding their clients’ needs, effectively communicating their recommendations to enhance client outcomes.

Financial analysts typically focus on patterns affecting a specific industry, geographical area, or particular product. For example, an analyst may focus on the healthcare industry, a region such as the United Kingdom, or the foreign stock exchange. They understand how different regulations, policies, and political and economic trends can influence individual investments and portfolios.

6. Economist

2017 Median Pay: $102,490
Estimated Job Growth through 2026: 6 percent

Economists study the production and circulation of resources, goods, and services by analyzing data, developing theories, and evaluating economic issues. They work in a variety of fields, including education, development, and healthcare.

International economists analyze global issues, such as international consumer demand for certain products or services, to help increase a company’s profits. Some economists may work for research institutes, while others work for major international organizations, such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and United Nations.  Many economists work for federal, state, and local governments, analyzing data about their country’s economy, including employment, pricing, productivity, wages, and other types of national data.

Global economists’ responsibilities also include:

• Conducting surveys and examining international data using statistical analysis, database management programs, and other complex mathematical tools
• Studying and forecasting global market trends
• Creating reports, tables, and charts representing their findings
• Designing policies and making recommendations to solve economic issues worldwide

Economists project spending needs and notify policymakers on the economic impact of current laws and regulations. Given their significance, economists’ findings are frequently published in newspapers and journal articles.

7. Policy Analyst

Median Pay: $115,110
Number of Jobs in 2016: 7,300

Policy analysts study complex problems and recommend solutions for a wide range of political issues, from homeland security to healthcare and environmental policy. They examine governments, political trends, legal systems, and other related issues, and their research helps inform public policy.

Global policy analysts typically focusonn one or more areas pertaining to international relations, such as international trade, global business policies, national defense, international economics, and foreign law. Their duties include:

• Evaluating outcomes related to proposed regulations, legislation, or resources on a global scale
• Monitoring international events and policy decisions
• Developing and testing theories using statistical analysis and other tools
• Gathering and examining data from various sources, such as election results and public opinion surveys
• Identifying key trends, policies, and strategies worldwide

In addition, analysts must have strong written, public speaking, and interpersonal skills. They can work for governmental agencies or multinational corporations, often writing reports, publishing articles, and giving presentations to government officials and business executives.

From consultant to marketing manager to economist, professionals who enter international business open themselves up to roles shaping organizational strategy, directing global policy, and managing corporations.

“There are a number of different paths people can take,” Marcus says. “Find a career based on what resonates with you, what matches your skill set, and what you excel at.”

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1. It’s unavoidable: business is going international.

Most Fortune 500 companies have operations all around the world – all of them have international customers. In a survey conducted by USForex, about 58% of small businesses already had international customers, with 72% planning on growing their customer base in the coming years.

2. Going international greatly benefits any business.

Some of the benefits of business going international are:

1. broadening a customer base,
2. seeing a significant increase in revenues,
3. having a longer product lifespan,
4. benefiting from currency exchange fluctuations, and
5. gaining access to a greater talent pool from which you can employ.

By specializing in international business, you’ll play a critical role in the exciting journey of expansion for a company.

3. You’ll have a competitive edge over other prospects.

Working across countries and cultures is a necessity for the survival of most organizations. Whether you dream of working abroad or working in an organization that is engaged in business on a global scale, having an international perspective to business gives you a competitive edge in today’s workforce. These skills and business knowledge aren’t only necessary for senior managers, but employees on all levels and from every department.

International business education is growing and offered at the undergraduate and graduate levels. For example, at FIU the 12-month Master of International Business program tackles topics including:

1. The fundamentals of international business and why it exists
2. International trade
3. Foreign investments
4. Political order and relations
5. Foreign policy
6. Sociology
7. Management
8. Global start-ups
9. International strategy and business model formulation

This curriculum prepares you to take on a key role in a business that will compete in the global business arena. You’ll work on improving performance while managing the ever-changing challenges of global markets.

4. International business programs prepare you to pursue lucrative roles with a high-paying salary.

There are a variety of careers that need an internationally-focused education: trading specialists, policy advisors, business analysts, and others. These roles report an average annual salary ranging from $80,000 to $125,000.

5. You’ll have the option of traveling all around the world.

Your interest in international business will take you around the world — from your studies to your new roles at work. Studying abroad is common among international business programs to prepare you to work with different cultures and leadership styles. After that, depending on the career you pursue, you’ll find yourself with the ability to travel to Europe, Latin America, Asia, and other regions around the world for business.

Key takeaways

International education can open doors to exciting and new opportunities that are otherwise harder to achieve with regular business education. You’ll be an asset to any company in any industry, providing much-needed knowledge and skills to take a business to another level. The higher salary isn’t the only great return on investment, but so is the ability to travel and interact with people from different parts of the world. 

If you’re considering earning a Master of International Business degree, join us for an information session online or in person.

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In today’s interconnected society it is essential to understand the world in an international context. Increasingly companies are looking for graduates who can solve cross-cultural problems and think on a global scale. With a degree in international business, you can follow a career in international management, finance, trade or a multinational company. 

What is International Business Administration?

International Business Administration focuses on key business disciplines within an international context. Introducing the foundations of finance, marketing, supply chains, human resources and operations, International Business Administration covers the needs of all businesses. 

“If you study a business programme, it’s always from the company’s perspective. You’re interested in surviving, gaining market access, beating your competitors and making a profit in the long-run”, explains Adri Meijdam MA, Executive Director for IBA at Erasmus University Rotterdam.

This degree develops a broad range of transferable skills, from research and planning to presenting and reporting, and prepares you for international management or consulting roles. 

Why study International Business Administration?

There are many benefits of studying International Business Administration: 

1. Gain an international perspective

You will study global challenges companies face, looking at international boundaries, trade, global economics and how to negotiate with diverse cultures. This approach to problem solving will broaden your world view and help you understand different perspectives. IBA is a popular degree among international students so even during your studies you will gain valuable experience of working with people from all over the world.  

2. Develop key management skills

Studying an international business administration degree involves working on individual and group projects, writing reports and presenting your ideas. You will develop essential management skills, such as:

• leadership
• strategic thinking
• communication 
• delegation
• problem solving
• decision making 
• organisation 
• presenting 
• reporting.

3. Boost your employability

International Business Administration is a broad degree and introduces you to a range of skills that employers are looking for. As you progress through your degree programme you will begin to shape your course and specialise in the business functions you are most interested in. IBA graduates can look forward to a wide range of job opportunities in management, marketing, accounting, corporate finance, consultancy or even human resources.

4. Solve commercial challenges

Study business administration and you will analyze global and local business challenges and find strategic solutions. Through researching international markets and negotiating with other cultures and countries, you will develop the skills needed to follow a career in consultancy or management for a multinational company.

5. Build your business knowledge

How to manage diverse teams, improve financial performance, research international competitors and redesign business processes are just some examples of what you’ll learn during an IBA. This core knowledge is essential to the running of any business, and you will further develop your skills through elective modules in key areas.

Degree preparation

The International Foundation Year in Business, Economics, and Social Sciences will prepare you for studying IBA at one of our partner universities in Holland. Find out about modules, assessments, term dates, and degrees you can progress to after this course.Explore pathway

Why study IBA in Holland?

International community 

Holland is a popular choice for international students, with 100,000 choosing to study here every year. For IBA students, the international classroom is a familiar environment and courses are designed to develop cross-cultural skills. Working in multicultural teams and listening to diverse opinions is ideal preparation for the world of work. 

Degrees taught in English

Dutch universities offer degrees taught in English so there are plenty of options for students interested in studying abroad. Universities also have strong industry connections, giving you the opportunity to work with real businesses and develop transferable skills. For example, IBA at Erasmus University Rotterdam puts theory into practice as students analyse an existing company and write and present a business plan.

Exchanges around the world

Many universities offer international exchanges or a semester abroad after the first two years of your degree. For example, International Business Administration at Tilburg University gives students the choice of international destinations such as Hong Kong, Australia, and Italy. At Tilburg, students also benefit from one of the biggest annual recruitment events in Holland – Business weeks Tilburg – linking students to multinational companies. 

International exchanges provide an ideal opportunity for you to experience another culture during your studies and impress future employers. If you want to study IBA in Amsterdam, VU Amsterdam offers students the chance to spend a semester at one of their partner universities, such as University of Sydney, University of Leeds or University of Illinois. 

Build your business network 

University is the perfect place to start building your business network. You will be learning from lecturers with experience in their fields, make valuable connections during internships and meet classmates who have ambitions for high-flying careers. Be sure to make the most of career services on campus where experienced advisors can guide you on your career direction.  Look out for networking opportunities such as the Business Experience Days at VU Amsterdam where companies deliver presentations and workshops for students.

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