Spring 2008 Issue - NIU College of Business - Northern Illinois ...

Cover Focus | The World According to...the “Ultimate Gated Community.” This moniker no doubt reflects the area’s numerous surrounding armedcheckpoints, coils of razor wire, chain link fences, and concrete “t-walls” (heavily reinforced and blast-proofconcrete slabs).When asked of her most powerful memory in Iraq, Schoenholz said, “Of course there were some scarymoments during my tenure in Iraq, but what I remember the most are the people. The intense work andliving environment fostered such camaraderie that you developed a sense of family with your coworkers,who were from all over the world. What continuallyamazed me were the Iraqis with whom I worked.On Traveling and Lessons Learned Every day, they risked their lives; if others foundout they were working for Americans, they ortheir families were killed. You were always worriedwhen someone didn’t show up for work.”“You learn so much about theplace and the people, but you alsolearn a lot about yourself.Working in a war zone is not usually at theA smile is universal. top of a business professional’s wish-list. ForSchoenholz, her career aspirations alwaysShowing respect towardcentered on working with organizations whosethe people and the culturemissions included making a meaningful differenceas well as an openness to learn is in the world at large. In this, Schoenholz remainedalways well received. undeterred, even after the rather extraordinaryEvery experience is what you conditions in Iraq. Upon completing herassignment in Iraq, Schoenholz ended her tenuremake of it . . .you can see the goodwith USAID to begin new employment. In Mayor the bad in anything. Some of the2007, she was hired by the United Nations, wherepoorest people in the world Schoenholz is one of only a few American womenare the most giving.” to be employed.~ Kendra SchoenholzToday, Schoenholz finds herself in a completelydifferent world than the one she experienced inthe Middle East. She traded in the razor coils and“t-walls” of Iraq for the windmills and dikes of the Netherlands. Traveling remains the constant thread, withSchoenholz visiting various parts of the world in her role as U.N. auditor. But where those travels may takeSchoenholz beyond the U.N. is yet to be seen.One thing, though, has already come to pass. Schoenholz has, indeed, achieved her high school goal ofsetting foot on all seven continents.~ Michelle De JeanNIU Business 2008 | 23