When in France, Dont Forget to Stop and Smell the Baguettes

Alumna Kayleigh Nauman shares an international mantra for everyday life. 

By UWAA Staff 

Having a profession that encompasses foreign and U.S. domestic policy is the perfect combination for UW alumna Kayleigh Nauman of Laramie. “If I could have written a job description of what I would do when I left undergrad at UW, my current job would have been really close,” Nauman says.

As an intellectual property attaché and a policy adviser for the British Embassy, Nauman represents the United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office and serves on the trade and agriculture policy team at the British Embassy. She focuses on preparing for the intellectual property chapter of a U.K.-U.S. free-trade agreement. Part of her international path was paved through her academic achievements and studies at UW. She was in the Honors Program and in 2011 earned a bachelor’s in international studies with a double minor in French and Spanish.

Asked about the most valuable thing that she got from her academic involvements on campus, Nauman says that, in addition to her major, she also focused on Europe and the former Soviet Union.

“I was actually very well placed for my current position in that I already have a really good understanding of how the British government just works in and of itself,” Nauman says.

Nauman took her academic experience to the next level through the university’s education abroad program, which took her to China, South Korea, France and Spain. She says that it was one of the scariest things to do. She knew French and Spanish pretty well, but definitely didn't know Chinese, Korean or the culture. But she gained an amazing experience, which played a valuable role in her journey to her current role as an intellectual property attaché.

“My international experience gave me the ability to write materials that are compelling to all,” Nauman says. “Being from Wyoming gave me a leg up, because often those sorts of programs in schools are looking for regionally diverse people.”

Her international travels and academic experiences were greatly supported by professors Tom Seitz Stephanie Anderson from UW’s Department of Political Science. Nauman expresses her gratitude to Anderson as a “woman of not only incredible wealth of knowledge but incredibly supportive academically.”

Anderson has extended her support with job hunts, scholarship resources and future career goal insights.

After graduation, when Nauman moved to Washington, D.C., she was surprised at the networking and connections she quickly made from mutual ties to UW, which Nauman says were crucial when job hunting and for emotional support. When she applied to be an intern at the U.S. House of Representatives, a connection from a UW Spanish class recommended her for the job, which she ended up getting.

As she reflects on the beginning of her journey, she says, “For every yes I have gotten, I have at least had 50 nos. I had to be fearless in putting myself out there.” In moments of doubt and uncertainty, Nauman always reflects on something her mother said to her when she was in France studying abroad: “Are you stopping to smell the baguettes?” It’s a positive comment that reminds her during times of uncertainty to take a moment to appreciate where you are and what you have accomplished.

One piece of advice that Nauman has for the future graduates is to explore life outside the state, even if you plan to return to live and work in Wyoming.

Although leaving Wyoming can seem intimidating, she would not have received her global perspective if she had not studied abroad and moved to D.C. “We need people with perspective backgrounds like mine in D.C. helping governance,” Nauman says. “We need people of different ethnicities, of different political affiliations and definitely people who have grown up in areas where it is so difficult to feel like you're connected to the rest of the world.”

Nauman’s story is powerful for many reasons and showcases the endless possibilities that future UW graduates have. Her story truly reminds us of all the ups and downs but overall about persistence and appreciating your accomplishments and what is possible through dedication.