How a Master of International Business prepared this alumna for ALDI’s District Manager program
Iara Dircie (BABA, BA ’18, MIB ’19) is a graduate of the Master of International Business (MIB) program. Today, she is in ALDI’s District Manager training program. Read our interview with Iara to see how her master’s degree prepared her for her career.
Q: Tell us something about yourself.
Dircie: “I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and moved to Miami, Florida at the age of four. I attended a magnet middle and high school for theater and competed on a jump rope team! I started my time at UF during the summer of 2015 as a political science major and soon picked up a double major in business management.”
Q: How did you decide to do the MIB program?
Dircie: “When I first met with my academic advisor at UF, I realized that I was on track to graduate in two years due to all of the college credits I acquired in high school. I wanted to find a way to enjoy my time in college for the full four years while continuing my education at an affordable price. Eventually, I came across the MIB program that combined my interests of international travel and business. After learning more about what the program entailed, I quickly decided to adapt my schedule so that I could apply for the MIB program and graduate with both of my undergraduate degrees and my master’s in just four years.”
Q: What are your best memories from the MIB program at Warrington?
Dircie: “During my final semester at UF, I traveled with the MIB program to Chile for the Global Immersion Experience (GIE). This trip was the perfect glimpse of what diverse international businesses looks like and how they operate on a global scale. Furthermore, I was able to meet a group of like-minded peers who are highly ambitious and interested in the same field as I am.”
Q: Please tell us about your career journey after graduation and how your business education helped you.
Dircie: “Towards the end of 2018, right as I was finishing up my undergraduate degrees, I was offered a job at the University of Florida Hillel as their Israel Engagement Coordinator. As a young adult dedicated to amplifying the voice of the Jewish community on campus, I was extremely honored to serve the community in this role that emphasized leadership, sales, recruitment strategizing and a great amount of international travel. I began working there in December of 2018 while completing my master’s and stayed there until April 2020 in order to pursue a more business-oriented career. Shortly thereafter, I joined the ALDI team as a District Manager in Training in Orlando, Florida. ALDI is a multibillion-dollar supermarket chain based in Germany that prides itself on their people first business model and top training program. What initially attracted me to ALDI was their expatriate opportunity that allows district managers to further their management skills in an international market for a couple years after they have excelled in their current position and local market.”
Dircie: “ALDI has a widely renowned and extensive 51-week long District Manager training program where employees essentially work their way up from Associate to District Manager in that short time frame. I started off my time with the business by learning how to stock shelves, ring out customers and maintain a cleanly store. As my training progressed, I began learning the daily tasks of shift managers, then store managers, and, in just a few weeks, I will be running my own ALDI store during the busy fourth quarter. The next portion of my training will include shadowing a fellow district manager and learning how to audit stores, recruit and hire personnel and motivate a diverse team of over 100 employees. Although I have just begun my journey with ALDI, I feel enthusiastic, challenged and motivated to see how I will grow within the business.”
Q: Life advice from a very successful Gator?
Dircie: “Don’t let the rejections get the best of you. Let every ‘no’ you receive fuel you and encourage you to become better. I have dealt with my fair share of rejections and could have easily given up and let that get the best of me. What made me stand apart from my peers was the fact that I analyzed my weaknesses and pushed myself to overcome them. It’s always ok to make a mistake, as long as you don’t make the same mistake twice.”
Q: Tell us three cool facts about yourself.
Dircie: “I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I am the eldest child and grandchild on both sides of my family. When I began my time at UF, I planned on attending law school and opening up my own firm.”
