This past spring, Ainsley Miller studied abroad in Italy, where she concurrently completed the Open Mindset Project. The structured online course and personalized mentorship program gave her the perfect opportunity to learn about and put a global mindset into practice, transforming knowledge into experience.  

At first, Ainsley felt overwhelmed and unsure of herself when it came to navigating cultural differences and day-to-day interactions. But as she completed the Open Mindset lessons and met with her mentor, Tracey Gibbons, Ainsley noticed a shift. “I began to approach the uncertainty with curiosity instead of comparison and frustration,” Ainsley said, “I became more excited about understanding why people approached things differently and the values and history that shaped those perspectives.” 

Ainsley is a rising senior at Michigan State University, majoring in finance and serving on the executive board of Gamma Iota Sigma, an insurance and risk management professional fraternity on campus. Her mentor – also known as a Global Guru –  Tracey Gibbons, knows that sector well. Tracey is the former Global Head of Strategic Development and Head of QBE Re Bermuda. Tracey’s career in reinsurance included managing large multi-country policies, which required a strong understanding of both the risk exposures and cultural business practices specific to each market.

When Tracey started her career in the insurance business in London, there were no senior women in the industry or female role models. Women had only been allowed into the Lloyd’s of London building nine years before. Her male colleagues benefited from mentoring and championing early in their careers, and Tracey knew that once she reached a senior position, she wanted to become the mentor she never had. Learning from Tracey’s lived experience gave Ainsley personalized and practical global insight that she couldn’t have gotten from a classroom. 

During a discussion on how to work with people who don't share a global mindset, Tracey gave Ainsley an exercise to seek out different news sources than the ones she normally used. Ainsley already considered herself open-minded, but took Tracey’s advice to reconsider and expand her perspective. By their next meeting, Tracey saw that Ainsley had developed a better understanding of how people who don’t look beyond their immediate environment or familiar information sources can become polarized. The exercise made Ainsley more empathetic toward people who see the world differently and increased her willingness to engage with them. It taught Ainsley that a global mindset wasn’t a destination, but a continuous journey of curiosity and openness.

Tracey and the Open Mindset Project taught Ainsley the value of intentionally approaching different backgrounds and perspectives. Ainsley’s career goal is to lead a team of professionals with diverse experiences and skill sets. Through the program, she learned that cross-cultural communication and relationship-building are essential career skills. Ainsley sees these lessons shaping her leadership style to focus on bringing together different strengths into effective collaborations. Her advice to future Open Mindset students? “Take advantage of every opportunity to connect with your mentor because they're the most valuable part of the program.”

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