In addition to his work as an international business major, Bernard flourished as a Clifton Builder in the Clifton Strengths Institute by honing his entrepreneurial skills.
As an international business student at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Quincey Bernard spent his time jetting across the world for study abroad trips and honing his entrepreneurship skills. He did it all for one reason — to one day return to his hometown of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and give back to the country he loves by revitalizing and transforming Haiti’s economy.
“I want to do things for people back home. That’s the long-term plan,” Bernard said.
Bernard was inspired to study entrepreneurship by his parents. From humble beginnings, they went on to found their own successful company in Haiti 18 years ago.
“My mom is one of my role models, because no one helped her,” Bernard said. “You don’t start a company when you’re the lowest of the lowest class, which my parents were. So whenever she says something, I just take it in and listen.”
In addition to his work as an international business major, Bernard flourished as a Clifton Builder by honing his entrepreneurial skills.
Moving 2,000 miles away from home can be a big transition for any student, but Bernard wasn’t intimidated. He dove into his studies and was soon named an Allan Noddle International Business Distinguished Scholar. The honor allowed him to study abroad in Panama and help a company create a plan to export teakwood to the United States.
Bernard shares his entrepreneurship and innovation research as part of the International Business Summit, a two-day event celebrating the 30th anniversary of the international business major in 2018.
Two more summer study abroad experiences — in Spain for a business course and China for an internship at a sales company — helped round out Bernard’s global academic experiences.
Currently, Bernard works at TD Ameritrade as a financial services representative. He hopes to move back to Haiti and start his own business like his parents and also work in politics. He believes in the potential of his country and wants to share that message with the world, using the networking and entrepreneurship skills he learned while attending the College of Business.
“By 30, I would like to be the ambassador or a diplomat for Haiti,” Bernard said. “We have much more to offer. We’re a very wealthy country, with natural resources, gas and petroleum, and we’re a small country of 10 million people. We also have a unique indigenous background like no other country. I want to help my country move forward.”