Balancing a full-time job with full-time college coursework is not easy. For Hannah Smallhouse, it has become a way of life and a reflection of persistence and purpose through the international business major at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Originally from a ranching family in southeast Arizona, Smallhouse will graduate in May with majors in international business, global studies and Spanish. She also works full-time as director of grassroots engagement at the Nebraska Farm Bureau. In her role, she manages communication strategy, builds relationships across the state and frequently travels to meet with industry professionals.
“My coursework in international business taught me to see every challenge from multiple angles,” she said. “It prepared me for a career that blends global strategy, innovation and cross-cultural collaboration. Every day I’m solving problems, making connections and using what I’ve learned.”
Smallhouse previously worked for the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, where she helped coordinate international trade missions and created recruitment materials for companies considering expansion into the state. She credits her internship experience with NDED for introducing her to economic development and providing the hands-on experience that led to a full-time role.
"What’s powerful about the international business major is that it prepares students to have a global impact, whether they’re working across borders or in their own communities,” said Richard Fishler, academic advisor and coordinator of the International Business Program. “I remember Hannah saying how something she first learned in class, like the importance of business card etiquette in Japan, became a real-world lesson during her internship.”
At the Midwest Japan Conference for her NDED internship, Smallhouse networked with executives from Mitsubishi, Toyota and other global companies. She quickly realized she had arrived without business cards, a significant oversight in Japanese business culture. Drawing on what she had learned in an international management course, she recognized the mistake, ordered business cards during a break and used them for the remainder of the trip.
“That experience reminded me how important it is to trust what you’ve learned and to be prepared,” she said. “The international etiquette and cultural frameworks I studied are tools I now use every day. This global lens pushed me to consider different perspectives and values in every business situation.”
While many students study abroad for a semester, Smallhouse spent nine months in Seville, Spain, from fall 2023 to spring 2024. She studied international management, marketing and entrepreneurship in Spanish and visited 18 countries, further expanding her intercultural awareness and communication skills.
She describes the experience as transformational. Through classes taught by professionals in the Spanish market and conversations with entrepreneurs at a local startup think tank, she gained a deeper understanding of international business.
“I built a business plan based on a real opportunity tied to my family’s property,” she said. “That kind of immersion didn’t just build my résumé. It shaped how I think.”
Her time abroad brought those lessons into sharper focus. Fishler said it was the kind of immersive learning experience the international business program is designed to deliver.
“The study abroad requirement is central to helping students develop a global mindset,” he said. “While one semester is required, Hannah went above and beyond by spending a full academic year in Spain. She pushed herself outside her comfort zone, deepened her language skills and built lasting connections.”
Working full-time since starting college, she also managed a full academic course load.
“I’ve worked anywhere from 30 to 60 hours a week throughout college. It’s not a schedule I’d necessarily recommend, but it became my reality early on,” she said.
She said setting routines, establishing boundaries and prioritizing mental health helped her stay focused. Her strategies include carving out time each week for rest or time with friends and setting aside one meal a day without screens.
“In a demanding schedule, your mind, body and relationships are what allow you to show up fully,” she said. “Otherwise, the work loses its meaning.”
As she prepares to graduate, Smallhouse encourages future students to choose a path that broadens their thinking. She said the international business major offers practical tools and a valuable global perspective.
“As AI becomes more common, the ability to memorize facts is less valuable than the ability to think critically and globally,” she said. “International business trains you in that mindset.”
