Kimberly Gilbert

❍ Field of current or former occupation: Consulting
❍ Email: [email protected]

Question: What is your current occupation and where do you live? Please briefly describe your duties and responsibilities. How long have you been at this position?

Kimberly Gilbert: I live in London and am the Training & Development Director at a consultancy called The Future Factory. We help marketing and advertising agencies grow their businesses. I am responsible for the ongoing training and development of our team of 30 staff, as well as for organising external training for agencies that need guidance on business development. I have been in this position for 4 years.

Question: Did studying German language and culture at Williams College help you in your professional and personal development? If yes, then how were German Studies useful to you? What opportunities and challenges did the German major open up for you both specific to your current occupation and more generally?

Kimberly Gilbert: The answer is a resounding yes! Studying German at Williams is one of the best decisions I ever made and I am truly thankful for the opportunity to have learnt from such talented people. Professor Druxes was one of the first professors I had at Williams. She opened my eyes to novels and films I never would have otherwise read or seen, and her class were some of my favorite. Professor Kieffer was kind enough to help me with my application for studying abroad and wisely encouraged me to go to Berlin instead of Heidelberg (arguably the most fun, albeit naughty, year of my life). Professor Newman instilled in me her love of Austria (its culture, history, and cute dialect). She inspired me to do the Fulbright in Vienna, which was without a doubt the happiest time of my life and where I met some of my closest friends.
The Fulbright was for teaching English at two Austrian secondary schools. I feel my experiences learning German made me better-equipped to help the students there, as I could empathize with them and because I understood how difficult it can be to learn a second language. In addition, without the invaluable skills I gained through being in the classroom, I probably wouldn’t be doing the job I am today.
I studied German in school but it was only through studying German at Williams that I achieved the level of fluency I had always wanted. Studying German boosted my confidence and was my ticket out of the States so to speak. Without the support of my professors, who fostered my love of the language, I might never have lived abroad in Germany and Austria.
Studying German made me more open-minded, curious, and eager to experience new things. Living abroad made me more independent and resilient, attributes which have come in handy every step of my professional career.

Question: Please share your advice or recommendation about the German department at Williams to a prospective student who is considering taking courses or majoring in our program.

Kimberly Gilbert: Just do it! You won’t regret it (see above). I did a double major (German and History), which was great because speaking German meant I was able to use almost entirely German sources when doing my final year History dissertation.

Question: Would you be willing to serve as a contact person for current students of German about your career or life path? If so, how should students contact you?

Kimberly Gilbert: Absolutely, I’d be happy to help. Students should feel free to email me on [email protected]