Meet IDP's New Vietnam Business Development Manager

IDP Education's team in Vietnam has hired an American to serve as their business development manager. Located in Ho Chi Minh City, Allison Tursack is already implementing new strategies that will lead IDP forward.

To help you get acquainted with Allison, a brief Q&A is provided below. You can reach her at allison.tursack@idp.com.

What has been your most memorable moment at IDP?
Well, I hadn’t started working for IDP, yet. But it was the first time I walked into the IDP office in February for the U.S. Mini Fair. One of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Briefly describe your role.
I handle business relations and manage the marketing activities for IDP and our partners within Vietnam.

What’s the best part of your job?
Seeing all my and my team’s hard work reflected in the success of our events, seminars and exhibition.

If you didn’t work in international education, what other field would attract you? Why?
Hotels or Event Planning. When I was still living in the United States, I worked for InterContinental. I really enjoy the quick pace and energy of hotels. There’s always something going on, and you can have guests and clients from all over the world. It never gets boring in that atmosphere.

Do you have an unfilled, burning ambition?
I’m an adrenaline junkie. There’s always an unfilled burning ambition! Right now I’m training for the Vietnam Triathlon in Hoi An this September. Who knows what’ll be next…

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
My memories of my childhood family vacations. Every year we would travel to the beach for a week – it was nothing extravagant, but everyone on my mother’s side of the family would come. It was definitely a week I would look forward to all year long.

Have you ever lived (or traveled) abroad? If so, where have you been?
Well, I’m from the United States. I’ve also lived in Germany for a little over a year, and from there it’s been Vietnam. Along the journey I believe I’ve traveled to 17 different countries.

Where is your favorite place on earth – and why?
My bed. Where ever I go and whatever I do, the one place I will always start to long for is my own bed.

What do you feel passionate about?
Education and Travel. I feel the two are very similar, which is why I love this career so much. It may not always be about what you learn in the classroom, but putting yourself into another culture and another person’s way of life, that is real education.

Who or what inspires you?
My mother. She was the most amazing woman I knew. I strive to be like her everyday.

How do you relax?
A good book – and I’ll love recommendations!

With whom would you most like to have a five-minute chat?
Obama. I’m not sure if 5 minutes would really be enough, but with everything that man has done, experienced and seen at such a young age. I would really like to get his take on the world (and the U.S. economy).

What is your motto?
“Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” I love Ralph Waldo Emerson.