Growth In Action: Insights from a DFL Graduate

Part of the Class of 2024, Katia Paraskiva is a professional who leveled up her toolkit by graduating from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJ)’s Master’s program in Nonprofit Management and Leadership. To celebrate her achievement, DFL conducted an interview with Katia near the end of 2024, catching up on her period of evolution and gaining insights on her unique experience as one of four DFL Scholars to attend the Hebrew University.

Tips on the Perfect Work-Study Balance 

Having joined the DFL family in 2023, Katia reported having worked through the majority of her program, holding a full-time 9-hour shift, 5-day a week job during her first year, and a different role in her final year. As a highly organized person, Katia was able to juggle the demands of work and school. She shared that her secret to maintaining balance is prioritization. “I like to keep my priorities straight, do the most important things first before moving on,” She shared during a call held with DFL. 

Katia Paraskiva, a 2024 graduate of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem on a DFL Scholarship.

She added that she would not have been able to pursue this academic opportunity without the flexibility of her managers. “I have to acknowledge the support and encouragement I got at work from my supervisors,” She noted, sharing that across both jobs, her superiors were incredibly supportive, offering Katia the chance to attend lectures and prioritize her learning journey. Keeping on top of her to-do lists ensured that she never fell behind and continued to thrive both in the office and in the classroom.

Gratitude for DFL and A Career Milestone

Katia expressed the quantifiable impact DFL’s Scholarship has had on her life. In addition to covering the cost of her studies, thanks to DFL, Katia shared that she was able to secure a better job.

Previously, she worked in a Human Resources role for over 3 years, but as a direct result of her newly secured Master’s, she has been able to land a role with the International Labour Organization (ILO), a UN agency with 187 member nations, dedicated to advancing socio-economic justice by setting international labour standards, reflecting a significant upgrade in her career trajectory.

“I know how special it is to get such a scholarship during this time. I feel very very lucky to have had DFL’s support,” She said, adding that the Hebrew University provided an excellent learning environment, as well as high-quality connections across their network of faculty and professional expertise.

Future Learning Goals and Advice

In her communications with DFL’s Executive Director, Jacklin Ibrahim, Katia has often shared her thoughts on working towards ways to contribute to her community locally, and to the cause of women’s empowerment in the Middle East. During her Master’s studies, DFL offered Katia and other scholars the chance to seek mentorship opportunities, connecting her to DFL’s board members whose depth of expertise and knowledge helped her gain insights on what’s possible in the future. Katia continues to look into new avenues for learning and expressed her intent to keep finding ways to grow and evolve.

In her closing remarks, Katia turned her attention to girls seeking opportunities like she had been, before securing her DFL Scholarship.

“This scholarship allowed me to dream bigger, and pushed my limits to a whole level,” She shared, “[To new scholars], don’t be confused and don’t hesitate because you’ll get all the support you need from DFL.”