From Harrisonburg to Antwerp: Alumnae live and work abroad

Behind every successful experience or adventure is a person with great courage, boldness and curiosity. Taylor Holmes (’17) and Keri Byrne (’15) took on global experiences, learning to embrace uncertainty, take risks and enjoy excitement along the way.

From studying abroad to working for Salesflare—a customer relationship management startup in Antwerp, Belgium—both women demonstrate the spirit of JMU and what it means to be ambitious, open-minded and energetic.

Originally from Warrenton, Virginia, Holmes graduated with a degree in marketing and a minor in communications. During her junior year, she studied abroad in Antwerp to complete the College of Business’ 12-credit centerpiece course, COB 300. Although she’d never been to Europe, Holmes felt drawn to the program and she gained a deeper understanding of business from her experience.

Holmes returned to JMU looking for new ways to immerse herself abroad. After attending the Grad Fair, she learned about JMU’s Antwerp Management School and applied on a whim.

She was accepted. “I felt like there was more for me and I knew I had to do it,” she said. “The program was one year compared to just a few months of study abroad, so I knew it would get me out of my comfort zone. It was the best decision I could have made and was exactly what I was looking for in terms of global exposure.”

Holmes earned her Master of Global Management degree in May 2019. “The program gave me an amazing opportunity to study with people from all over the world,” she said, “and I learned so much about business.” 

The language barrier with potential employers during her job search abroad proved challenging, and after graduating, Holmes returned to the U.S. Still enchanted with Antwerp, she hoped to return to the city she loved while doing meaningful work. Her dreams became a reality after she reached out to Byrne, a complete stranger, on LinkedIn.

Originally from Darien, Connecticut, Byrne graduated with a degree in international business and a minor in Spanish. Like Holmes, Byrne studied abroad as an undergraduate, completing a semester in Salamanca, Spain, in 2014. She also attended Antwerp Management School after leaving JMU, earning a Master of Innovation and Entrepreneurship degree in 2016. In November 2017, she began her current role as partnerships manager with Salesflare.

Noticing shared educational experiences, Holmes messaged Byrne to ask about her role with Salesflare and for tips on navigating the job search with language barriers. Just as Dukes always help Dukes, Byrne responded to share her experience and mentioned an open position within her company. Holmes eagerly applied, interviewed and accepted the job as client relationships manager with Salesflare.

“Everyone at JMU knows the alumni network is strong,” Byrne said.

Holmes agreed. “JMU is such a community, even as an alum. It’s about holding doors open both in person and in a professional sense.” 

The adventures, connections and memories that students make as members of the JMU community are what they will carry with them for the rest of their adult lives. Beyond any classroom lecture, experiences and relationships gave Holmes and Byrne strong foundations for professional success.

Holmes said, “I was a [resident adviser] for a year while at JMU, and it taught me so much about relating to people and being someone’s go-to person for problem-solving,” Byrne said. “I learned so much about how to integrate myself into a community and learn from people, which I think is such an important thing to have.”

Both women continue using their Madison Experiences to shape their professional, personal and social lives.

“We have a JMU connection that is so strong. It has someone go from messaging me on LinkedIn as a total stranger to moving to Belgium and becoming my colleague,” Byrne said. While the future is not set in stone, their JMU spirit and passion for helping other Dukes remains stronger than ever.

As a way for Dukes to support other Dukes, especially during this difficult time, Salesflare is offering JMU alumni a 25% discount for three months on Customer Relationship Management products. To redeem this discount, visit support@salesflare.com.