The things that come to mind for those who know me are my positivity, signature smile, and talkativeness. I can proudly say that I inherited these traits from my father. Whether going through hard times or not, I always try to look at the positive side of any situation and help lift others’ moods. This character has helped me easily build relationships with friends, colleagues, and customers.
Another point that defines me is education. During my childhood, my parents heavily invested in my education. My mother was my tutor throughout primary school, and, later, my father always taught me that nothing is impossible and that everything can be overcome by dedicating the right amount of time to solving the issue. So, it comes as no surprise that, for me, life is a continuous cycle of learning. After high school, I earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a master’s in mining and petroleum. Now I’m pursuing my MBA. We should never stop learning.
Why an MBA?
Right from the beginning of my career in 2014, I had a clear vision of where I wanted to be in the next five, 10, and 15 years. After spending the first seven years in my company, I had gained some valuable competencies, but I was also missing some core skills, such as strategy, marketing, finance, and, most importantly, the problem-solving and critical thinking skills needed to be an accomplished leader who can lead during uncertainty. Doing an MBA was the right choice if I wanted to gain these skills in one place, in one go, with the added benefits of access to a global network and exploring new opportunities abroad.
The program’s impact
So far, I can clearly say that the program has had two main impacts on me. The first is my leadership style. IMD is famously known for its focus on leadership. Working with a cohort of 44 nationalities from all over the world forces you to be aware of team dynamics and consider sensitivity and cultural aspects. I have drastically improved my active listening, my confidence to lead, and how to win with the “care to dare” leadership style.
The second is the improvement of my critical thinking. When faced with a problem, don’t stop at the symptom. Always dive deep to ask the right questions. What amount of data is sufficient to solve this issue? What needs to be true for my assumption to hold? Through the many case studies we have had, I have learned to sharpen my critical thinking.
Any ‘a-ha’ moments?
My ‘a-ha’ moment was discovering the IMD Alumni network. Before IMD, I had heard how valuable top business school networks are, but what I experienced with the IMD Alumni was beyond my expectations. I was coached by two IMD alumni during my admission process to the MBA. During the program, I reached out to several alumni who gave me invaluable advice regarding my future career. And even recently, during the summer (July 2024), I was invited by an alumnus in Amsterdam, where I spent one week at his place with his family. I’m still amazed by how supportive the IMD Alumni network is.
