1. How did your approach to the business world change during or after your MBA?

I see the business world through the eyes of an entrepreneur. It doesn't mean I have funded my startup (not yet 😊). Whenever I face a new problem, I feel the urge to challenge and tackle the situation to find value for the customer and the company.

2. How did your career path change after the MBA?

I am more aware of the business possibilities that lie ahead. I haven’t changed my job; however, I was able to change position in the company. I work in the retail sector of the banking industry, specifically, I consult small businesses to lend them money to implement their projects. The last couple of years have been amazing: I have seen tech startups launching new apps, young entrepreneurs opening local shops, and seasoned entrepreneurs expanding their current businesses. Therefore, I believe that if you want to work in the consulting business, this MBA is the best asset you can add to your portfolio.

3. What do you feel was the most valuable lesson you took from it?

Feelings and empathy are vital assets in your business portfolio. As a businessperson, you must acknowledge that anything you do should be done to improve your customers’ life, fulfill their needs, and enrich their experience. Eventually, everything comes down to understanding what the customers want: AI, statistics, and finance are all excellent tools; however, they are useless unless you deeply connect with the end user.

4. How has studying in an international environment broadened your mindset?

Being born and raised in a small country town makes you see the world in one way only. Studying, struggling, and succeeding with a large, mixed group of people forces you to acknowledge different, and sometimes opposite ways of thinking. CIMBA is a two-year-long cultural shock: dealing with people from all over the world really pushes you out of your comfort zone. For instance, how would you discuss the topic of health insurance and public healthcare with someone who thinks that is absolutely normal to pay for a ride in an ambulance?

5. What is your most cherished memory from your time at CIMBA?

Pancakes in the morning with the full-timers. Being a part-time student meant working from Monday to Friday, then traveling all the way down for two days of classes during the weekends. By the end of the year, we were so close that we had breakfast together because it felt natural to be a family.