Business students share experiences and advice
Diego Casadei
Italian/Swiss. Executive MBA student, IEDC Business School Bled, Slovenia. Managing Director, Cosylab. Switzerland
What was your biggest lesson?
After 20 years in academia developing particle and radiation detectors for three space missions, I joined a provider of control systems for proton therapy for cancer. As CEO, I wanted to address my lack of formal education in business administration. In my education as a scientist, the biggest obstacle was understanding that there are many problems for which there is no right answer.
IEDC’s case-based learning approach is a great way to encourage students to examine situations from different perspectives. In a typical case study discussion, I think about it four or five times, thanks to the open conversation with my colleagues facilitated by the teacher.
I learned that as a leader, you should know what questions to ask, seek different opinions, then decide to act and be accountable for it. Leading people takes more courage than finding a solution to a scientific or technical problem.
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Roméo Poncet-Labouche
french. Master’s degree in management, EMLyon, France. Co-founder of cryptocurrency company Mon Livret C, France
How did you choose your business school?
I always envisioned entrepreneurship as my future, so I applied for a master’s degree in management and studying at EMLyon was a logical decision. The school is known in France for its commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship, and its progressive incubator helped me make my decision.
The most important thing I’ve learned is that as an entrepreneur you have to be bold. You can have the greatest ideas in the world, but if you don’t implement them, they will never succeed. EMLyon encourages students to come up with ideas and projects of all kinds, and I am grateful for that.
I was pleasantly surprised by the diversity of the students and their desire to tackle projects. Some people just navigate school by taking classes. Others try to create and innovate. I felt like I was in the right place to find these people – and indeed, I met my co-founder there.
Syreel Mishra
Indian. MBA graduate, Trinity Business School, Dublin. Assistant Head, Climate Change and Sustainability Services, EY, Ireland
What did you like best about business school?
I had the honor of working with a variety of peers in a program that opened my mind to new ways of thinking and challenged me to think and become better every day. I’ve learned that diversity of thinking and experience in a team can greatly enhance the bottom line — it prevents groupthink when developing solutions to different business challenges.
I have always been passionate and oriented towards the environment, having worked in various UN organizations and environmental institutions across Europe and Africa. The private sector plays a key role in building a climate-resilient and sustainable world, so I wanted to expand my business acumen to lead and manage ESG projects with high impact in the corporate world.
The road to climate change is evolving rapidly and requires coordinated and collaborative action by all sectors. I hope I can play my part.
Paul Beville
British. educational program for managers, Henley Business School, United kingdom. Senior Head of Internal Audit, Invesco, UK
What surprised you the most?
Different experiences and ways of dealing with different situations that I learned from other Henley Leadership participants. The participants’ diverse careers and industries, from financial services to charities and the media, helped illustrate how effective leadership can be practiced in a variety of settings.
The whole experience at Henley was very positive and educational – the environment is a breath of fresh air and allows you to immerse yourself in the course. I enrolled to equip myself to succeed in the next phase of my career and the Henley program matched my requirements exactly, with a focus on increasing my confidence and self-awareness and my ability to handle difficult situations.
Reading past case studies revealed a diverse range of previous students at different career stages.
Isabelle Loock
German. Graduated Master of Finance, Frankfurt School of Finance and Management. Banking Analyst, Jefferies, Germany
Why did you choose Frankfurt?
The city is a financial center that has its own international yet traditional charm. Being so close to top companies, consultancies and banks is not only very motivating, but also an opportunity to study and apply for internships or student placements.
The Frankfurt School of Finance and Management has its own atmosphere in the middle of the city. I was amazed at how quickly the time went by on the beautiful campus. When I wasn’t studying, I was spending time with new friends, enjoying campus events, or drinking beer on the rooftop terrace.
I was also surprised by the possibilities that Frankfurt offered from the very beginning: someone – be it a professor, a study advisor or a program manager – was always available to help when needed.