Update: Magali Reyes Henkel is now Chief Administration Officer at Green Climate Fund.
“It’s not common for senior level executives in not-for-profit organisations to have MBAs, but it should be. It makes perfect sense – particularly for those working in global operations trying to make a real, lasting difference. I’ve worked in several over the years since I left my home country of Mexico and whether I’ve been collaborating with Greenpeace, World Vision or Bioversity International, an MBA had always been at the back of my mind. In fact, an MBA had been a life objective of mine since I was 17 years old.”
Copenhagen’s calling
“I’ve worked in places as far-flung as Japan and South Korea and it was when I was at a QS Top MBA fair in Seoul in 2017 that I first talked to CBS and started to investigate it seriously. They gave me a different way of looking at things and suggested a Global Executive MBA might be more suitable for me because of my international experience. I’d also always had in my mind to study in Europe, and CBS was certainly appealing for its focus on sustainability awareness and responsible corporations management.”
Decision making
“Having lived three years in Amsterdam previously, and after seven years working in Asia, I wanted to get back to Europe. So, for two years following that fair I did my research into all sorts of European destinations. London and Rotterdam were both possibilities, but this was going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me and I wanted the very best fit. For me, CBS had everything. They understand what not-for-profit is all about; there’s balance of courses and culture; the CSR course is very strong; and I also liked the idea of 11 weeks of face-to-face modules. It ticked all my boxes!
“In the meantime, I got a new role and moved to Rome, so I began my EMBA with CBS in 2018.”