Why did you choose Copenhagen Business School for your MBA?
Location was the single biggest factor for me in choosing CBS. I had done an internship in Copenhagen previously and spent a lot of time in Scandinavia, so I knew it was a place I could be happy and successful. Denmark is also a world leader on sustainability and climate change. Finally, the one-year format was very appealing, as I was hesitant to commit to two years out of the workforce in a traditional MBA.
How do you feel that studying at CBS has helped your career path?
The MBA has definitely been an inflection point in terms of accelerating my career into positions of higher responsibility. Unlike some MBA students who aim to make a so-called ’triple jump’ of changing locations, industries, and roles, I have chosen to stay in much the same industry (software, specifically for public sector) and role (project management). However, I am now having a more strategic impact in terms of interacting with senior executives within cBrain and with our clients, as well as shaping our international growth initiatives, which I would not have been equipped to do prior to the MBA.
What skills did you earn in your MBA that you apply to your role as the Head of International Delivery at cBrain?
The biggest benefit has been gaining an overall awareness of how all the functions of a company fit and work together, from strategy and marketing to HR and finance. I had a passing understanding of those topics before but had no formal business education. In terms of specific skills, what I use most on a daily basis is the coaching, leadership, and soft skills from the MBA. Finally, the case studies covered in Managing Sustainable Corporations continue to be very relevant for me, as I play an active role in cBrain’s expansion into emerging markets with differences of culture and governance.
Did you find the Concentration in Digitalisation to be relevant/helpful to your role?
Yes, very much so, as cBrain is a software vendor and partner with public sector organisations around the world (governments and universities) that are going through digital transformations. Although it is easy to get consumed with the daily details of designing and coding software, it is valuable to take a step back and remember the big picture about the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of digitalisation. Having someone like Rony Medaglia, who is an internationally recognized expert on e-government, as a professor was a very unique and beneficial experience.
How did the networking events at CBS assist in your career?
I actually got my job at cBrain due to a networking event at CBS, albeit indirectly. I met someone at a CBS event who was active in the start-up space in Denmark and referred me to the founder of a start-up. I ended up working closely with that founder for about 6 months during the MBA as a student assistant, helping with her go-to-market strategy and pitch deck to investors. Not only was she a great mentor and person to learn from, but she was also very well-connected, having previously been in senior management in several top companies in Denmark. As I approached graduation, she was able to make some introductions, one of which led to an interview at cBrain.