"The unprecedented challenges our world has seen in recent times have shown how important skills such as accountability, resilience and adaptability are"
Could you introduce yourself ?
My name is Desislava Miteva and I am Senior Associate at J.P. Morgan in Germany. My professional experience so far has been shaped by my interest in business and multicultural environments. Having lived in 5 different countries, I learned a lot from other cultures, for instance how to be open-minded towards people, as well as how to show tolerance and understanding. It also helped me gain international competencies and cultural awareness, as well as improve my communication skills.
Why did you choose to study at ESCP Business School for your MBA ?
I decided to pursue an MBA, when I felt stuck in my previous job and needed time to pause and think beyond my daily tasks. Taking an MBA allowed me to stop for one year, learn new things and ensure that I am managing my career and daily life in the right direction.
After thorough research, I have selected the ESCP Business School MBA Programme because I wanted to be part of a top-ranked business school that understands the importance of international experience in the competitive global business environment. I was confident that the ESCP MBA program, with its strong cross-cultural approach and real-life business context, will help me polish my professional knowledge and intercultural skills. Another key aspect that caught my attention and contributed to my decision was the strong network and business connections that ESCP Business School will provide me.
Can you provide any tips for candidates who want to apply to the MBA in International Management ?
During the application process, the goal of each candidate should be to make themselves stand out as much as possible from the crowd. The best way to do this is to tell the unique story that got the candidate to where they are now, to take the opportunity to present what they can bring to the MBA program and how they are going to take advantage of what they learned during the MBA in their future career path.
When applying for an MBA the candidate should be ready to move out of their comfort zone and broaden their cultural horizon and business prospects. An MBA will give each candidate the skills and knowledge to advance in their future field. However, as with anything else in life, the more time and effort you put in, the more rewarding it is. So to make the most of the MBA program, I would recommend taking the extra class, doing the extra research, and going to every event and presentation you are invited to.
What can you particularly remember about your time at ESCP ?
The group projects. Most of the classes during the MBA required working in small teams or a group project of some kind. This is a key difference of an MBA program when compared to undergraduate or other postgraduate studies. It is also the value-added since that is what most companies require - team players.
The numerous team projects helped me improve my soft skills and especially my communication skills allowing me to successfully convey ideas and objectives to the management and my colleagues at my organization.
You work in the field of Finance. What kind of evolution are you seeing in this sector ?
I think now, in particular, is a very interesting time to be part of the financial services sector, especially for women. The COVID - 19 pandemic has given leaders the unique chance to rethink the environment and culture at the workplace. As we emerge from it, many companies have shifted their focus from financial figures only to prioritizing workforce well-being and implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies within their long term business goals. To make that fundamental turn happen different skills, such as compassion, appreciation and flexibility, are required. Women have a naturally strong sense of empathy and are good at building relationships, which in turn helps to relate to different people’s needs and provides a higher sense of value and job satisfaction. Moreover, women bring different perspectives and managing styles to corporate life. That is why companies need to rethink their efforts to position more women in leadership positions. By building a workforce of both women and men who support equality and inclusion, companies are set to achieve a higher bottom line.
Anything else you might want to add ?
The unprecedented challenges our world has seen in recent times have shown how important skills such as accountability, resilience and adaptability are. Doing an MBA is a great way to learn those skills and become more competitive and prepared for unexpected situations. It definitely helped me gain self-confidence and taught me to trust myself, when dealing with difficult tasks or solving problems
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