'Equipped with the knowledge and practical skills acquired at HSE, my career prospects have considerably improved'
Nikola Koniarova, MIB alumni 2017, shares her impressions about the program.
Current job: Intern at Penta Investments
Prior education: BA (Hons) Business & Management with Russian language, University of Manchester, UK
Professional areas of interest: Marketing & Sales, Strategic planning, Management consulting
Languages proficient in: English, Russian, French, Czech, Slovak
Someone you admire: Christine Lagarde
First of all, could you share with us, what was your motivation to pursue a master’s degree in Russia. And how do you find your experience of studying and living in Moscow so far?
During my undergraduate studies at Manchester University I participated in an exchange program organized by our faculty and spent ten months in Russia, studying business and political studies at Russian leading universities. My stay in Moscow and Saint Petersburg enabled me to gain invaluable experience in the Russian society, culture, politics and economy. I found Moscow really exciting and full of opportunities for young professionals. As I specialized on emerging markets during my undergraduate studies, I decided to deepen my knowledge in this sphere, and after the graduation I relocated to Moscow to pursue a master’s degree there.
In terms of my experience of living and studying in Moscow, I can say that I have not faced any obstacles that I would not be able to cope with. Being a student in Moscow is a great opportunity to broaden your horizons, experience the life in the biggest European city and get a world-class postgraduate education.
Why, out of all the master’s programs offered by the leading Russian universities, you decided to pursue Master of International Business at the HSE?
When selecting the master’s program I considered three different courses offered by three best universities in Russia. At the end, I decided to pursue my master’s degree in International Business at HSE. The excellent reputation of both the program and university abroad affected my decision to select HSE. Moreover, MIB was the most practice-based program among all other master’s programs. Its structure was the closest to the European educational system.
Your studies at HSE MIB are over. How were your expectations met?
The program has definitely met my expectations. I deepened my knowledge in many disciplines. Thanks to the program I have the profound understanding of how enterprises work in the global arena, what attributes stand behind their success and prosperity, what challenges they face. Equipped with the knowledge and practical skills acquired at HSE, my career prospects have considerably improved.
Can you share with us some of the most exciting or challenging moments?
One of the most exciting moments was the time when we, a team of MIB students, worked on the consulting project in cooperation with Mondelez Russia. I really appreciate the opportunity to work on a real project and closely interact with managers of a renowned FMCG company. The project enabled me to test my capabilities in the fast-paced business environment.
In terms of challenging moments, I have to say that the coordination of teamwork might be sometimes challenging, as the majority of students work full-time. However, all duties at university can be managed easily with self-motivation, enthusiasm and hard work.
Courses and lecturers you find the most exciting, and why?
As for the courses and lecturers that I have found the most exciting, I would like to mention International Entrepreneurship course taught by Professor Irina Kratko, International Marketing class led by Maxim Shevchenko and International Corporate Finance class led by Aleksey Blinov. I found these courses the most inspiring and thought-provoking. They were also very interactive and well structured. The classes were led by professionals with a proven track record in the spheres of their interest.
In your opinion, what are the most important and useful skills you acquire while being an MIB student?
As an MIB student, I have had a chance to improve my communication, leadership and time management skills. I learnt how to work well on a team, how to plan, organize and prioritize the work. The program taught me how to become a fast decision maker who is capable of solving problems quickly and effectively.
I would highly recommend the MIB program to young professionals with genuine interest in international business issues, who want to take their career to the next level.