Tribeni Chougule started her EMBA as a technology and transformation programmer at Visa. Now she has harnessed this coveted degree to pivot her focus to sustainability and impact
Having built up a successful program and project management career, Tribeni Chougule decided it was time to upskill and pivot to a social and green sustainability position. Throughout her six years at Visa pre-EMBA, Tribeni transitioned through a number of roles. She started in Visa as a Technical Project Manager and then moved to deliver multiple technical as well as cross-functional projects and programs, before moving to Head of the Innovation Center Technology Team and then Head of Change Management in Finance.
While in her role as Head of Innovation Center, Tribeni made the decision to pivot and decided an MBA would be the best way to focus her ambitions.
This led her to Warwick Business School's Executive MBA, which opened up a career path in sustainability at Visa.
Harnessing an EMBA to pivot career focus
Tribeni worked at Visa for several years before her EMBA.
She first worked in project management before becoming involved in cross-functional business program management, and then working in multiple integration projects, mergers and acquisitions when Visa Inc acquired Visa Europe.
Tribeni headed up the innovation center based out of London, helping to establish a target operating model and set up the post-integration team. This was when she decided to pivot career paths, and that an EMBA would be the best way.
"As I was doing my role in the innovation center from the transformation point of view, I had reached a point in my career where I felt that the point of career pivot was coming on,” Tribeni explains. “I wasn't sure what I wanted to do next.”
Tribeni believed an EMBA would elevate her business knowledge while helping her realize her career ambitions.
"I felt that the MBA could be a good way for me to understand the overall business administration, but also help me determine what could be next," she says.
Tribeni chose Warwick Business School’s London-based Executive MBA because of the cohort's diversity, the cost of the course, and flexibility, which allowed her to continue her job at Visa: "Warwick ticked all those boxes for me."
Elevating her strategy skills to transform her career
Warwick's daytime format EMBA is based in the iconic Shard building on Fridays and Saturdays. With 43 nationalities in the cohort, it was ranked fourth in the UK by the Financial Times 2022 Executive MBA ranking.
Throughout her time at Warwick Business School, Tribeni developed an understanding of business and says it was personally “transformational”.
There were also great professional benefits such as improving Tribeni’s knowledge of general business administration, and it also “helped with a holistic view of all different business components", she says.
Throughout the EMBA, Tribeni found the strategy classes the most beneficial for developing specific industry skills that have aided her in the new role.
As part of the program, she took the required Strategic Advantage module, as well as the Strategic Leadership Development and Strategy and Practice electives.
"All of those have been super helpful because since being in this role, I have launched new strategy programs, which, in my pre-MBA day, I would have been quite jittery about because I didn't have strategic experience," Tribeni says. "The MBA gave me a lot of scope and expertise and understanding."
Elevating her career prospects at Visa through the EMBA
Tribeni wanted to pursue a career in Sustainability, leveraging her transferable skills from her past experience and the newly acquired knowledge from the EMBA.
Along with the courses that elevated her skillset, Tribeni used Warwick's career development team to ensure her success in her new role as Europe's Inclusive Impact and Sustainability Director.
Warwick gives its students unlimited access to the careers, leadership and development department; there are also optional workshops, including Negotiation Skills and Courageous Conversations in the Boardroom.
It also offers access to external executive coaches, who Tribeni still keeps in contact with.
Tribeni found the career development resources personalized, focusing on her strengths and weaknesses, to support her professional development. Tribeni worked on building confidence in her new role, demonstrating her transferable skills, and having conviction in her outlook.
"I utilize my coach to discuss the nuances of presenting my best self forward. I have been doing a new role, where I have needed more support to reduce my learning curve, and my coach has been a huge help."
In this latest role at Visa, Tribeni's remit falls into three pillars.
The first is overseeing employee giving and volunteering participation and the strategy around it. Second is a role to support the financial empowerment of displaced people or refugees. Her third pillar of responsibility is managing and leading the green team for the European region, which investigates the different goals and targets contributing towards Visa's Net Zero strategy.
Tribeni says she is now in the domain she loves, which aligns with her purpose. She wants to continue her ambitions for inclusivity, drive positive impact, and continue her passion for learning that Warwick reignited.
"The MBA really helped me rediscover my love of learning. It wasn't easy. But was extremely valuable, and it has reignited my learning desire so much that I've been on courses already and learning on an ongoing basis."
Student Reviews
BSc Management with Marketing
I loved Warwick business school.
The staff is supportive, my academic tutor was key in my development throughout the 3 years and you have to meet with her/him every term. Most professors are helpful and would happily offer support if needed. You also have office hours and can contact professors by email and through the forum.
In general, WBS instills in you the willingness to learn and the resilience needed for you for whatever career you choose.
Very international community which broadens your horizon and makes you more open minded and self aware. You will most certainly make friends and memories for life. I recommend that you get outside of your comfort zone and try new activities with your friends!
WBS also has a great reputation and offers careers opportunities, and careers support throughout the degree.
There is the opportunity to do a year abroad to further develop on a personal level. I wasn’t able to do this due to Covid but I would have loved to do it during normal circumstances! Would definitely recommend this.
Although Warwick is not a city university, the campus vibe has a lot of advantages, especially at an undergraduate level. You are always around familiar faces, and in a student environment. Moreover, Birmingham is only 20 mins away from Leamington spa and London is only one hour away! Perfect for a day trip or a weekend getaway!
Life at Warwick Business School
Pursuing my master's degree at WBS has been a game-changer in my life. With high-quality education, interaction with students from across the world, amazing campus life and much more. I was able to learn about business, finance, project management and strategy all in one course: MSc in Management at WBS. Besides the top-notch education from the best professors, I also enjoyed being a part of fun societies and participating in fun activities such as scavenger hunts and so much more.
The school also organises many company visits and interactions which help students get a head start at finding a job. As my course came to an end, I also have a good full-time job placement in my hands.
Overall, my experience at WBS was a great one.
Outstanding
The Warwick Business School was like a dream come to life for me. The University ranking speaks for itself, from top-tier facilities to some of the best professors I had to honour to study with I fell in love with my course. Interactions with people from all over the world gave me a newfound confidence in myself.
Career prospects after graduating are endless due to the contacts of the universities and the success rate for previous students, it does open a lot of doors for students in various career fields. The campus life is quite good as well with a lot of student groups and clubs, and extra circular activities to engage students at all times. Loved my experience.
A good business school
It is a very cutting-edge, career-oriented business school, all courses are very practical, and the college does a very good job of career service. From the hardware and facilities to the staff, the student experience is at the core of the school and student satisfaction is taken very seriously. I understand that many universities in the UK are relatively traditional and can occasionally be rigid in terms of rules and regulations, and although WBS has a relatively short history, this makes it more innovative and dynamic, which is essential for a business school. The downside is that because it is on the outskirts of Coventry, it is a long bus ride to the city centre, not to mention the difference in experience from a big city like London.
Campus
The people, campus, staff. It’s a very enjoyable environment and it’s particularly good for learning and playing sports. The people there are extremely friendly and welcoming and it’s very easy to make friends
What I Like About Warwick
I’ve personally liked my experience at Warwick so far because of the amazing people I’ve gotten to meet and how many opportunities we students are provided with to learn and grow.
Within Warwick, I’m part of the Business School, a learning haven comprised of well-structured modules and extremely helpful people
All in all, a great place to be :)
Campus Life
One thing that stood out for me was the campus life, you felt like part of a community. The social aspects of the student union and on-campus accommodation meant you can easily get together and enjoy with friends. Additionally, I felt the course provided a variety of subjects allowing me to enhance my knowledge, from Marketing to Law and Finance. Overall I would most definitely recommend this university to friends and family.
Excellence self catered
The campus is very welcoming and Modern. There are many opportunities at Warwick but it is up to the student how do they want to make the most out of it and the staff at the school will definitely helo as much as possible. The location and the ranking have been amazing.
Warwick business school
Warwick business school is one of the best universities around the globe with a solid base of economic and business studies. Moreover, students get a chance to study in a diverse and warm environment with professional stuff which tries to provide the best opportunities for career development. One of the memorable features of the university are great events which sometimes take a place in one of the landmarks of the London city, the Shard building.
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