Last week, we caught up with Babajide Fawole, a full-time MBA at St. Gallen to find out his impressions of the programme. It was a Friday afternoon but this didn’t mean he was winding down. He had a packed day and was only taking a break before a company presentation.
Jide spent over four years in Nigeria's booming financial services industry working in asset management and valuation. He was a senior analyst for Greenwich Trust Ltd, an investment banking firm in Nigeria prior to joining the MBA. He was looking for a degree that would make him a well-rounded professional. We find out from him how it's going so far. We also learn that St. Gallen MBAs are quite the party animals. If you hadn’t pegged St. Gallen to be a lively place then you’re in for a surprise!
So, what plans do you have for the weekend?
I have to get some rest but I’ll also be checking out some of the local events. There’s the OLMA Pig race, and also the farmer’s market.
You mean similar to a horse or dog’s race but with pigs?
Yes, Pigs. You can check it out on Youtube. I was surprised to find this out but like any other culture, the Swiss have really interesting things. For example in Lagos, you see the Eyo people dancing around in white cloth and you might wonder what is special about that. In addition to learning, I’m here to experience the local culture.
Will you be betting on a pig?
Yes, I’ll be betting on one. But, obviously a reasonable amount…EUR 20, and nothing more. I won’t be going crazy and spending a month’s rent on a pig.
How did you wind up at St. Gallen?
I think it all boils down to my personality. I’m adventurous and wanted to try something new and unique. When I started looking into business schools, my first port of call was the Financial Times rankings. I eliminated the US schools because of their two year programmes. I narrowed my search down to the UK and Switzerland. I singled out St. Gallen as one of my choices and I did my research on the internet and also read the interview you did with Nitin Misra. I chose St. Gallen because of the way they treated me during the application process. It was very personalized. The school took the time to find out about me and we spoke several times. I worked in finance and I know that St. Gallen has a very good reputation in that area and has professors who are industry experts.
Has it lived up to your expectations?
It's been a wonderful experience. It's such a friendly place. I’ve been to places in the world where I’m worried that if something happens to me in the street, people will just walk right by but it's not like that here. The local people know you and they greet you when you walk by. My classmates are all amazing and we’ve become quite close very quickly.
My apartment has the most fantastic view of the city. You can see the mountains through my window. I wasn’t much of a nature person before I came here but St. Gallen has helped me develop some appreciation for nature. MBA life in itself is hectic so the fact that when you look out of the window when you take a break, you have some beautiful scenery to take in is a plus.
Have you started considering your post-MBA plans? What's on the cards for you?
I’m really open about my next move. The important thing is that I would like to get some international experience. On the other hand, Africa is growing and there is a lot of focus on some of its emerging economies that need advanced skills and expertise. I would be interested in exploring opportunities in finance, strategy, and international management. That’s exactly the reason for the MBA because it helps to open doors. I’m not restricting myself. If I can get a chance in Timbuktu I’ll take it.
Do you have a favourite professor?
I really enjoyed the classes my international management professor gave. It opened my eyes to the fact that the world is getting smaller and operations are going global. In all this, culture is extremely important for doing business successfully and the MBA is useful in assessing your strengths and weaknesses and identify the correct career path.
Do you miss Nigeria?
I miss the music and the food but I don’t miss the Lagos traffic. Techno music is odd. When we’re out as a group, a new song comes up that just sounded like the last one and you hear people screaming “that’s my tune” and I’m like “OK, what next?”
You might find yourself loving techno music in time. You could become the go-to guy for the newest songs
Maybe, but either way I have amazing classmates and we love to hang out together. I taught my classmates the Azonto. Its this classic Ghanaian dance that Nigerians have sort of colonized.
Be sure to send us a video
Oh yes, Its great whenever we get together. There are only 33 of us but when we go out, the whole of St. Gallen knows that the MBA students are out.
Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?
I want to dedicate myself to building up my competencies. I worked in finance but my educational background is in Industrial Engineering. I always had an interest in business and strategy and got thrown into the deep end when I started my job in finance. Can you believe that I had no idea what a financial statement was before I started that job?! Of course, I had to learn very quickly. It was a sink or swim environment. Now, I want to get to a place where I feel like a more rounded professional and the MBA is only the first step.
Read more about students, alumni and programmes at St. Gallen here. You can follow up on Jide's adventures or read about the experiences of other St. Gallen MBAs on their student blog.
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