Vibhu Narwekar’s fondest memory of the Cross Continent MBA at The Fuqua School of Business is the “white nights” of St Petersburg, Russia. He is just about to finish the 16-month program and, although immersing himself in five different countries, Russia was the most significant.
“During the summer time, there’s darkness for only one or two hours a day,” he recalls. “Although I found it difficult to sleep, it was quite unique and the study there was excellent.”
Vibhu has spent time in the United States, China, Dubai, India and Russia; soaking up the business culture and gaining valuable international exposure. Connecting with students from different backgrounds is a highlight of many MBA programs and Vibhu feels Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business has given him much more than a classroom education alone ever could.
“In all the countries we visit we take classes, but we also engage with industry leaders,” he says. “We get to meet regional board members and alumni, and also speak with local people to understand their perspectives; we see the region through their eyes.
“I’m already applying those frameworks to try and understand how international business works. The cultural exposure will help me wherever I go.”
Vibhu already had a successful business career. After graduating from an Indian university with a BE in Electronics & Telecommunications, he worked for electronics giant Siemens on projects in the APAC region.
He worked for another leading technology firm for a number of years before taking a position at Reliance Globalcom in a business development role with responsibility for India and South Asia.
But he wanted to branch out and experience business with different cultures around the world. “Most of my peers were MBAs,” he explains. “I realized that I wanted to go out and travel, to work with people from different cultures. That’s what I thought I would get out of the MBA.”
Duke’s MBA program is one of the highest-rated in the US MBA Rankings and while approximately 40 per cent of students are international, Vibhu wanted more. “In today’s globalized world, a classroom full of international peers isn’t good enough,” he said.
“It’s important to be physically present in other parts of the world. Duke’s Cross Continent MBA was an amazing experience.”
He had the opportunity to study in Shanghai, China, a city which many international students use as a gateway to careers in Asia. The language barrier was difficult, he admits, but having studied there with Fuqua, he has the confidence that would take years to develop in industry.
“China is so important for international business,” he says. “It would take a few years in my job to get this exposure. So I think without the Cross Continent MBA, I wouldn’t have that confidence.”
Although seeking international study exposure, Vibhu also wanted to complete an MBA to further his career. Fuqua has over 41 student clubs and he led the MBA Consulting Club for the Cross Continent program. Vibhu learnt the value of coordinating activities with members from all over the world to provide valuable career-related opportunities.
“Connecting with members in different time zones was a difficult experience,” he said. “It was both challenging and exciting to bounce across different places. Communication becomes a very important part, but it was also rewarding.
“Fuqua is well connected to top consulting firms and I was working closely with the Career Management Centre to organize seminars and connect with alumni.”
Now on the eve of graduation, Vibhu hopes to find a career that will make a big impact in society, rather than focusing on a specific industry.
After leading the MBA Consulting Club, he admits he would love to work for a top consulting firm – a career path that an MBA can help you break into. His interest in the function is underscored by his five-year membership on McKinsey Quarterly's Online Executive Panel.
He wants a role in which he will be tested to think and analyse more than usual; a staple of management consulting careers. “Those roles allow me to think and have a significant impact on society,” he explained.
It is no easy feat breaking into a big management consulting firm. But Vibhu feels his MBA has given him the skills to take on any career challenge. “I feel I can add value to management consultancy and that’s my preference,” he said.
“But the MBA has given me the skillset to go into any industry and has really allowed me to take on multiple, challenging roles. It has given me the platform to be free. Now, I feel like I’m a global citizen; I can work anywhere in any industry and apply the knowledge I have learnt.
“People say that completing an MBA is life transforming, and I resonate with that. This MBA has positioned me well and it was an amazing experience.”
He would love to work with Fortune 500 clients and consulting is the obvious choice. But after obtaining an MBA, he is not restricted to one function. The Fuqua School of Business opens many doors and Vibhu will walk through the one that will bring about the most change in society.
The white nights of Russia may have been his highlight, but the Cross Continent MBA has given Vibhu the skills to kick-start a truly international business career.
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