“The opportunity to study at IVEY Business School is an experience that is difficult to overestimate. It’s like long-distance running: you understand the final goal, you’re passionate about the process, and every kilometer drives you.
Several times in the process, you think whether it might be a futile endeavor and whether you can endure it at all, you rethink your life, previous experiences and landmarks, recharge at pit stops, continue moving and, in the end, you are proud that you have chosen this path and overcome a new peak.”
This is a review of Oksana Kosendiak, a graduate of the UCU Business School, who was studying in Canada. Oksana, together with other participants from the UCU Business School, went on an exchange program to the Ivey Business School of Western University last spring. She started her studies on a one-year MBA program. In parallel, Oksana studied at the master’s program MA in Human Resources and Organization Development and successfully defended her diploma in summer.
According to her, studying for an MBA at IVEY helps to look at business as a system which examines the smallest details in the big picture of the world.
“The case approach to learning helps to reveal aspects of various fields, it’s like working for all large companies at the same time, immersing yourself in their marketing, operations, management, finance, etc. The experience of the case discussion is also valuable because people with different backgrounds look at the same situation differently, and during the discussion we learn a lot from our group mates, this is a unique discussion that will never happen again,” says Oksana.
In December, they had a study trip to Portugal, during which the participants learned about the economic, political and social challenges that the country is currently facing.
“Meetings with Startup Portugal and Portugal Fintech House, which are accelerators for startups with significant support from the state and entrepreneurs, were interesting. After the crisis of 2008, the country has been investing heavily in the development of IT and education to strengthen its position in the world. We got to know both small local startups and factories with a long history that export their products to many countries around the world,” says Oksana.
The tour participants also explored the topic of sustainability and upcycling as well as successful project ideas in these areas.
“In general, for me, this trip is about examples of effective cooperation between business and educational institutions, also, between business and the state, which represent a win-win strategy. It was nice that when I visited most companies, I could think of an example from Ukraine, where we have already put it into practice and are using it: Diya, MonoBank, IT startups, upcycling brands, production, etc. We, Ukrainians, need to talk more about our achievements and achievements, so that the world knows about them and takes an example, because we have something to share and something to teach. I hope that such study trips will take place to Ukraine as well, because we have experience that can be adopted,” – concludes Oksana.
