Ekaterina Shapochka, Kellogg-WHU Executive MBA

Ekaterina Shapochka tells Ann Graham what the best parts of an Executive MBA at Kellogg-WHU business school are.

Shapochka says her classmates were diverse, experienced, hardworking and hardplaying and she points out that the impact of her Executive MBA degree was immediate. “I could implement what I learned in the office the next day,” the graduate of Kellogg-WHU says. “During my studies I was able and felt comfortable to undertake new projects; I got to a new stage in my career development during my studies as well,” Shapochka says.

An international network

Currently working as director of marketing, corporate communications and business development for PWC in Moscow, Shapochka says she pursued her EMBA for three main reasons: “I wanted to broaden my management horizon, increase my international network and get a formal in-depth financial background.” Hence, from September 2007 through September 2009, Shapochka studied for her EMBA at Kellogg-WHU.

“Choose the program with the convenient timetable,” Shapochka advises. “For me, the schedule proposed by Kellogg-WHU was very convenient. As a woman pursuing an Executive MBA you need to have support from your family (if you have one), otherwise it will be difficult to balance all your commitments.”

Shapochka says the best things about her Executive MBA program were the professors, her classmates and the staff. “The professors were practical, knowledgeable, had an opendoor policy and were entertaining,” she says. “My classmates were very diverse, experienced, hardworking and hardplaying, and the staff were also very supportive.”

New horizons

As a result of her EMBA experience, Shapochka says she has broadened her horizons, both professionally and personally. “That was another great part of the program,” she says. “The personal development, the broadening of my network and the cultural exposure.

“I benefited from the experience of many other businesses in many other countries. It is important in particular to those who work in the same business for a few years. This adds many perspectives to what we do and how we do things.”

Like the majority of alumni who have been through the Executive MBA and successfully graduated, Shapochka would recommend others spend time in the business school classroom. “You need to know what you want to
achieve through this, because the investment of time, effort and money is big and the volume of knowledge is large,” warns Shapochka.

“For those who want to move into general management positions and/or want to change industries, I’d definitely recommend the EMBA.”