MBA Student Profile: Evgeny Shatskih, Tuck School of Business

TopMBA.com talks to Evgeny Shatskih about his decision to do an MBA, why he chose the Tuck School of Business and his future career plans. 

What were you doing before your MBA?

I graduated from a medical school with honours, then worked for around eight years in the pharmaceutical industry for Aventis and F. Hoffmann-La Roche, where I was responsible for the area sales and marketing management. Just before Tuck, as a business development manager and director of an area affiliate, I managed cross-functional teams in the real estate development and media industries in Russia.

What were your main reasons for deciding to attend business school?

To boost my career, to gain international experience and to return to the pharmaceutical, or biotech, industry, where I do feel the guts to work in the long run.      

What research did you undertake in selecting your school?

I met with Alumni and people from different schools during the f in Moscow and read materials in business magazines and on the net.      

What were the main criteria in your selection?   

- general management focus
- close-knit supportive community
- availability of financial aid/loans
- high reputation (close to rankings)      

Why did you decide to study either in your own country or overseas?

I decided to study in the states, because I needed international exposure and wanted to study on the classical two-year American MBA program.      

How well do your think the MBA is regarded in your home country?

Pretty well, in a few companies though.      

How are you financing your studies?

I have a loan provided through the networks of the Tuck School of Business.      

Did you apply for any scholarships? If so, which ones?

Yes, in every MBA program where I applied to.      

Were you successful in obtaining a scholarship?

Not at Tuck, but I received one from another Top 20 school, but I was happy to choose Tuck.       

Have you already been, or do you intend to become an entrepreneur?

It can be rather my long-term prospective.      

Are there any well-known and/or successful entrepreneurs that are alumni of your school?

I don't know many. William F. Achtmeyer T'81, for example.      

How much do you expect to earn on graduation?

US $90,000 plus bonuses per year.      

What do you expect to do on graduation and where do you expect to be based?

I would like to work in the healthcare industry and in the short run to be based in the states.

How easy or difficult do you expect it to be to achieve these objectives?

As far as I could see now, it is quite difficult for international students while a great number of American companies recruiting on campus are requiring the US permanent work authorization. So, to secure a job in the states, an international should be as competitive as an American.    

Any other comments?

The Tuck Healthcare Initiative has to sound stronger in the mass media (web site, Internet, publications, etc.).