Skolkovo MBA Student Profile: Cultural Wisdom

Skolkovo Moscow School of Management MBA student Waseem Kawaf tells TopMBA.com he believes the right business school can be the perfect place for that. Especially because in today’s ever-competitive global economy, graduates need all the positive differentiating factors they can acquire.

There were many reasons why Syrian-American Kawaf applied to business school. “First and foremost I was looking to widen my career choices and increase my marketability for future jobs,” the Skolkovo student says. “I was also looking for another challenge in my life and I thought that the right business school would present that challenge.”

Kawaf assessed his potential business schools on location, academic standing, people network, faculty, entrepreneurship focus, and career services. Despite having a choice between the majority of his desired top choices, Kawaf says he chose Skolkovo because he thought it would be a once in a lifetime opportunity as the school is so young, accepting its first class in September 2009.

“The chance to be part of a founding class and shape a school’s future was [a great] opportunity,” he says. “[Some] business schools are truly just business centres where you pick up a diploma; at Skolkovo your success and the school’s success are more intertwined, and thus the school has more interest in your success and ambitions.”

MBA admissions

The admissions process at Skolkovo is different than at some other business schools, Kawaf explains. “We were asked to create videos that were three to five minutes long and give detailed answers in response to what most schools would consider to be entrance essay questions.

“These videos actually proved to be much more time consuming than any other essay I have ever written. The key to success in these is coming across on the camera as honest, confident, genuine, driven and creative,” Kawaf explains. “Be professional, show your versatility through your personal experience… and leave the committee wanting more.”

Before embarking on his MBA, Kawaf was an equities trader’s assistant for Société Générale’s New York equities office. He is also a budding entrepreneur. “I really want to run my own company and get the appropriate tool kit, connection and knowledge base to do so,” he says. “After the experience at Skolkovo I have realized that I may want to increase my network base and work with a few small to medium sized companies before embarking on this venture.”

In ten years time, Kawaf sees himself as a third party broker between companies or countries in trade relations. “[The business school experience] is a voyage of introspection, self discovery and consistent questioning. There have been many highs and frustrating times in the process,” Kawaf says. “I miscalculated just how difficult it would be to operate in Russia without knowing the language; nonetheless it has been an incredible experience.”

“The worst thing about business school life is financing the whole experience,” Kawaf says. “As well as the many opportunities that are available but the lack of time to explore them all.” However, he still managed to find a balance between the demands of study and personal life.

“The first four months you are really occupied with all the classes and the lecturers. During this period it takes excellent time management to be able to balance a bit of a personal life with the business school. As time passes one gets better at managing expectations, prioritizing and catering for schedules to the appropriate needs.”

Post-graduation

Having graduated with his MBA, Kawaf looks back on his time in the classroom that gave him a unique insight into Russia and other emerging markets. “Skolkovo was by far the riskiest choice out of all the business schools, however the opportunities within and after the school to reap significant rewards are equally high.

“An MBA is like anything else in life; come to it with realistic expectations, don’t overcomplicate it, and realise what you want to get out of it and how the school can provide that. The biggest mistake we as MBA students can make is pushing ourselves throughout the program without first taking a step back to see why we are taking these actions.”

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