Osama Mikawi

Georgia Institute of Technology’s Scheller College of Business

“Tenacious problem solver with an insatiable curiosity, always looking to grow my global family!”

Hometown: Houston, Texas, and Giza, Egypt

Fun Fact About Yourself: I climbed one of the Great Pyramids of Giza.

Undergraduate School and Major: Texas A&M University, Chemical Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Occidental Oil & Gas Corporation, Staff Facilities Engineer

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I had the opportunity to develop an original facility design for my team, which was later adopted as the standard across the entire New Mexico region. Having my personal project recognized on an organizational level, and see how my work is making a difference was the ultimate reward!

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Camaraderie. I initially bought into the stereotype that MBA programs are extremely competitive where students are solely focused on personal goals. At Scheller, it is very much the opposite. While we are all competitive in our own way, the underlying goal is to get the best out of your teammates and it is really refreshing to learn from the expertise of those around you.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you?  The sustainability concentration as well as the partnership with the Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business was key for me. My early career in oil and gas has opened my eyes to all the opportunities we have to do things better while keeping the future in mind. This pushed me to seek a career as a leader for sustainable business. An MBA is the ideal opportunity to propel me forward in this new field, connecting with current business leaders that champion sustainable practices in their fields. As a young professional, I believe I have much to learn from current sustainable practices, to ensure business development need not be achieved at the expense of the future of our community or environment.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I am excited to get involved in Net Impact. The Scheller chapter of the organization is very active and I was looking forward to participating in their case competitions. It would be an opportunity to be challenged to think differently to solve the problems of tomorrow.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? After working for five years in an industry that was very rigid in its approach to development and business innovation, I realized I needed a graduate degree to compliment my technical background. An MBA will provide that fundamental business knowledge I did not receive as an undergraduate. This knowledge is necessary to make that transition to leadership positions where I can better influence business strategy and have a visible impact on the future of an organization.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? The financial investment for me was not an issue but rather it was the time investment, which involves leaving the workforce for two years. I considered the skills I would build while fully engaged in the program to be invaluable. In addition, the potential network that I will build during those two years would be worth tenfold two more years in the regular workforce.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? I only applied to Scheller because I knew it was the perfect fit for me and the goals I was looking to achieve post-MBA.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I put a lot of effort into networking early on with the admissions team. I flew to Atlanta from Houston to attend Scheller Open House. This experience was pivotal, as it gave me a chance to interact with current students in the program. It was that weekend that confirmed that I would thrive in the Scheller community and foster strong relationships that will last. I also reached out to the director of the Scheller College Ray C. Anderson Sustainability Center, and he was more than happy to connect and share its goals and how they are integrated in the MBA program. This was important to me as it confirmed that the program at Scheller will set me up on the path of success that I desire post-MBA.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? I believe my defining moment was my decision to move to the U.S. in 2011. I was a sophomore at the Texas A&M University’s branch campus in Doha, Qatar. While I had the opportunity to receive a world-class education so close to home, I always had this curiosity of realizing my own version of the American Dream. I was convinced that to tap into my true potential, I needed to challenge myself by leaving the comfort of the familiar and venture into the unknown. So, I decided to apply for a campus transfer fall 2010. Within a year, I was on a flight from Doha, Qatar, to College Station, Texas, with little idea of what was to come. That move changed my life forever, offering me the opportunity at my first internship, a successful career at a Fortune 500 company, and later pursuing my MBA in one of the top programs in the nation.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? My goal is to be working in corporate strategy for an industry leader. The best place to be to leave my mark and work on common goal-making the world a better place through responsible corporate stewardship.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Geographically, I don’t know as long as I am with the love of my life, Laura. Professionally, I would like to be leading my own organization, inspiring change and running businesses that keep future generations in mind and adapting to an ever-changing environment.