Meet Anas Darkoushy, From Syria To Frankfurt School Of Finance & Management

Name: Anas Darkoushy

Birthplace: Damascus – Syria

Place of residence: Mannheim – Germany

Undergraduate and Business School programme:

Part-Time MBA at Frankfurt School of Finance & Management

Can you tell us a little bit about your life and career before studying a business degree?

Before getting my MBA I hold a Bachelor in Business Administration with focus on Finance and Investment from my home country, Syria. Before starting my MBA I have worked in my home country for 10 years (2005 – 2015) in telecommunication. I hold several roles and responsibilities (5 years as Operation Coordinator, 4 years as Corporate Key Account Manager, 1 year as Facilities Management Coordinator). In Sep 2015 I moved to Germany to Mannheim city and in February 2016 I started my first full time job in Germany as Administration and IT Coordinator at the German Red Cross in Mannheim area. I hold this role until September 2018. In October 2018 I started my MBA.

Talk us through your decision to seek refuge and move, and the journey this involved?

I decided to travel over to Germany after the war broke out in Syria, and the country became too dangerous to live in. The journey was a dangerous one, hence me taking it by myself initially, with plans for my family to join when a safer route was possible. My family were able to join 10 months later in Germany, where we sought refuge and now call a home. 

What did you find most difficult when arriving in a completely new country?

Getting to communicate with people from different culture is not an easy process. Yet, the German language is not that kind of language which you can learn it quickly. Communicating with the German people in their language can open many doors, and therefore I tried, and I keep doing my best to become professional in the German language.

Why did you decide to apply for Frankfurt School, and the part-time MBA?

After graduating from a Bachelor of Business Administration with focus on Finance and Investment in Syria in 2010, I thought that I was done with the education, and it was the time to focus on work. Having a full-time job and studying an MBA is not something that could be done easily in Syria. After moving to Germany, I was told about the possibility to study and to work at the same time. I immediately started my search to figure out how and where to do it!

Choosing to do an MBA was a big decision, but it was only the first of many big decisions to follow. The first practical question I had to confront was, where do I want to study? There are excellent business schools in Europe which offer part-time MBA programs, but I always wanted to be a student at one of the best schools, and yes, it is Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, located in Frankfurt am Main. Being able to get to know one of the major financial centers of the world while studying, was very appealing to me.

How was your experience and what did you find most challenging?

Being a full-time spouse and father of two kids who had to travel 2 hours a day (round trip) to his work while studying a part-time MBA is not easy thing, at all. Thanks to my beloved wife who supported me during this two-year journey and my children who accepted my long absence with the aim of a better future for our family.

Can you talk us through your life and career post-graduation?

Since I started my MBA, I got the opportunity to start working as a Working-Student at Helaba Bank from November 2018. Because of my MBA, I got the opportunity to write my MBA Thesis at WIBank (sister company of Helaba) in the field of Robotic Process Automation in the Banking Industry. After that I moved to WIBank as an IT-Service Specialist. In the meanwhile, my wife and I bought a nice house and hopefully we will move to it in September 2021.

What skills have you utilised from the programme into your career?

I learned a lot form my MBA. Managerial and leadership skills, learning how to run a startp, Blockchain technology, digitisation and AI applications and understanding the core concept of M&A and Investment. 

What advice would you give to other refugees looking to leave their countries and considering studying a business degree?

There are plenty of opportunities to study waiting to be picked up. Get ready to pick up and learn the skills that can prepare you for your future. Once you find your future perspective, you will surely find a way to defeat all the battles you face to achieve your dream.

Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

Building and running my own startup.

DON’T MISS: MEET THE BUSINESS SCHOOL REFUGEES