Zoriana Adamovych

IE Business School

“I stay true to my values and believe in impact of giving free of expectations.”

Age: 35

Hometown: Ukrainian living in Dubai, UA

Fun fact about yourself: As a child, I dreamt of being an astronomer and actively participated in the Ukrainian online school “Constellation.” For my achievements, the second President of Ukraine presented me with a computer to help me on my quest. I never ended up being an astronomer but, now as a successful woman in my field, I always look at stars for inspiration.  

Undergraduate School and Degree: 

• BA & MA in Regional Studies & International research from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
• PhD in Social Sciences from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv

Where are you currently working? Senior Product Manager at Visa

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? Looking back at the decade of my professional life, I am truly proud that I have successfully completed this MBA program, becoming a part of the Beta Gamma Sigma community, all whilst excelling in my professional career. Being Ukrainian, my focus in recent months has shifted to helping my country through volunteering. Despite it being the toughest period of my professional career, I am proud to be resilient enough to finish the program.

Why did you choose this school’s online MBA program? Both IE Business School and the Global Online MBA program resonated with me from the first research I did on Online MBA education. I will call out three main reasons:

* The Global Online MBA program at IE Business School is a consistently top-ranked program and has a legacy of online education for a number of years, even before the sharp increase in online education options as a result of the pandemic.

* My life values resonated with those of IE Business School that come from a belief that we can use innovation and technology to break down boundaries, benefiting people all over the world.

* The amazing people around! From my first interaction with admissions team to the feedback from students, I was inspired to join such innovative and human-centric community!

What was your favorite part of being in an online MBA program? Participating in this program gave me an opportunity to meet people from around the world, from the Philippines to Mexico. I like that this program was blended and, through the eighteen-month period, we had a chance to meet each other in person for three face to face weeks in Madrid.

What was the most surprising thing about an online learning environment? The quality of connections that can be built in a virtual world! We learned from one other, supported each other (and still do!), and built friendships for life.

What is your best piece of advice to an applicant for thriving in an online MBA program?  Be bold, be open-minded, and be genuine! Stay true to yourself and always value other perspectives – the people in the program are a true gem!

 How has your online education helped you in your current job? At Visa, I am responsible for Central Europe, Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA) markets and I am constantly working with teams located across this region as well as teams based in Europe, Singapore, and the United States. So, virtual working was not a new concept to me.  However, this MBA program allowed me to become a stronger and more empathetic leader and broaden my skills as an expert.  

Did you earn a promotion while in the program or immediately after graduation? Interesting fact – I was promoted as soon as I was accepted into the Global Online MBA program in 2021. During the month that I completed the MBA (March 2023) I signed an offer for a subsequent promotion! This proves one more time that MBA study has a direct impact on your career growth and development.

Why did you pursue an online MBA program instead of a full-time residential program? I did not want to take a break in my career but still wanted to strengthen my business acumen through an MBA program. At the moment of admission, I had been with Visa for six years and my career and personal growth were both thriving, so I took a decision to look for online or blended MBA program in parallel.

Number of Hours Per Week Spent on an Online MBA: 24 hours

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? I would like to use the knowledge and skills acquired through the MBA program as well as my professional career to make an impact in the world of technology and women empowerment.  The more I have matured as an individual and professional, the more I want to give back to the community through inspiring others. I wholeheartedly believe that we can all make a difference in the world. We are much more than our daily jobs, our titles, our qualifications, and our backgrounds. I want to focus on paving my own way to make the difference that I’ve always dreamt about. For me, it is sharing my experience, skills, and knowledge as a Mentor, a Team-Player, and a driven Businesswoman.

DON’T MISS: BEST & BRIGHTEST ONLINE MBAS: CLASS OF 2023