Viktoriia Safronova

IE Business School

“A creative analytical thinker, driven by challenges and consistently questioning what can be improved.”

Age: 32

Hometown: Ukraine, Kyiv. Currently based in Prague, the Czech Republic

Fun fact about yourself: In my early 20s, I ran a travel blog where I dished out tips and tales about countries I’d never actually visited. I was a master rewriter who had more than 100 articles written about different destinations on my website. It was all based on internet research, but I always dreamed of going to those places. Now, when I finally visit them, it’s like my imagination paved the way!

Undergraduate School and Degree: Donetsk National University, Ukraine, Faculty – Finance and Credit, Master’s degree (diploma with honor)

Where are you currently working? Visa Inc., Director Digital Solutions

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career?

I am proud of more than ten years of experience in the payment industry in development, implementation and maintenance of digital programs, projects and solutions from a Bank, Processing center and Fintech perspectives. This is especially important considering technical, commercial and project management aspects in European, Middle East and African countries.

One significant achievement that is based on my experience is that I have got a patent related to the card payments – Methods and Systems for Secure Transfer of Payment Plans – as one of the inventors.

Why did you choose this school’s online MBA program? The decision was based on the necessity to have a hybrid approach, combining the opportunity to continue my career path along with the MBA program. Moreover, IE Business School provides not only online education experience, but also residential F2F weeks to build a community and experience a real student’s life.

What was your favorite part of being in an online MBA program? It was the ability to be flexible with my time, connect with people across the globe, learn from each other and see different perspectives from people from different industries.

How did your online experience compare with your in-the-classroom experience as an undergraduate student? Online experience provides flexibility and convenience. I could learn at my own pace and revisit recorded lectures whenever needed. This was particularly helpful for complex topics and for time management considering full-time job going in parallel. The digital format also introduced me to a variety of tech tools and resources that enhanced my learning process and knowledge that I currently use at my job.

What is your best piece of advice to an applicant for thriving in an online MBA program? Be a ‘marathon runner,’ not a ‘sprinter.’ Be clever with your time prioritization—not only when it comes to your tasks, but also regarding your well-being, proper family time, and time for rest. It’s important to focus not just on the results, but also on nurturing the source that produces them – and that is YOU. This approach gives you the opportunity to manage long-term study in parallel with your full-time job while achieving the best possible results in all areas of your life.

How has your online education helped you in your current job? It boosted my confidence in self-assessing as a specialist, engaging with senior professionals, and broadening my thinking horizons. I’ve noticed that I’m now able to deliver information more clearly and structured, focusing on the expectations each stakeholder might have.

Did you earn a promotion while in the program or immediately after graduation? Yes. During the program, I got a promotion and became a Director of Digital Solutions at Visa Inc. Currently I’ve been managing token-related solutions (Click to Pay, Card-on-File tokenization, ApplePay and GooglePay) from the acceptance side in 17 markets.

Why did you pursue an online MBA program instead of a full-time residential or executive MBA program? I believe that while career-related knowledge is crucial, acquiring additional skills and insights is equally important for fostering comprehensive and continuous growth. This belief led me to seek opportunities that offer the ideal blend of both professional expertise growth and broader learning experiences, which can be achieved only by working and studying in parallel. That is why I pursued an online MBA program. Moreover, all the knowledge gained during the study process can be immediately applied to my work tasks and routines, resulting in an even higher level of effectiveness.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? I believe the primary way AI was integrated into my program was by developing the skill to extract essential information and key facts from AI systems. This foundation enabled further analysis and allowed me to build upon that information effectively.

That underscored the strategic importance of AI, equipping me with the skills to effectively utilize AI in real-world information analysis scenarios. There is a lot of information around us – the most important part is to get the right information needed as a starting point to proceed.

Number of Hours Per Week Spent on an Online MBA:  10 -12 hours per week including classes on Saturdays

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? As a highly driven and motivated individual who thrives on responsibility and embraces challenging tasks, my long-term professional goal is to advance my career towards senior leadership roles. I am committed to continuous development and am eager to take on opportunities that align with this ambition.

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