Kostya Artyukhov

“Empathetic visionary Strategy & Finance leader driving transformation, growth, and performance of multinational businesses”

Graduation Year: HEC Paris Class of 2020

Current Role: Tipico; Insights and FP&A Director

Why did you decide to pursue an Executive MBA?

There were two main expectations. The first one, increasing my network outside of my industry. The second – learn from that network and broaden my perspective.

What lead you to the HEC Paris EMBA, and how did you know this school and this program was the right fit for you?

I did some research on European business schools. Reputation of HEC Paris for Leadership and Entrepreneurship were determining factors for me.

Which track did you join?

January 2019. The modules took place every 6-7 weeks and would normally last for 9-10 days. It was convenient for me in terms of travel. Plus, it was a very international track as people were travelling in from all over the world.

How did you balance the demands of work, family, and the program while studying?

To be completely frank, that was tough. The program was not a walk in the park. I was lucky that my family respected my choice. It was a different story in terms of my leadership at work.

Being extremely disciplined in terms of time allocation (including evenings and weekends) was a key to finding a balance between family, studies, networking and work.

How did you customize your learning experience?

I chose the innovation and entrepreneurship specialization. It opened a door to taking a one-week course at Babson Colleague in Boston. It was very different experience vs. Europe.

One module I did in Doha, what allowed me to broaden my perspective of the Gulf region. There was also an opportunity to do a module in China but I missed it. It was a mistake. International mobility enriches EMBA experience a lot.

What’s a standout memory from your time at HEC Paris?

Quality of the cohort I was lucky to be part of. They were absolutely great.

People respected each other and shared knowledge with each other.

One memory was really special. During one of the modules, I found myself at a lunch table with 10 French speaking people from my cohort, me being the only non-French speaking. The level of respect & inclusion was so high that shortly I realized that everyone at the table was speaking English as my classmates didn’t want me to feel excluded.

What are some of the biggest takeaways you gained from the experience?

The program taught me to look at everything I’m doing in business through the eyes of a general manager. This was a game changer. Today, I can’t look at things in business differently

How has the program helped you grow personally or professionally since graduating?

On personal side, I would highlight getting a balanced self-confidence, built on foundations of high self-awareness. The program puts lots of focus on self-development.

Professionally, the program taught me to be agile and open minded. Since graduation I’ve been able to change industry twice and join a couple of advisory boards.

Is this the industry and role you envisioned yourself when you entered the program?

Today, I work in the Gaming industry for a company called Tipico. The scope of my responsibilities covers Insights, Commercial Finance, FP&A.

Could I have imagined when completing EMBA in the midst of Covid-19 that I would transition from brewing to frozen foods and then to gaming and join the advisory board of BestPlace in parallel? Absolutely not. Methodology and knowledge I got during the program plus above-mentioned self-confidence made it possible.

What advice would you share with someone thinking about pursuing an Executive MBA?

I will pass the advice I got from ex-Colleague, who completed his EMBA a few years earlier. I was hesitant if I should go for it and he just said: “Kostya, if you are thinking of it that means there is a reason. Don’t listen to anyone. Just do it!”

The program flies very fast. You blink your eyes, and 18 months are gone. Don’t miss it.

Do EMBA for experience, not for CV. EMBA is a journey, and this journey is very transformational, and it is not for weak-hearted!

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