I am a multidisciplinary corporate executive that helps companies grow their business activities in international key markets. I advise the executive leadership on emerging global trends. I serve as a chairman, merger & acquisition advisor, board member, and strategic partner for a few businesses across different sectors. Through strategic partnerships, I also help companies in their growth phase to expand their businesses internationally. I have an amazing wife who comes from an architectural background and works as an airport planner. I have two boys who are both academically and athletically driven. Together, we are a great team and travel everywhere.

Particularly, the IDBA programme has contributed significantly to my plans, and I see it as the next essential step in my professional career. Getting into something like the IDBA programme is exactly what I have been looking forward to for the past 5+ years. I was originally drawn to UniAthena because of the combination of the IMBA + DBA dual degree programme. My choice has been reinforced owing to UniAthena’s online learning methodology, as this is how I learn efficiently in my busy life.

My plan is twofold. On one hand, I am planning to reach the next level of my distribution company in global trade by implementing a stronger structure to sell products globally. On the other hand, in line with my career, I want to expand my strategic partnerships with more companies and start my own consulting firm. I am passionate about learning new management skills, critical analysis, strategic thinking,team-building skills, and sharpening my communication attributes. I believe an Executive MBA will help me to improve myself and to increase my business in every dimension.

My understanding is that a great teacher can make a big difference in the learning journey of a student. A neuroscience background would help teachers to understand each student's learning style. On a broader note, a great teacher should possess the following general competencies; patience, empathy, collaboration, communication skills, and be a great listener. 

In addition to my role as Global VP & COO at Purely Good, Iam also the  VP-International Business and Sales at EXON Technologies. Besides that, I lead an innovative company aimed at reducing plastic consumption as Senior VP Business Development. One other area of expertise of mine is business acquisitions (M&A) in a variety of industries. I always look forward to ''what's next'' across multiple disciplines. I like recognizing trends and patterns early and understanding their implications for both markets and consumer behaviour globally. This, for me, is the ideal job.  
 

I will be using principles-based thinking. I will be analyzing the situation, gathering all the necessary facts to boil things down to their fundamentals. Finally, implementing an innovative and tailored-made solution to the problem using external actors and experts in the field. 

Each day that has passed comes with challenges, and tackling them is the fun part. In general, it’s a positive trait to be capable of adapting quickly to change, be creative, and possess grit and drive. I have many examples to share with you. At age 17, I borrowed money to purchase an old $500 car. I fixed the aesthetic and made a profit of $1,000. Since then, I have repeated this process 70 times. At age 23, I purchased my first property. I bought it for $105,000, renovated it, and made $100,000 in profit. I’ve repeated this process 7 times. In 2011, I started a distribution company and turned it into a $25-million business. I lead by example and show my team that I "walk the talk", always being the first to arrive and the last to leave.

Improving my communication skills is always the first thing I want to change. Soft skills are generally less exposed at school and in employment. Therefore, communication is the one skill that is important on a day-to-day basis.

Books: The Future is Better Than You Think, by Peter Diamandis; and The Biography of Elon Musk.

Movie: Limitless with Bradley Cooper

I suggest analyzing several cases in various industries with different scenarios of successes and failures. This will help translate strategy into leadership, open your eyes to a bigger picture, and make you think differently. The Socratic method for analysis, using real-world implications, is key. Being cross-functional allows one to develop a broader perspective in evaluating each business decision, whether they are financial, operational, or strategic. Gaining familiarity with a broad range of sectors is an asset. Travelling a lot will provide a much larger perspective of the world, from a business and global perspective.