Lawrence Amadi

Tell us about your professional experience.

My professional experience so far has mostly been in technology; I’ve worked in the field for over 20 years. I have been with KPMG for most of my career as well and spent five of those years on secondment in South Africa. I’ve worked across Africa and hold a global position within the IT Internal Audit Service Network of KPMG, focusing on learning and development.

My industry is predominantly based within the TMT (Technology, Media & Telecoms) and Financial Services areas.  In my role, I support my clients in building lasting solutions around technology controls, resilience and continuity. My career has helped me make a very positive impact on my clients as I consider my role important for sustainability and good governance.

How did you decide to study the Global Executive MBA at IE University?

I’ve always wanted to study for an MBA but never found the ideal time to get around to it. Then the global pandemic hit and we all shifted to working remotely. This made a huge difference in my decision.

I felt I would benefit from an MBA from a prestigious institution such as IE University for many reasons, including gaining new ways of thinking, benefiting from the depth of the Global Executive MBA cohort’s experience, problem-solving and of course, networking.

The program has helped me deepen my leadership and enrich my overall engagement with my teams. I have more depth and show more emotional intelligence with my teams. I have also learned to better engage with my team and this makes a lot of difference.

How is your sector changing?

The African tech and business landscape has continued to evolve and attract direct foreign investment into the continent, especially in the fintech and agritech areas. We’re seeing an increasing level of activity and connectedness in the open AI and open banking areas. We have great quality 5G here as well, with faster connectivity and better service.

I am currently working on a project building bots for a client and leveraging Automation Anywhere for development. This is a testament to the fact that Africa is keeping pace with global trends and development.

From a business standpoint, South Africa, Egypt, Kenya and Nigeria are showing strong growth potential and this is positive for Africa as a continent. Based on an African Development Bank report, despite the minor setbacks due to the pandemic, 53 of the 54 African Countries posted positive growth. So, it seems the future is very bright for the African tech sector.

How has the Global Executive MBA changed your professional career trajectory?

Prior to commencing the Global Executive MBA, I was about to take on a second portfolio (CFO Advisory), which was slightly different from my Tech Assurance portfolio. I needed to be better prepared for this added responsibility and the program was the perfect tool to ready me to better engage with CFOs and finance directors. Overall, the connections I’ve made have been amazing and so has the new phase of this professional and personal journey.

Have you benefited from the IE Alumni community?

Yes, I have—the Global Executive MBA cohort is probably the best out there. There are 26 of us and we have remained in close contact post graduation. We have an active WhatsApp group and celebrate important events and milestones together. We also have a quarterly virtual drinks session where we check in on what's going on with the group. So, in summary, life is beautiful post MBA.

Do you have any advice for prospective students considering the MBA at IE University?

If I were to describe the Global Executive MBA in three words I would say, passion, resilience and growth. With this in mind, my advice for prospective MBA candidates would be to go for it. What are you waiting for? It changes you a lot and makes you a stronger and better candidate. It will make a lot of difference to your career and as a person too.