Yuliya Yudina

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE WORKING AS DIRECTOR OF ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AT EA GROUP HOLDING.

EA Group Holding is an investment management company. I have a very exciting and challenging role helping to grow businesses. We invest time and effort with a business strategy, best HR practices and bringing order to the startup environment with business processes and project management tools. It is fascinating to join companies from startup to scaleup to maturity stage.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE YOU’VE FACED IN YOUR CAREER SO FAR? HOW DID YOU OVERCOME IT?

As a woman, developing professionally in a predominantly male oriented organizational structure has been hard. I have faced and overcome many personal and institutional challenges. I faced “glass ceiling” issues and “maternity penalties” both from HR and employees. Fortunately, the world is becoming a fairer place. Inclusion and diversity are vital parts in many corporations. Women got their place starting at C-level positions and HR, but things are changing. I’m excited about positive changes and being part of them.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO PURSUE THE EXECUTIVE MBA? HOW WILL THIS IN-DEPTH BUSINESS KNOWLEDGE HELP TO ADVANCE YOUR CAREER?

At a certain stage in my career, I started asking myself a question, “What is next?”. What can I achieve if I live up to my true potential? Where can I make the biggest positive impact? IE University is helping me progress in my path and enrich my life. They have allowed me to discover more about myself and others. The Executive MBA degree opens doors. I believe that by obtaining this degree, it will push my career forward as it has happened with graduates before me.  

IN YOUR OPINION, HOW WILL THE EXECUTIVE MBA ADD VALUE TO YOUR PROFESSIONAL FUTURE?

IE University has given me the latest tools and insights about business and finance, and they did it by bringing it all together coherently through an entrepreneurship lens. The program, as well as the people I met, will forever hold a special meaning in my professional growth path. The knowledge and connections I have acquired give me access to positions I could not pursue without the Executive MBA.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO TAKE PART IN THE GLOBAL IMMERSION WEEK? AND WHAT GUIDED YOU TO CHOOSE BERLIN AS YOUR DESTINATION?

Experiences that take place over a compressed period tend to have a higher and longer lasting impact than those over a longer period of time. As part of the Execute MBA program at IE Business School, the Global Immersion Week is a valuable opportunity and I took advantage of an incomparable change to enrich my learning experience.

I decided to choose Berlin because it has a reputation of being a start-up and innovation center in Europe. My expectations were to learn about the latest trends in entrepreneurship, innovation and digital technology. The in-depth, first-hand experience of German startups and VC the city offered was instrumental. The trip covered both the business world and cultural aspects. We visited historical locations including parts of the Berlin wall. This truly cosmopolitan city thrives in its multiculturalism. Fortunately, I also got the chance to meet incredible individuals along the way from GOMBA and IE University alumni. I am grateful to IE University for making this happen.

IN GENERAL, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY WAS THE MOST INTERESTING EXPERIENCE FOR YOU DURING THIS GLOBAL IMMERSION WEEK?

It is difficult to pick a particular moment and assign a “most interesting” denomination to it. I believe the overall experience—the learning, the meetings and the incisive individuals in a multicultural, urban setting—was the highlight. It is the amalgamation of these particular experiences that I found most interesting. Individually they would have been interesting, but together they were truly incredible.

WHILE AT THE GIW, YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET WITH REAL HEAVYWEIGHTS FROM LEADING COMPANIES. WHICH BUSINESS LEADER INSPIRED YOU THE MOST? WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THEM?

 We mostly met with startups. Siemens was one example of heavyweights. Their City of the Future is both a community and a business project. With the participation of citizens and employees, Siemens is developing a unique hybrid environment where the past meets the future. Combination of high-tech, green energy, and Siemens technology makes it a sustainable City District. I believe this concept of collaborative offices, squares, parks and housing is an example of a modern urban ecosystem.

AS PART OF YOUR TRIP, YOU HAD PANELS AND INFORMATIVE SESSIONS WITH LEADERS IN THE AREAS OF ENERGY AND ECOMMERCE. WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT THE ROLE OF BUSINESS IN DRIVING ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION?

Berlin, being the entrepreneurial heart of Europe, offered great insights from businesses at the forefront of innovation. We plunged into the world of startups, disrupting current ways of doing business. We also learned strategies of future unicorns that are shaping the future.

The visits we had at SumUp, MVP Factory, Merantix, SellerX, HV Capital, thermondo, Delivery Hero and others broaden the perspective on what it means to start and scale a business in Europe. Inspiring speeches by entrepreneurs provided different perspectives on how modern innovation is about finding new solutions for existing issues. It is about integrating different spheres and skills rather than disruptive inventions. Innovation is as much about discipline as it is about creativity.

There are, of course, breakthrough tech innovations in AI, IOT, and the metaverse, etc. However, the disruptive technological revolution that is yet to come has meaning only in sustainable application. Startup incubators and VCs are playing a vital role in accelerating both entrepreneurship and innovation. Berlin’s huge entrepreneurship potential has yet to be discovered. It is a start but a very impressive one.

WHILE IN BERLIN, YOU ALSO GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH ALUMNI FROM THE IE BUSINESS SCHOOL. HOW DO YOU THINK THIS NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY WILL BENEFIT YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIFE?

Global Immersion Week was an opportunity to expand my network. I made a number of interesting and diverse connections. I believe that we will continue to keep in touch and help each other in the future.

It was a great pleasure to meet GOMBA students and IE University alumni. My colleagues also enriched the experience through their contributions and we enjoyed good times together. The best part of the trip was sharing our experiences with these incredible people and the unforgettable memories we created together.

IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT ARE THREE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT INSIGHTS GAINED OR LESSONS LEARNT FROM THIS EXPERIENCE?

Global Immersion Week was incredibly insightful. First, the companies we learned about were able to identify problems worth solving and created immense value for customers by developing innovative products, utilizing technology and data analytics.

Second, sustainability takes center-stage in the business world. It is a real challenge that many companies are tackling now.  Global Immersion Week helped to understand this better and taught us how to solve the world’s challenges through new lenses: building sustainable ecosystems that will impact our world.

Third, our ideas can improve the way we do business in traditional industries. It made me think about how I do my part to make this planet a better place to live in. In order to change, you need to feel the heat.

HOW WILL YOUR TIME AT IE BUSINESS SCHOOL, AND ENRICHING EXPERIENCES LIKE THE GLOBAL IMMERSION WEEK, ADD VALUE TO YOUR CAREER?

It was an inspirational week. I learned, through experience, that best practices were immensely beneficial for my performance and professional development. The holding company I am currently working in focuses on digital, AI and fintech industries. I gained insight into this space, which helped me to further the interests of the company in these fields.

Berlin is home to a dynamic and inclusive startup market in these industries. Attending Global Immersion Week in this city exposed me to an environment that would otherwise remain difficult to access through my company. I shared insights with my colleagues at work and we already have put them in motion.

Going forward, I believe that connecting my classmates and representatives of the companies we met in Berlin with my work colleagues will assist in developing new business projects.

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF ADVICE YOU HAVE FOR OTHER STUDENTS PURSUING, OR INTENDING TO PURSUE, THE EXECUTIVE MBA?

It is an experience that I would advise any professional to take, whether they are pursuing a corporate career or entrepreneurship path. It gives access to the most recent business knowledge, a network of great professionals, and, moreover, a lifetime of memories.

I also advise students to make the best of it in terms of learning, expanding your network and getting a degree from the top business school.

Getting excited about the learning journey ahead!