With a background in the Energy sector, alumnus Himanshu Gautam charted a new course with the Stockholm School of Economics Executive MBA. Considered one of the best in the Nordics and Balitcs, the SSE Executive MBA gave him the global perspective to navigate a career transition from the energy sector to FMCG operations at Danone.
While Himanshu Gautam was working in renewable energy, he was curious to see how an Executive MBA program might inspire him to map out a new path. The Stockholm School of Economics (SSE) Executive MBA program offered the tools and the global perspective to show him the way.
SSE’s reputation as one of the best in the Nordics and Baltics made it an attractive choice, while the global perspective sealed his decision. He was headed to the beautiful capital of Sweden for what became a pivotal experience.
“The pieces of the puzzle came together… Just three days after I graduated, I had the perfect launching pad to start a new journey,” Himanshu says of his post-MBA experience. (0:05)
The Executive MBA program enabled him to make an exciting career change.
The SSE Executive MBA, the school’s flagship program, connects theory with practical problem-solving through its innovative MBALive® approach. Traveling to Hong Kong, Singapore, and Silicon Valley provided a diverse, global perspective.
SSE Executive MBA students gain even more than a global perspective. Alongside the MBA degree, they can also earn up to three extra certificates. These are awarded in collaboration with the Stanford Engineering Center for Global & Online Education, the National University of Singapore, and the Global Network for Advanced Management.
The SSE Executive MBA played a “crucial part” in changing the “entire trajectory” of Himanshu’s professional and personal life, he explains. (2:19) That’s often part of the SSE EMBA, which equips students to face challenges and prepares them for success in international business.
The Executive MBA’s Leadership Live program, meanwhile, guides students toward becoming better leaders by exploring and developing their strengths.
SSE prides itself on offering a uniquely open, inclusive, and collaborative learning climate. The diverse student body, with a variety of professional backgrounds, enhances the learning experience.
Himanshu says, “It was an interesting cohort. It was a perfect amalgamation of different, diverse perspectives.” (1:03)
Bringing a variety of views together enables better problem solving, Himanshu says. He explains, “When we bring a new and diverse set of solutions and we merge them together, a more perfect solution comes out of it, not only for the organization, but also for the world.” (1:10)
As Himanshu experienced, the SSE Executive MBA program provides perspectives that enhance the impact students can make.
The course offered the opportunity to hone key skills such as stakeholder management and networking. Himanshu highlights that these skills enable him to “be proactive and to be ready for whatever new challenge might arise.” (1:41) He leverages those competencies every day in his new role as Global Program and Impact Associate Director- Operations Excellence at Danone.
Himanshu shifted his career from the renewable energy sector to pursue a newfound interest in operations excellence in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) space.
The program was the “perfect launching pad” for this transition, Himanshu says. (0:11) He says his new role is one of the “best roles [he] could have ever imagined.” (0:15)
Himanshu’s journey was not only professional; it was personal. He learned more about himself through the curriculum, linking his learning to practical business challenges and exposure to various perspectives. “I got to know me. That is the most crucial thing. And I’m thankful for that,” Himanshu says. (2:23)
Himanshu credits the SSE Executive MBA program with his success in pursuing his life and career in the Netherlands, where he landed his leading role after graduation.
Aside from his career, he enjoys the scenic and calm atmosphere in the Netherlands. He also values the work-life balance his new life offers him. He shares, “I absolutely love to just go for long walks across the canals just listening to music. It provides the serenity and calmness which is required to have a perfect equilibrium in your work life.” (1:50)
Reflecting on his journey, Himanshu Gautam is certain that the Stockholm School of Economics Executive MBA was more than an academic program. It provided the skills, network, and global perspective needed to pivot successfully from the energy sector to a fulfilling leadership role in FMCG operations excellence.
The diverse cohort and global exposure broadened his horizons. Ultimately, this Executive MBA changed the course of his professional and personal life. It led to self-discovery and opportunities he most probably wouldn’t have found otherwise.
Himanshu’s story is a testament to the profound impact an Executive MBA from SSE can have.
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