MBA Alumni Ambassadors Spotlight
Let us introduce the Amsterdam MBA Ambassadors. The spotlight on:
Momet Abas, MBA class of 2011
Momet is an MBA Ambassador, born and raised in the Netherlands. He lives in Amsterdam since 2008 and has a 4 year old son. He enrolled in the 2 year part-time programme in 2009 and completed his MBA in 2011. Momet currently works as Commercial Contract Manager within the legal department of Hewlett-Packard (Enterprise Services). In this role he is responsible for the Commercial IT contract management and issue resolution of HP’s contract with a Global customer active in 56 countries. He applies his skills in business management, audit, IT risk management, IT governance, IT security and Compliance and IT (Privacy) law in reviewing and optimising IT outsourcing contracts (both existing and new business) and resolving contract issues. Besides his full time job, Momet is also active in pro bono work for organisations with limited means. He carries out these activities though HP Social Impact or through an external organisation like the intermediary Laluz.
Could you tell us more about your educational and professional background?
I have a bachelor’s degree in International Economics and Law, a master’s degree in Business Administration (from the Amsterdam Business School) and an Executive Master Degree in IT Audit and Advisory from the Erasmus School of Accounting and Assurance.
I started my career in (IT) Risk Management within the big 4, PwC and Deloitte for which I worked for a total of 10 years up to senior management level. In the last few years at Deloitte I set-up and managed a team and service line in the Netherlands that focused on contracts risks and compliance helping companies like IBM and Microsoft with software license compliance reviews.
After leaving Deloitte in 2009 I spent a period doing IT Advisory and Compliance work for several large international companies on an interim basis, and I joined HP in 2013 as a Commercial Contract Manager. My duties included building the practice of Commercial Contract Management in the Netherlands and recruiting people from the MBA for HP. We currently have four ABS-MBA alumni within HP Netherlands.
Why did you decide to pursue your MBA at the Amsterdam Business School?
After 10 years of working in IT Audit and Advisory and a 2 year career development program with Deloitte in New York in 2006 and 2007, I was ready for the next step. In my view this meant leaving Audit and Advisory and focusing more on a broader business and IT role. Then I started looking into MBA’s in the Netherlands and quickly the Amsterdam MBA came up in the top 5 of Business Schools in the Netherlands. Although the Amsterdam MBA at that time in 2009 recently started they had an excellent program at a good location, with great facilities, location and an impressive line-up of professors with a combination of professional, advisory, academic and executive management credentials.
You currently hold the role of MBA Ambassador. Can you tell us more about it?
As an alumnus I find it important to stay in contact with the ABS and influence ABS activities to improve the programme. The MBA programme at Amsterdam Business School has a very good reputation and I would like to make people aware of about the opportunities that this programme offers based on my own positive experience. Hopefully this will raise the rankings of the programme in relation to other MBA programmes as well. As an MBA Ambassador I am actively involved in the promotion of the MBA programme (e.g. through information evenings), while working together with the programme management on programme improvements, connecting career services with the HR department, communicating with prospective students and many other interesting activities.
What was the highlight of your studies?
I was very pleased with all MBA classes in terms of content, teaching methods, support systems and professors, but the classes that were most valuable for me and my future role were Strategic Negotiations, Executive Process and Amsterdam Leadership Program classes. I also enjoyed solving the Harvard Business Cases. As a contract manager, you can imagine that these skills are crucial next to the hard skills in law, commercial aspects and IT.
Furthermore, the trips to New York and Beijing were a great way to connect both to other fellow MBA students as well as to the local people and businesses. In China, in addition to learning how to do business in China we visited Lenovo computers while in New York we visited several Real Estate businesses and networked with locals.
Who was your favorite professor?
Actually all professors had a good influence and impact on me, especially Marketing and IT, although the classes of Alexander Rinnooy Kan (Strategic Negotiations) and Hans Strikwerda (Executive Process) stand out for me. But I was also impressed by some visiting professors like (ex) board members of ING, ABN AMRO, KPMG, KLM.
Could you tell us more about your current additional activities (beside your job-if you have any)?
I am involved very much into “focused” networking and continued learning to keep myself sharp, learn from others and let others learn from me. For example, I attend and contribute to Platform Outsourcing Nederland, the NOREA (Dutch IT Auditors Association) to develop material in the area of IT law and organising workshops for various groups such as the Dutch Contract Managers organization (NBCM) and the International Association for Commercial and Contract Management (IACCM)
How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Professional, analytical, team-player
What is your favorite place?
Amsterdam and New York are both my favorite places, as they both offer so much in diversity in terms of people, living and professional opportunities, both in its own way and size of course.
What are your favorite sports?
Fitness and tennis are my favorite sports.
What is your advice for potential MBA students?
Get involved in “Focused Networking” and Continued Learning; also do this after you finish the MBA, which in my view is a good starting point. How much you put into it will determine how far you progress.
Also, see how you can use your skills to make a social impact in the lives of others. Completing an MBA is great, this also subscribes actually that we are gifted people compared to many others in our community. Helping others to succeed is probably even more rewarding.
(June 2014)
Taner Sevincer, MBA class of 2011
Could you tell us more about your educational and professional background?
I started off as a monetary economist with an MSc specializing in financial crisis and social loss. All this was before the 2008 crisis and I could not have imagined that this topic would be at the heart of economic debate for the upcoming decennium. Having a broad and universal mindset I eventually accepted an auditing role at a private bank. This was a real eye opener and within auditing I obtained full practical understanding regarding the functioning of the bank. Our CAE held and an MBA degree from Birmingham University and with his guidance I became a Compliance & Operational Risk expert and even obtained my Certified Internal Auditing degree. My next career step was in consulting being employed by a US based consulting company with key portfolios being: finance, auditing and compliance. Eventually, during one of my assignments, I got recruited by BP. Being a bit of an odd bird; I accepted the Inventory Executive role for the BENELUX, once again stepping out of my comfort zone. BP is a fine corporation in which I can fulfill most of my business needs, domestic as well as international. During my time at BP I pursued and achieved my MBA degree at the ABS. At BP I am now responsible for Financial Operations being the Financial Operations Manager for Belgium and the Netherlands (BENE). My career evolution is very diverse: economist to auditor and from banking to oil. My open mindset is well accompanied by the MBA title and a good reflection of diversity.
Why did you decide to pursue your MBA at the Amsterdam Business School?
Nationwide our Dutch business model is changing rapidly. Being a small open economy in a vastly globalizing world I believe that an internationally accepted and appreciated degree as the MBA is beneficial for all. Working for a multinational myself the Amsterdam MBA provided me with the essential toolkit which made me understand the major driving factors of such an entity, in all its aspects. I was assured that combining my MSc degree in Economics with the MBA would be a valuable asset. In this my partnership with the ABS did not prove me wrong. No better place to obtain your MBA at one of the finest Business School and a prime business location: The City of Amsterdam!
You currently hold the role of MBA Ambassador. Can you tell us more about it?
The MBA is about business and believe. The investment and effort are well worth the time and my MBA paid off well in a social, academic and business way. After receiving it’s time to give back and I believe that our Business School is well equipped to become the best MBA in the Netherlands. Therefore I want to contribute and add my efforts as an ambassador to achieve this goal. Furthermore I want to create awareness regarding the added value of an MBA title. In historic sense this seems to be snowed under in the NL but this is rapidly changing and I want to be part of this change. The relevance of an MBA title surpasses Anglo-Saxon countries and the Amsterdam Business School has all the right ingredients to be part of this momentum.
What was the highlight of your studies?
There were surely a lot of highlights related solely to the curriculum of the MBA. For example, our Business Trip to China and NYC or the special meetings / lectures we had from former and current top CEO’s, like ABN AMRO’s Rijkman Groenink. Foremost the special relationship which was built up with my fellow MBA classmates can definitely be considered as one of the primary highlights.
Who was your favorite professor?
It’s always difficult to point out just one person seen the fact that all of them had their own appeal and peculiarities. Prof. Alexander Rinnooy Kan and Arnoud Boot were powerful lecturers.
How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Cosmopolitan, humoristic and ambitious.
What is your favorite place?
Amsterdam, Tokyo, New York City and surely the place we call home ;-)
What is your advice for potential MBA students?
Make an assessment of your future ambitions and evaluate what role the MBA can play in obtaining these goals. In most cases, the MBA will prove to be a valuable investment in you as a person, socially and business-wise.
(June 2014)