Doubts Before Starting
Despite having 12 years of business experience and a business degree earned in 2011, I had long struggled to scale my business. Since 2018, I actively sought solutions—reading books, consulting experts—but I realized I needed a systematic approach. It was only in 2022 that I decided to enroll in the EMBA program at NUGSB.
I’ll admit, I had doubts: would I be able to balance study and business? Would I have enough time? Would the program provide real tools for growth? But just after the first few modules, I realized it was one of the best decisions I had made in my career.
Insights That Changed My Thinking
Every module opened up new horizons for me. It’s hard to single out a particular professor—they were all outstanding—but some subjects had a special impact on how I now see business:
Management and Organization (Professor Onajomo Akemu)
Before EMBA, I viewed team management as something intuitive. But Professor Akemu demonstrated how to build relationships in a competitive environment, distribute roles, and create a system that works without constant oversight. I restructured my company, introduced clear KPIs, and delegated more responsibilities—which immediately improved efficiency.
Economics (Professor James Anton)
This module truly opened my eyes to where the money is. I used to focus on operations, but Professor Anton explained how to craft business strategies that account for macroeconomic factors, growth cycles, and investment opportunities. Now I make decisions not just based on current profit but on long-term trends.
Entrepreneurship (Professor Jiyang Dong)
One of the most practical modules. Using real-world cases, Professor Dong showed how to grow a company in a competitive environment. I learned about pull and push strategies for promoting products and companies. Understanding these concepts greatly helped me with sales and marketing. I also used to believe that if you didn’t start a business by age 25, it would be difficult to start at 40. But that’s not true—if you know the tools and understand customer psychology, you can confidently start a business at 40.
Strategy in Emerging Markets (Professor Venkat Subramanian)
Every developing country has its own specifics—capital markets, legal systems, labor markets, business regulations, etc. Since our country is still developing, this course helped me understand how to work in such markets and succeed. Through live online case studies, we saw the systemic challenges companies face and learned what to do to avoid them.
How Has My Management Style Changed?
What Changed in My Communication?
I used to talk a lot and listen little. EMBA taught me to ask the right questions, negotiate based on interests instead of positions, and conduct dialogue in a way that makes all parties feel valued.
Conclusion: EMBA Is Not Just a Diploma, It’s a New Level of Thinking
Today, my business is growing not just through operational improvements, but thanks to strategic decisions I’ve learned to make. Where I used to think in terms of “here and now,” I now see opportunities where others see risks.
Did I have doubts before enrolling? Yes.
Were my expectations met? More than that.
EMBA is an investment that pays off not only in financial terms but also in the quality of leadership, scale of thinking, and feeling secure about tomorrow.
Despite having 12 years of business experience and a business degree earned in 2011, I had long struggled to scale my business. Since 2018, I actively sought solutions—reading books, consulting experts—but I realized I needed a systematic approach. It was only in 2022 that I decided to enroll in the EMBA program at NUGSB.
I’ll admit, I had doubts: would I be able to balance study and business? Would I have enough time? Would the program provide real tools for growth? But just after the first few modules, I realized it was one of the best decisions I had made in my career.
Insights That Changed My Thinking
Every module opened up new horizons for me. It’s hard to single out a particular professor—they were all outstanding—but some subjects had a special impact on how I now see business:
Management and Organization (Professor Onajomo Akemu)
Before EMBA, I viewed team management as something intuitive. But Professor Akemu demonstrated how to build relationships in a competitive environment, distribute roles, and create a system that works without constant oversight. I restructured my company, introduced clear KPIs, and delegated more responsibilities—which immediately improved efficiency.
Economics (Professor James Anton)
This module truly opened my eyes to where the money is. I used to focus on operations, but Professor Anton explained how to craft business strategies that account for macroeconomic factors, growth cycles, and investment opportunities. Now I make decisions not just based on current profit but on long-term trends.
Entrepreneurship (Professor Jiyang Dong)
One of the most practical modules. Using real-world cases, Professor Dong showed how to grow a company in a competitive environment. I learned about pull and push strategies for promoting products and companies. Understanding these concepts greatly helped me with sales and marketing. I also used to believe that if you didn’t start a business by age 25, it would be difficult to start at 40. But that’s not true—if you know the tools and understand customer psychology, you can confidently start a business at 40.
Strategy in Emerging Markets (Professor Venkat Subramanian)
Every developing country has its own specifics—capital markets, legal systems, labor markets, business regulations, etc. Since our country is still developing, this course helped me understand how to work in such markets and succeed. Through live online case studies, we saw the systemic challenges companies face and learned what to do to avoid them.
How Has My Management Style Changed?
- From intuition to systems – I now rely on data and strategic frameworks, not just experience.
- From control to trust – I’ve learned to delegate and build processes that allow the team to work independently.
- From tactics to strategy – I’ve stopped “putting out fires” and started thinking 3–5 years ahead.
What Changed in My Communication?
I used to talk a lot and listen little. EMBA taught me to ask the right questions, negotiate based on interests instead of positions, and conduct dialogue in a way that makes all parties feel valued.
Conclusion: EMBA Is Not Just a Diploma, It’s a New Level of Thinking
Today, my business is growing not just through operational improvements, but thanks to strategic decisions I’ve learned to make. Where I used to think in terms of “here and now,” I now see opportunities where others see risks.
Did I have doubts before enrolling? Yes.
Were my expectations met? More than that.
EMBA is an investment that pays off not only in financial terms but also in the quality of leadership, scale of thinking, and feeling secure about tomorrow.
Anuar Umirzhanov
CEO
"PETROTAS" LLP
"Acton Flow" LLP
EMBA 2024
CEO
"PETROTAS" LLP
"Acton Flow" LLP
EMBA 2024