Alumni Spotlight: Karim Elbardissy - Investment Director, Board Director, Private Equity Professional, Portfolio Manager GEMBA delivers theory and instant benefits
Karim Elbardissy was already enjoying the benefits and opportunities of a successful career built on substantial experience in consulting and corporate roles in the UK and Middle East and supported by a range of professional qualifications. So, why would a busy working professional consider undertaking the Manchester Global Executive MBA (GEMBA)?
Karim explains the motivation, barriers and benefits. “I already had almost 20 years of work experience when I applied for GEMBA. I also had a number of professional certificates but I acquired the last one around 10 years before my GEMBA application – so I had basically stopped studying in a structured manner for almost a decade. Of course, I do all the relevant reading and keep up to date but I had reached a point where I needed a refresher on the theoretical framework. This was the main reason for the MBA but I was still very reluctant for another reason.
I felt I was too old to go back into a class and didn’t want to join a group of much younger and relatively inexperienced students. So, what actually triggered me joining GEMBA was the fact that it's an executive programme and would allow me to focus more on the theory, alongside people of similar shared experience.
How did you first connect with the University and the Dubai Branch?
The value of a local Branch started actually when choosing the course itself. I was doing a lot of research and very randomly, I received an email from the University (I had been corresponding with a lot of universities for years). The email said that a team from the Dubai Branch was visiting Riyadh to introduce GEMBA, at a hotel about a 30-minute drive from where I live. So, I thought why not?
I went to this presentation and met Professor Malcolm Smith – the first professor I had met from the University. He talked about the courses he gave and then there was a presentation on the programme and the alumni started sharing their experiences. From the very beginning, the Dubai Branch was a motivator for me to start the GEMBA.
The second benefit of the branch was during the programme and the Middle East presence definitely made it easier for communications. I even met some of the team when visiting Dubai on business. They also advised on elective courses to choose so, yes; the team was very helpful indeed.
I was definitely biased to the UK when looking at MBA options. I like the British education system and I'm used to it. When I was working in the UK, I realised that if I wanted to continue my education, it should be through the UK. Add to this is the appeal of the blended learning programme, and the opportunity to travel, and GEMBA was the obvious choice.
What elements of the GEMBA programme attracted you?
I wanted to have the theoretical framework of my work experience. I am a private equity professional and never had the chance to study private equity – there were no courses in the late 1990s, early 2000s but I read a lot, of course. Definitely, one of the highlights of my learning journey was the Venture Capital and Private Equity (VCPE). I discovered the theoretical framework to my work plus the massive experience from Malcolm Smith – the course leader. I learned a lot from him because I also took the negotiation skills course which he leads along, with the VCPE. The study highlights include the live experiences and case studies we worked on.
How was the study experience with your cohort?
It was a brilliant group because it was very diverse in terms of background, industry sectors, demographics and nationalities. In our cohort, we had engineers, doctors (physicians), people with commercial and IT experience, and others with a finance background, like me. And also, in terms of seniority, we had CEOs, entrepreneurs - people who are actually managing or leading their own business – and physicians, who are heads of their departments. I've learned a lot, honestly and I've also built friendships globally, which is very important as well. We had people from Brazil, UK, Saudi Arabia, Egypt (my home country) and from across the globe, which was also very enriching in terms of the learning experience.
Going back to the classroom was not very difficult but what was very challenging was the time management. As an executive, you have your work responsibility and then you have your family - I’m married with kids. Time management is the most challenging aspect for anyone considering an MBA.
Were you able to apply business theory to your day job?
Yes, by referring to the theory and the experience that I've had. I was recently drafting the strategy for my department and was actually referring to the teaching and trying to match the theory with the practice I am focusing on right now. I've been referring to some of the lectures, just to reflect on how to develop the strategy for the private equity department. So that's one example for VCPE.
The other example was in negotiations. During the course itself, I was actually working on negotiating a merger transaction and I reflected a lot on the whole cycle of the negotiation, the steps that we had to do, and I actually followed it and I documented it. People typically don't do negotiations in a structured manner but when you take the course, you realise it's a science and a process but there is also an art. It helped me a lot and the deal was completely successful, as well.
I feel that I'm a different person, after the MBA. I'm more confident than before because you get to meet and study with great people with different backgrounds and you realise that you're doing well.
Were there any particular highlights from your GEMBA experience?
There were a lot because it was an amazing experience, actually. One of the things that attracted me to this specific programme was that it included travel and face-to-face workshops rather than just remote online studying. The blended learning approach was amazing and the travel was really enjoyable. Of course, the workshops were intense but you also get to bond with people and make friends because you're working closely with them.
I should mention one course in particular - Operating and Communicating Value - which was exceptionally helpful as it acquainted me with the marketing and operations side of business, which is not my area of expertise. It gave me the right frameworks to assess the portfolio companies under my management.
I also went on my first trip to Manchester, which I loved because I'm a big Manchester United fan and it was great to see the Old Trafford stadium. I live in Saudi Arabia and go to Dubai every month on business but I've never studied there, so this was a new experience. Singapore was also amazing – again, it was my first visit and I liked it very much.
The people and the networking was a really big highlight for me, along with the quality of the professors - most had both the theoretical background and professional experience.
My graduation in Manchester was also a highlight and we enjoyed it a lot with the very fascinating old buildings and all the rituals that the University does. All the family came with me and the kids kept saying “this is like Harry Potter and this reminds us of Hogwarts”. It was amazing, it was fun and we really enjoyed it. It was a trip that the family will always remember (and the weather was very nice).
What’s the alumni experience like in Saudi Arabia?
Honestly, the communication with the alumni group here is so easy, with WhatsApp groups, for example. There are some active people but as I'm super busy at the moment with career developments, it has been very difficult to participate over the past couple of months. But I'm planning to do more and to contribute more to the community.
Are you a lifelong learner?
Definitely, I will continue because I think I missed a lot by not sitting in a class for 10 years. It makes you realise there is a lot yet to learn and it makes you humble again. So, I will definitely continue but I don't know when, at the moment.