The universe is infinite and immeasurable and I believe that human knowledge is but a drop in the midst of this vast environment. As our knowledge expands so does contact with the unknown and one becomes increasingly aware of how little we know and how much more there is to be known. I look upon the question of professional improvement from the same standpoint.
When I took on the electrical engineering course, the prime objective was to graduate as a good engineer and seek a successful managerial career at companies devoted to technology or infrastructure. Whilst half way through the course I began to add on a handful of characteristics to my professional aspirations: I also wanted an international career, to become acquainted with different countries, with peoples of several nationalities, varied tongues, distinct cultures; to enrich my knowledge in the world around me and increase my own contact with diversity, with the unknown.
That was when, as an undergraduate, I sought to become a trainee abroad and thereafter began to pursue an international career at Schumberger Technology where I remained during 6 years as an ex-pat, having been assigned to several countries such as USA, Canada, Scotland, Mexico, Cuba and El Salvador deploying engineering and technical management activities in the oil and gas industry.
During this period of my life, I found myself awfully attached to far too technical activities and taking on a high level MBA was becoming a personal and professional growth plan so as to expand frontiers towards a more strategic perception concerning the management of large corporations. Once back in Brazil for over one year and somewhat restless with the comfort zone I dwelled in, I decided it was high time to stop and press the reset button on my career. I left the position I held at Weatherford Drilling Services and joined the first group of full time International MBA students at the Administration Institute Foundation (FIA).
I chose the International MBA full time format so as to seize the opportunity to dedicate myself intensively during a year to the enriching of my knowledge in business administration. I was extremely satisfied with the fruits of the decision I took. During that year I opened up my perspective of the corporate world in an indescribable manner. With the course I added on loads worth of learning to my style of leadership and strategic vision of management. I acquired extremely valuable insights in marketing, international competitiveness, negotiation, corporate governance, sustainability, innovation, value creation and people management. The consulting project was an unique opportunity to test internalized theory and the acquired networking was essential to my re-entering the market.
Having concluded the MBA I went through several processes at different companies. The International MBA prove to be impressive and of great relevance to those whom I talked to and during interviews. By the end of the MBA two solid offers were made: one at Weatherford as Business Development Manager in Rio de Janeiro and another with GE Oil & Gas as Brazil Service Manager, the latter being that which I effectively accepted.
Finally, know how is vital to the broadening of our borders but knowing people (Know Who) is fundamental to showing us the pathway. The International MBA aggregates both.
Matheus H. Scudeler Vilela
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