Newcastle University MBA Talent Book 2025

MBA Talent Book Class of 2025

Creating responsible leaders together

Contents 02 Our MBA class of 2025 – Foreword 04 Class profile 06 Their leadership journey 08 Access our MBA talent 10 Our future leaders

Newcastle University Business School – 01

Our MBA class of 2025 – Foreword

Dr Lucy Hatt Director of the MBA Programme “Our 12-month intensive MBA programme sets us apart. Taking a relational and practice-based approach, we develop our diverse student

Professor Stewart Robinson Dean of Newcastle University Business School

cohort in three phases: core skill development, preparation for global business and ultimately making a responsible and sustainable impact.

“We are proud of the Newcastle University MBA, our students and those that have

Experiential learning is at the core of our

graduated from the programme. We select the best candidates from around the world and

programme, empowering our students to apply

provide a transformative educational experience. Over the course of the programme they

and critique theory through practice, underpinned

enhance their self-awareness, integrate, and apply their learning, develop their consulting

by a transformational personal and professional

skills, and contribute to and lead multicultural teams. As a result, they have the knowledge

development journey.

and ambition to shape both their careers and the future of the organisations for which they work; a winning combination.”

“Throughout the MBA, they work on real-world tasks with live clients. At Newcastle University, we take pride in our relational approach thanks to our small cohort size. This invaluable feature enhances social learning and creates lasting professional networks that extend well beyond the programme’s duration. Diversity is a cornerstone of our educational philosophy, and we select a student cohort that is rich in terms of nationality, professional and commercial experiences, and gender representation.

“As well as learning from a world-class academic faculty, our MBA students benefit from engagement with guest speakers, competitions and a wide range of immersive industry experiences enabling the development of consultancy skills and leadership expertise.

The hallmark of a Newcastle University MBA student is their ability to take a valuable new perspective and a critical approach to established practice – as a new recruit, intern or consultancy team member.”

02 – Our MBA class of 2025 – Foreword

Our MBA class of 2025 – Foreword – 03

Effective icons, consistently applied, help users quickly and easily identify what they need or want.

We have a range of icons available to use.

These should always be used with purpose. You should use clear content, layout, and relevant icons to provide signposting for our audiences.

Icons can be used to represent different areas or concepts, as long as they are relevant to the text or information they are placed next to.

You should not create your own icons, or versions of these icons. If you need an icon which is not currently available, please contact: nubsmarketing@newcastle.ac.uk The University also has a full range of logos that we can use. All icons are available in various brand colours for flexibility of use.

Class profile

University icons

School icons

Our MBA students are chosen for their depth of experience, potential contribution to our academic community, and their wealth of expertise and insight across sectors and markets.

10

represented in our Nationalities MBA cohort

isual identity

Icons

Pre-MBA employment sector*

Where can I get the School icons?

School icons can be downloaded via the marketing dropbox: www.dropbox.com/home/NUBS

Where our cohort is from Where can I get the University icons?

Effective icons, consistently applied, help users quickly and easily identify what they need or want.

*rounded to nearest whole number

We have a range ofYou icons availablethe to University’s use. can download icons from the photolibrary: https://photolibrary.ncl.ac.uk/asset-bank

These should always be used with purpose. You should use clear content, layout, and relevant icons to provide signposting for our audiences.

3%

cons can be used to represent different areas or concepts, as long as they are relevant to the text or information they are placed next to.

Newcastle University Business School Brand Guidelines March 2024

You should not create your own icons, or versions of these icons. If you need an icon which is not 1 currently available, please contact: nubsmarketing@newcastle.ac.uk

The University also has a full range of logos that we can use. All icons are available in various brand colours for flexibility of use.

1

School icons

1

University icons 4 1

18

1

6%

6%

Other

Advertising

Power/Energy

9%

12%

24%

Education

Finance / Banking

Consumer Packaged Goods

56

2 1

1

5.5 35% 65%

years’ average Female managerial work Where can I get the School icons?

School icons can be downloadedexperience via the marketing dropbox: www.dropbox.com/home/NUBS

33% Technology

Male

Where can I get the University icons?

You can download the University’s icons from the photolibrary: https://photolibrary.ncl.ac.uk/asset-bank

Newcastle University Business School Brand Guidelines March 2024 04 – Class profile

56 Class profile – 05

Their leadership journey We’re creating leaders for the jobs of the future, technology that hasn’t been invented, and opportunities we don’t yet know about.

Throughout their MBA studies, our students work to enhance their selfawareness, integrate and apply their learning, develop their consulting skills, and contribute to, and lead, multicultural teams.

Phase one

Phase two

Phase three

Developing their core skills

Preparing them for global business

Demonstrating their impact

Students start their journey by developing a comprehensive understanding of business and management.

This phase prepares students for the key challenges of business in the 21st century and the changing landscape of the future. Students choose two electives to develop their skill set and knowledge of emerging business trends and thinking.

Students apply their MBA learning to a range of projects, enabling them to investigate and make an original contribution to issues of current concern to business.

They study: • Accounting and Finance • Organisations and People Management • Digital Transformation • Marketing • Strategic Management • Transitions in the Global Economy Business in Action Working in project teams, students practise and consolidate their understanding of core business skills in a time-bound series of intensive lectures, industry experiences and interactive workshops.

Transforming their business thinking

06 – Their leadership journey

And choose two electives, one from each group: Group A • Emerging Economies: Challenges and Opportunities • Managing for Innovation • Leading Organisational Change

Personal Development Experience Students develop their skills as a leader and team player by working with peers in a developmental environment. Through a series of exercises, they embrace new challenges that lead to real personal growth, as they learn from constructive feedback provided by practitioners, academics and fellow students.

Running throughout the year, this module focuses on providing experiential learning that builds on their consulting skills, integrates their knowledge, develops their self-awareness, and enhances their personal management style.

They study: • Personal and Professional Transformation

Boardroom Challenge Students leverage their new knowledge and leadership skills from the Business Analysis for Decision-Making module and take this opportunity to start to think like a director.

They gain an understanding of what it means to present a thorough business case to corporate executives. It’s more than education and training. It’s about developing the language, positioning, value and confidence that makes them ‘boardroom ready’.

Management Consultancy Project Students work with a live client on a team-based consultancy project to address a current business issue.

Group B • Finance and Investment • Digital Marketing • Strategic Human Resource Management

These next generation leaders are highly adaptable, resilient to change and prepared to question established norms and search for new answers.

Year-long development

They study: • Business Analysis for Decision-Making • Entrepreneurship • Corporate Social Responsibility and the Challenge of Ethical Business

Individual Project Students apply their learning to a corporate consultancy project, an entrepreneurial business plan or a research project.

Throughout the programme, business professionals are invited to contribute to the teaching and learning experience. Students are invited to attend industry-led events and participate in intensive leadership and personal development challenges.

Their leadership journey – 07

Access our MBA talent Every year, our influential MBA students make a significant contribution to business regionally, nationally and internationally. Our MBA programme combines world-leading research with experiential learning, enabling our MBA students to make an immediate contribution to your business or organisation during their programme or following graduation.

We have a variety of knowledge exchange activities for businesses and individuals to take advantage of that will: • establish a working relationship with our Business School • give you exposure as a potential employer to our MBA cohort • increase your capacity to improve your core business or pursue a new initiative through consultancy

Recruit our MBAs Regular engagement with our MBA students offers you and your organisation insight into the talent our MBA programme develops. We provide our students with a programme of self-discovery that complements their indepth industry experience, develops enhanced leadership skills and blends their academic experience with cuttingedge knowledge. It is this combination that will give your organisation the edge.

Internships Offering an MBA internship is a great and cost-effective way to increase your resource. Our MBA students have substantial work and multicultural experience, which can add value to your organisation. Gaining UK business experience is important to our MBAs and through an internship, they can do this, while providing your organisation with fresh insight on a one-off project or issue relevant to your organisation.

Consultancy projects Each year, our students work on real-time consultancy projects to investigate strategic business challenges.

You can benefit from: • a flexible resource with the option to work with either a management consultancy team or an individual selected through a competitive process • research-led solutions and recommendations • fresh insight, dynamism and knowledge There are two opportunities to utilise our consultancy offer: a team-based Management Consultancy Project, where you will be allocated a team to work with, or an individual Corporate Consultancy Project where you will choose who you want to work with from our MBA cohort. Briefings commence in January each year with project delivery and recommendations varying depending on the option you choose.

08 – Access 08 – Access our MBA our MBA talenttalent

Get in touch If you would like to recruit one of our MBA students for your organisation, or you would like to be involved in any of the opportunities outlined, please contact our experienced team via external.engagement@newcastle.ac.uk

Access our MBA talent – 09

Our future leaders

10 – Our future leaders

Our future leaders – 11

Anika AGRAWAL

Shrey BALI

a.agrawal6@newcastle.ac.uk

s.bali3@newcastle.ac.uk

Career Profile

Career Profile

Analytical, ambitious, customer-oriented, multitasking business analyst with over four years of experience with a superb customer satisfaction record; adept at interdepartmental coordination to maximise business functionality and efficiency.

Dynamic business management professional with a strong track record in growth strategy, business development and relationship management. Experience in hospitality and technology-driven real estate sectors. Demonstrates expertise in driving organisational success through strategic negotiation, analytical thinking and effective team leadership. Possesses excellent personal management skills in leadership and collaboration of multifunctional teams that effectively transform company objectives into concrete, measurable outcomes.

Education 2024–2025

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK MBA Programme • Awarded: MBA Developing Talent and Leadership Scholarship

2016–2020

DEENBANDHU CHHOTU RAM UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, Murthal, India Bachelor of Technology, Electronics and Communication Engineering

Experience 2024–2024

2020–2023 2022–2023

2020–2022

12 – MBA students

2024–2025

WOKEGENICS SOLUTIONS, Noida, India Business Analyst • Connected with clients to understand their organisation’s needs, finding out the most feasible approach to their problems, designing systems and solutions, and taking care of the end-to-end delivery of the product.

• Designed several products including a new product (a one-of-a-kind alarm clock mobile application), which is in the development stage.

• Formulated plans and strategies for the company to increase the sales and company reach. Helped with recruitment and other key decision-making in the organisation.

TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES, Noida, India Business Analyst • Led a team of five associates, responsible for the process compliance and IT support to marketing and sales division of the client.

• Gathered requirements from clients and stakeholders through detailed discussions and meetings, and analysed information for process improvements and system enhancements. Also estimated the feasibility, effort, cost and risks associated with any enhancement or change.

• Scheduled and conducted meetings with stakeholders and clients, updating them about the current status and progress of the project. Bridging the gap between the client and development teams.

• Analysed data present in different systems using SQL, Power Query and MS Excel.

• Performed RCA to avoid discrepancy and provided solutions to get the data in sync in all relevant systems.

• Tested the developments done by different teams before production release.

• Worked as OneTrust application admin and provided suggestions on how to make the best use of the application, best practices, and trained the complete IT team (70+ associates) regularly about GDPR rules and compliance.

• Received appreciation from the client and various stakeholders for bringing in solutions which reduced cost and increased efficiency.

BI Consultant • Gathered the requirements from the client and documented them.

• Transformed raw data into refined, usable data, and connected different tables and databases for data flows, so that relevant reports could be created from the data.

• Prepared reports and dashboards based on the client’s requirements, using SQL, Power BI, Power Query and MS Excel.

• Tracked key performance indicators, SLAs and other metrics, providing actionable insights to senior management.

• Created real-time reports on ServiceNow to monitor incidents and service requests.

• Provided suggestions and solutions based on the reports and data trends.

Power BI, SQL.

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK MBA Programme • Awarded: MBA Developing Talent and Leadership Scholarship

2015–2019

Additional Skills IT Skills

Education

INSTITUTE OF HOTEL MANAGEMENT, Aurangabad, India BA (Hons) Hotel Management

Experience 2021–2024 2023–2024

HOUSR TECHNOLOGIES PVT LTD, Gurgaon, India Senior Manager Founder’s Office (Growth, Strategy & Business Development) • Managed and optimised property-level P&L management, consistently maintaining 20–25% gross margin 2 (GM2) across all locations in India.

• Headed a successful USD2.99M fundraising effort from ADIA and HDFC Capital, extending the company’s runway by 24 months, while leading comprehensive due diligence across finance, business and HR teams to ensure data integrity.

• Led the initiative to engage an external vendor to develop new web experiences for resident applications, payment gateways, and internal company dashboards, increasing customer satisfaction by nearly 40% and reducing payment failures from 15% to under 1%.

2022–2023

Business Manager – NCR • Managed a portfolio worth INR 3 crores: accountable for driving revenue generation through effective sales and marketing strategies, ensuring consistent growth and maximising profitability. Led a team of 25.

• Provided input on financial planning, resource allocation and risk management, leveraging a deep understanding of Housr’s vision and market dynamics.

2021–2023

City Head – Hyderabad • Established full-scale operations in Hyderabad; duties included formulating and driving the overall sales strategy for the city, managing P&L and led a team of seven sales, business and ground operations professionals.

• Successfully expanded the market reach, achieved a 25% increase in sales revenue year-over-year.

2021–2021

HOMELANE, Gurgaon, India Relationship Manager • Utilised deep understanding of B2C sales and drove all deals from inception to execution.

• Built relationships with design partners, finance team, project managers and factory workers to ensure smooth execution of projects.

2018–2020

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, Mumbai, India Assistant Sales Manager, National Sales Organisation • Managed a monthly budget of INR1.2 crores. Portfolio included Alkem Laboratories, Godrej, Axis Bank, Reserve Bank of India and Thyssen Krupp. Managed all FIT bookings, catering and group bookings (events) and annual rate contracting for the companies mentioned in the portfolio for all Marriott properties in South Asia.

• Applied solid knowledge of B2B account management to oversee all deals from lead generation to execution.

Additional Skills Languages IT Skills Interests Other

Hindi (native).

Microsoft Office, Opera, Salesforce. Intermediate Excel & Power Point (2020) Travelling, swimming, playing golf, watching football, listening to music.

Certificate for Global Leadership Development (2020) – awarded by Marriott International, Certification for Six Sima Yellow Belt (2021).

MBA students – 13

Navonil BANERJEE

Amira BARAKA

n.banerjee2@newcastle.ac.uk

a.baraka2@newcastle.ac.uk

Career Profile

Career Profile

Dynamic sales and marketing professional with extensive experience in international sales and branding. Proven track record in generating new business and managing key accounts in the Americas and globally, leading to significant revenue growth and exceeding targets. Skilled in developing and executing product marketing strategies, overseeing international exhibitions, and enhancing brand visibility through strategic public relations and market research. Adept at navigating diverse markets and establishing strong client relationships, with a focus on delivering impactful results and expanding market presence.

Design manager specialising in interior and spatial design with 14 years of experience and an MA from Chelsea College of Arts. Led diverse projects across hospitality, residential and workplace environments. Experience includes collaboration with global clients like Hilton and BP, with an interest in integrating AI and sustainability into design challenges.

Education

2024–2025

2024–2025

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK MBA Programme • Awarded: Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence Scholarship

2016–2020

VELLORE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, Vellore, India Bachelor of Technology Chemical Engineering

Education

• Awarded: Advancing Women in Leadership Scholarship

2015–2016

2020–2024

GALAXY SURFACTANTS LTD, Mumbai, India Team Lead (Global Public Relations) and Senior Executive – Marketing and Branding (Global) • Launched 10+ brands and created marketing toolkits with tools like Mailchimp, Canva and Google Analytics, resulting in GBP 100K+ profit from sustainable personal care products in FY23–24.

• Strategised product marketing campaigns on both social media and print platforms for outreach including aspects from sustainability, CSR and product-based USPs segmented by regions, thereby increasing market share by more than 10% for green and sustainable products globally in 23–24 financial year.

• Proficiently managed the organisational presence in both domestic and international exhibitions such as Incosmetics Global while converting new leads worth GBP 100K+ of profit.

• Implemented and reinforced new market research tools such as Euromonitor to mine valuable info and leads and personally converted several into full-time customers worth profit of GBP 200K+ annually.

Senior Regional Sales Executive & Team Lead – International Business (Americas) • Successfully expanded the Americas client base and strengthened relationships, managing a GBP 2M+ portfolio with a 60–40 product split between speciality and performance ingredients, consistently exceeding targets.

• Managed product pricing and diversification of portfolio for key accounts and efficiently handled supply chains from India, Egypt and the US to ensure timely deliveries in the Americas with profit of USD600K+ annually.

• Seamlessly achieved growth index of approximately 40% against organisational agenda of 25% by increasing new customer base and bringing new projects involving new products to fruition.

• Amplified the brand in new regions by partnering with local channels, securing supply chain deals, and entering landlocked markets despite local competition leading to repeat businesses worth USD100K+ in sales.

2005–2010

Hindi (fluent), Bangla (native), Tamil (fluent), Spanish (beginner).

Mailchimp, MS Office, SAP, Canva, Google Analytics.

Volunteering, debates, fitness, theatre (national level winner), badminton.

AIN SHAMS UNIVERSITY, Faculty of Engineering, Cairo, Egypt BSc Architectural Engineering Design

Experience 2024–2024

MUSTARD & LINEN, Abu Dhabi, UAE Lead Interior Designer • Led design and execution of high-end projects, aligning with client vision and Abu Dhabi standards.

• Delivered design solutions for high-end residential projects with budgets over £135M. • Developed innovative interiors using sustainable materials suited to regional conditions.

• Coordinated with architects and engineers to ensure on-time, within-budget project delivery.

• Optimised material selection to balance design aesthetics and cost-efficiency.

• Built strong client relationships, presenting concepts aligned with industry trends.

2022–2024

RAAFAT MILLER CONSULTING (RMC), Cairo, Egypt Interior Design Manager • Led and monitored a team of seven designers overseeing multiple large-scale projects from concept to completion.

• Maintained diverse interior design projects portfolio, including workplace, hospitality, residential, hospital and educational sectors, with budgets above £2M. • Fostered a collaborative team environment, promoting creativity and innovation among designers.

• Calculated required man-hours and budgets for submitting proposals for potential projects.

• Monitored project spending tracking and resource allocation to maintain profitability.

• Managed client relations in the design phase while developing and maintaining strategic partnerships with stakeholders, optimising material sourcing and project costs.

2019–2022

EKLEGO DESIGN, Cairo, Egypt Junior Studio Leader

2017–2019

RAAFAT MILLER CONSULTING (RMC), Cairo, Egypt Senior Interior Designer

2015–2015

HELM FOUNDATION NGO, Cairo, Egypt Architectural Consultant – part time

2011–2015

EURO EGYPTIAN ENGINEERING (EEE), Cairo, Egypt Senior Architect

Additional Skills Languages IT Skills Interests

UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS LONDON, Chelsea College of Arts, London, UK MA Interior and Spatial Design • Awarded: UAL Vice-Chancellor Merit-based Scholarship

Experience 2020–2024 2022–2024

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK MBA Programme

Additional Skills Languages IT Skills Interests Other

14 – MBA students

Arabic (native), French (beginner).

Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, AutoCAD, 3DsMAX, Vray, SketchUp. Swimming, photography, AI for design, music, art and cultural exploration.

Residency at Vista Alegre in Portugal, residency at Art Omi international arts organisation in New York, USA.

MBA students – 15

Judy, Jui-Chun, CHU

Yusuf Rahmat DANDI

j.chu5@newcastle.ac.uk

y.r.dandi2@newcastle.ac.uk

Career Profile

Career Profile

A bold leader who challenges and disrupts industries with market innovation. With over 10 years of experience in health food product and nutritional supplements marketing, sales, copyright and educational training, developed expertise in audience behaviour and psychology. Through personal branding on social media and blogging, contributing to growth opportunities within Taiwan’s dietitian industry and supporting over 100 professionals in advancing their careers.

An adept and self-motivated professional with over seven years of experience in the financial industry. Possesses strong analytical, communication and leadership skills. Certified with financial analysis, negotiation skills and risk mitigation. Awarded ‘The Best Target Achiever’ in 2020 and ‘The Highest Potential Employee’ in 2021 at one of Indonesia’s largest national banking companies. Experience in working under pressure, adapting to various situations, and managing team effectively.

Education

Education

2024–2025

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK MBA Programme

2024–2025

• Awarded: MBA Developing Talent and Leadership Scholarship

2008–2012

TAIPEI MEDICAL UNIVERSITY, Taipei, Taiwan (ROC) Bachelor of Health Science and Nutrition

Experience 2019–2025

BLISSPRING CO LTD, Taoyuan, Taiwan (ROC) Founder • Developed marketing strategies enabling an influencer to earn NT$5M monthly via social media.

• Designed health products and sales strategies, achieving NT$100M in annual revenue for client.

• Collaborated with outsourced teams to create marketing materials compliant with health food regulations for clients, including over 150 SEO articles and 50 promotional videos.

• Taught personal branding and copywriting, training 40+ students, with five becoming content writers.

• Increased company exposure through social media and website content, generating 10 client enquiries monthly without ads, resulting in two new clients and NT$200K added revenues.

• Facilitated over 20 business matchmaking events, connecting nutritionists with potential employers and business opportunities, resulted in over 100 successful job matches, generating nearly NT$200K in monthly revenue.

• Boosted company’s yearly revenue from NT$300K to NT$6M in five years through strategic initiatives.

DOTCOM TECHNOLOGY LIMITED, New Taipei City, Taiwan (ROC) Medical market development • Partnered with medical institutions to generate additional revenue through referral fees.

• Conducted marketing and sales training for medical projects.

2017–2018

SYNERGY WORLDWIDE LTD, Taipei City, Taiwan (ROC) Marketing and Product Specialist • Planned a new product launch event and delivered product training for 400 attendees with our team.

• Handled 20 products, simplified marketing materials, and made sure they met health, advertising and labelling standards, strengthening brand consistency.

• Ran weekly product training and nutrition seminars for distributors, boosting product knowledge and sales.

2015–2016

ARSOA, Taipei City, Taiwan (ROC) Product Planning and Promotion Specialist • Delivered product, sales, health and nutrition training, boosting distributor confidence and increasing annual revenue by 8%.

Additional Skills

16 – MBA students

• Awarded: MBA Developing Talent and Leadership Scholarship

2013–2017

AIRLANGGA UNIVERSITY, Surabaya, Indonesia Bachelor of Management – Faculty of Economics and Business

Experience

2018–2020

Languages IT Skills Interests Other

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK MBA Programme

Mandarin (native), Japanese (conversational).

MS Office, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, short video production.

Healing therapy, neuroscience, archery, reading, learning.

Director of Taoyuan Dietitian Juridical Association 2017–2020, Rotary Club 3481 membership, licensed Brain Gym® consultant, NGH hypnotherapist, NLP practitioner, SRT advanced therapist, Usui Reiki Master, registered dietitian.

2021–2024

BANK NEO COMMERCE Ltd, Jakarta, Indonesia Business Analyst • Contributed to the first multi-finance loan and initiated the first SME loan by reviewing policies and procedures, leading to approximately 30% loan growth for these sectors.

• Evaluated the creditworthiness by assessing their company performance and finances to develop loan structures. Resulting in a 48% growth of lending assets in 2023.

• Contributed to the new interest calculation method ‘Risk Premium’ by analysing the past performance of disbursed loans, which boosted annual revenue by 20% and reduced non-performing loans by 60%.

2017–2021 2019–2021

BANK NEGARA INDONESIA Ltd, Jakarta, Indonesia Head of Relationship Manager – Small Medium Enterprise • Improved team’s confidence and effectiveness by delivering training programmes regularly, evaluating the team’s performance on a weekly basis. Resulting in decreasing loan-default for new debtors by 80%.

• Established a new work-flow guidance for the team by analysing the common obstacle that caused bottleneck issues to handle the high-volume workload during Covid-19 outbreak.

• Received good performance for the past three years with the title ‘The High Potential Employee’.

• Awarded ‘Second Best Team for Target Achievements’ in 2021.

2019–2019

Interim Acting Supervisor – Small Medium Enterprise • Showcased robust problem-solving skills whilst resolving the team’s issues to achieve company goals, resulting in 20% growth in team performance.

• Successfully substituted the previous supervisor to lead a team consisting of five Relationship Managers, and seamlessly achieved the ongoing annual target.

• Showcased robust problem-solving skills whilst resolving the team’s issues to achieve company goals, resulting in 20% growth in team performance.

2017–2019

Relationship Manager – Small Medium Enterprise • Boosted loan performance by performing strong financial analysis while communicating and negotiating with clients regarding loan schemes that led to 25% growth of loan disbursement.

• Led a project development of giving loans to the Indonesian Military’s Associated companies, resulting in increasing the bank’s portfolios in the government sector by 40%.

• Awarded ‘Best Target Achievement’ in 2018.

Additional Skills Languages IT Skills Interests Other

Indonesian (native).

Microsoft Office, SQL (beginner).

Golf, table tennis, sports, music, books.

Certified in Risk Management (Banking Certification) 2022.

MBA students – 17

Kunal Kanti DAS

Jinchao FAN

k.k.das2@newcastle.ac.uk

j.fan15@newcastle.ac.uk

Career Profile

Career Profile

Qualified professional with 9+ years’ experience in supply chain, operations, and vendor management in e-commerce, retail and FMCG industry. Interested in utilising experience in supply chain to help organisations overcome their issues. Structural and analytical problem solver keen on system and process optimisation.

Experienced professional with over a decade of experience in various leadership positions in the retail industry with a diverse range of responsibilities, from order management to category business in-charge to merchandising planning. With a specific interest in strategic planning, supply chain management, and merchandising, all while adapting to the dynamic demands of the retail industry.

Education 2024–2025

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK MBA Programme

Education 2024–2025

• Awarded: MBA Developing Talent and Leadership Scholarship

2011–2015

WEST BENGAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, Kolkata, India Bachelor of Technology in Electronics and Communication Engineering

Experience 2021–2024

SHADOWFAX TECHNOLOGIES PVT LTD, Bengaluru, India Senior Manager – Sort Centre / Central Audit • Managed sort centre operations in South India creating and implementing new training modules and introducing automation to improve P&L and Efficiency Improvement.

• Oversaw key transformations in the central audit team and set up processes to ensure pilferages are being reduced significantly.

• Streamlined sort centre throughput across the country by devising strategies to ensure 200% efficiency improvement in shipments processed per sq. ft.

2020–2021

63IDEAS INFOLABS PVT LTD, Bengaluru, India (BT India Group) Associate Manager – Central Operations • Managed the B2B supply chain for base cities by overseeing strategy improvements by setting up SLAs to improve on cost, planning, execution and significantly reduce Return to Origin costs.

• Oversaw internal reports for leadership team leading to reduction in losses by 25% in terms of inventory reconciliation, cash and assets.

2015–2020

GROFERS INDIA PVT LTD, Bengaluru, India Deputy Area Manager • Managed First Mile & Last Mile deliveries in Bangalore by overseeing process improvements to ensure targets for cost, complaints, efficiency and pilferage were being maintained • Launched and managed First Mile operation structure for Bangalore followed by Return to Origin process to significantly reduce reverse leg losses amounting to 30% of overall LM losses.

2015–2015

EMVITO TECHNOLOGIES PVT LTD, Bengaluru, India (Vodafone India) Operation Executive – Process Implementation • Oversaw training of off-roll and on-roll teams, and streamlined the operations and supply chain for service delivery across locations in Bengaluru.

• Collaborated with the Central Dispatch Team and set performance targets to improve cost optimisation, SLAs, complaints and SOP’s adherence.

Additional Skills Languages Interests

18 – MBA students

Bengali, Hindi, Kannada.

Playing cricket.

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK MBA Programme • Awarded: MBA Developing Talent and Leadership Scholarship

2012–2015

SHANGHAI INTERNATIONAL STUDIES UNIVERSITY, Shanghai, China Bachelor of Art, English

Experience 2022–2024

KENZO CHINA PTE LTD (LVMH Group), Shanghai, China Merchandising Planning Manager • Managed sales/stock planning, including budget planning by season and sales event.

• Rebuilt company’s internal sales planning function structure resulting in an increase in both sales and efficiency metrics.

• Handled outlet inventory management and planning leading to an increase on year sales by 24% 2023 vs 2022.

• Handled accessories business and overall OTB analysis (built OTB analysis template).

2017–2022

CHARLES & KEITH CHINA, Shanghai, China Merchandising Planning Manager • Oversaw inventory planning including buying/allocation/defect (instituted SOPs and KPIs).

• Aligned online and offline channels price and promotion strategy.

• Managed OTB handling for APP and WeChat Mini-program.

2016–2017

PEDRO GROUP, Singapore Senior Merchandising Executive • Managed Pedro Men’s business planning and buying for all categories (LFL% from negative to positive 7%).

• Handled allocation for Pedro Men and Women’s including setting logic and parameters.

2016–2016

CHARLES & KEITH CHINA, Tokyo, Japan Senior Merchandising Executive • Managed process alignment including OTB and buying, retail price and synchronise reporting.

2012–2016

CHARLES & KEITH CHINA, Shanghai, China Merchandising Executive • Managed shoes business from 2014 to 2016 (increased sales share of shoes from 40% to 45% and above).

• Managed bags business including buying and allocations (positive LFL sales growth from 2012 to 2014).

Additional Skills Languages IT Skills Interests Other

Chinese (native), Japanese (Level 3).

Tableau Online Platform.

Business planning and strategy, date-driven analysis function.

Teacher Qualification Certificate (Middle School English).

MBA students – 19

Shikhar GUPTA

Caitlin HAMILTON

shikhar.gupta@newcastle.ac.uk

c.l.hamilton2@newcastle.ac.uk

Career Profile

Career Profile

Motivated and results-driven professional with broad experience in business analysis, management and financial due diligence. Highly skilled in strategic planning, quality control and financial modelling, with a proven track record of delivering impactful solutions in fast-paced environments. Seeking to leverage my background and newly acquired skills for a senior managerial role in a dynamic organisation, to drive growth, optimise processes and contribute to long-term success.

Results-driven and solutions-orientated HR professional with experience in managing all aspects of the employee life cycle, empowering colleagues through coaching, and improving employee experiences at work. Seeking opportunities to utilise strong project management and data analysis skills to drive change and enhance business performance.

Education 2024–2025

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK MBA Programme • Awarded: MBA Developing Talent and Leadership Scholarship

2016–2019

ALLIANCE UNIVERSITY, Bangalore, India Bachelor of Business Administration

Experience 2022–2024

2016–2022 2017–2022

2016–2017

SWASTIK RAKHI, Kolkata, India Senior Product Manager • Directed operations in handicraft business, covering production to logistics, ensuring comprehensive growth.

• Managed sourcing and procurement by identifying reliable suppliers, negotiating terms, and ensuring timely procurement of high-quality materials.

• Handled production planning, coordinating with artisans, assigning tasks, and balancing capacity with demand to meet order deadlines.

• Established quality control processes, ensuring all products meet high standards.

• Coordinated logistics and distribution for domestic and international shipping.

• Assisted in financial management in budgeting, expense monitoring and financial analysis.

ERNST & YOUNG, Delhi, India Analyst • Developed financial models for M&A transactions, supporting decision-making through comprehensive analyses.

• Evaluated financial, operational and regulatory risks, providing thorough risk assessments for strategic decisions.

• Researched market conditions and industry trends to assess target companies’ growth potential.

• Compiled due diligence reports with key findings and recommendations.

• Provided data-driven insights during negotiations and collaborated with legal teams to ensure compliance. 20% improvement in data accuracy by refining the data collection process.

Education 2024–2025

• Awarded: Next Generation Impact Scholarship

2020–2021

Experience 2022–2024 2023–2024

2022–2023

Intern • Conducted due diligence for Project Sunlight in the TAS division at Ernst & Young.

• Specialised in segment reporting and comparative analysis of financial statements across multiple companies in the consumer sector.

20 – MBA students

Hindi.

Microsoft Power-BI, Alteryx, Microsoft Advanced Excel.

Karate, swimming, abacus.

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK Master of Science Global Human Resource Management (Pass with Distinction) Student Secretary – awarded runner-up Student Secretary of the Year at the 2021 NUSU Student Rep Awards

Additional Skills Languages IT Skills Interests

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK MBA Programme

BAZAAR GROUP, Cramlington, UK (A private equity backed, pan-European soft furnishings manufacturer and eCommerce retailer.)

Senior HR Advisor • Advised on complex employee relations cases, supporting managers to achieve the best outcomes.

• Developed a suite of people policies to clarify processes, adopting an inclusive focus throughout.

• Created and launched a website to optimise internal communications, improve accessibility and reduce reliance on the HR team.

• Led the business’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy, empowering a team of 17 health advocates to successfully deliver an annual calendar of wellbeing activities, ultimately achieving the highest level of the Better Health at Work Award.

• Drove the diversity, equality and inclusion agenda across the business, working with stakeholders to improve awareness, education and processes to diversify the talent pool. Actions taken resulted in achieving Disability Confident Leader status and the advanced level of the Good Work Pledge.

• Coached managers and high-potential employees to enhance individual performance and develop leadership skills, driving innovation and strategic thinking, resulting in two internal promotions.

• Managed the end-to-end employee engagement project, analysing data, facilitating focus groups, and developing action plans to improve engagement by 3% within four months.

• Reduced recruitment costs by five figures by developing the employer brand and recruitment strategies.

HR Advisor • Delivered high-quality HR support, focusing on people development and continuous growth, resulting in winning the Excellence in Organisational and People Development award at the NE CIPD awards in 2022.

• Managed all recruitment and onboarding during a period of rapid growth and exceeded retention targets.

• Established and grew strong and supportive relationships with community partners, resulting in a nomination for Corporate Partnership of the Year award at the 2023 NE Charity Awards.

• Optimised utilisation of the HRMS to modernise and standardise performance management processes and improve reporting practices across the business.

Additional Skills Languages Interests Other

Spanish (fluent).

Language learning, travel, social justice, personal development.

Level 5 Qualified Coach (ILM), Mental Health First Aider, experienced in psychometric profiling tools.

MBA students – 21

Joel Joseph JOY

Himanshu KASWA

j.j.joy2@newcastle.ac.uk

h.kaswa2@newcastle.ac.uk

Career Profile

Career Profile

A Senior IT Consultant with six years of experience, adept at providing tailored consulting solutions and driving digital transformation across industries. Expertise in guiding cross-functional teams, leading complex projects, and ensuring seamless system integrations. Currently pursuing an MBA to further develop strategic leadership and business consulting skills. Focused on aligning technology with business objectives to deliver impactful results.

Dynamic and results-oriented professional with a proven track record as Head of Business Development and Strategy, specialising in driving growth and identifying strategic opportunities. Armed with a Bachelor’s degree in Law from a reputed law school in India, leveraging strong transactional and negotiation skills to craft and execute high-impact business strategies. Adept at aligning legal insights with business objectives to optimise decision-making and risk management.

Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and deliver measurable business outcomes.

Education 2024–2025

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK MBA Programme

Education 2024–2025

• Awarded: MBA Developing Talent and Leadership Scholarship

2015–2018

UNIVERSITY OF MUMBAI, Mumbai, India Bachelor of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering

• Awarded: MBA Developing Talent and Leadership Scholarship

2016–2021

Experience 2024–2025

YOUR VOICE COUNTS, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK Shadow Trustee • Supported strategic initiatives by providing governance and auditing insights, fostering community engagement, and contributing to organisational development in alignment with the charity’s mission.

2022–2024

INFOBEANS PRIVATE LIMITED, Pune, India Senior Consultant • Orchestrated and executed a high-stakes migration project for DHL, overseeing the comprehensive migration and upgrade of their Datastage version, achieving a 30% improvement in system performance and ensuring zero downtime during the transition.

• Led a team of four managing all project phases with precision, and ensuring alignment with client expectations and organisational objectives.

2020–2022

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES (IBM), Mumbai, India Data Engineer • Coordinated the migration and upgrade of a major Indian banking client’s database of 100+TB data, showcasing high-level expertise in BI, Unix scripting and database migration while driving project success.

• Improved data transfer processes and maintaining seamless project execution by implementing the Business Continuity Plan (BCP), demonstrating resilience and commitment during the Covid-19 pandemic, resulting in continued operations and zero downtime which in turn increased operational efficiency.

2018–2020

Languages IT Skills Interests Other

Hindi, Malayalam.

IBM Datastage, SQL, Unix Shell Scripting, Data Warehousing, ETL. Football, debates, chess.

NPTEL certifications in strategic thinking and psychology, a regular blood donor contributing every six months to support local healthcare needs, a volunteer with church organisations to provide meals to 30 underprivileged members of the community every Saturday.

Experience 2021–2024

RAJASTHAN ACADEMY SCHOOL, Sikar, India Head of Business Development and Strategy • Developed and implemented strategic growth initiatives, leading to a 20% increase in student enrolment and revenue generation by identifying new markets and partnership opportunities.

• Built and nurtured key relationships with educational institutions, corporates, and government bodies to expand the school’s outreach and foster long-term collaborations.

• Led cross-functional teams in the design and execution of innovative programmes, improving operational efficiency and aligning business objectives with academic goals.

• Conducted in-depth market analysis and competitor benchmarking, using insights to refine business strategies, pricing models and customer acquisition plans.

• Leveraged legal expertise to draft and negotiate contracts, agreements and partnerships, ensuring compliance with regulations while optimising business outcomes and mitigating risks.

2020–2020

E TRST, Delhi, India Corporate Legal Intern • Conducted meetings with clients from diverse industries and countries, providing guidance on drafting, implementing and ensuring compliance with data privacy policies under various national frameworks, including Indian privacy laws.

• Interpreted complex regulatory requirements, outlined in the Indian Companies Act, 2013, and aligned them with international standards (eg GDPR, CCPA).

• Worked on integrating privacy governance frameworks into broader business strategies, demonstrating a keen understanding of corporate structures and the evolving regulatory environment under the Companies Act, 2013.

2019–2019

OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR INDIA, Delhi, India Legal Intern • Participated in negotiations under supervision, helping to prepare key documents and strategies for resolving disputes between government entities and private parties, honing negotiation skills through practical exposure.

• Supported senior counsel in drafting legal submissions, affidavits, and petitions for various cases involving the government, gaining hands-on experience in the Indian legal framework.

Additional Skills Languages IT Skills Interests

22 – MBA students

NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY, Nagpur, India BA LLB (Hons) • CGPA 7.6/10 • Winner of Inter-University Negotiation Competition • President: Alternative Dispute Resolution Society and Sports Society

TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES PRIVATE LIMITED (TCS), Mumbai, India Systems Engineer • Contributed to the creation and implementation of business-critical solutions, leveraging advanced tools to streamline data processes, align with organisational goals, and deliver measurable results.

• Directed data optimisation initiatives and implemented ETL pipelines, along with effectively managing cross-functional teams to achieve key project milestones leading to a 25% increase in operational efficiency.

Additional Skills

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK MBA Programme

Hindi.

Microsoft Office Suites, legal research databases.

Team and adventure sports, travel and exploration, public speaking.

MBA students – 23

Natchaya LUAMSRI

Samuele NOCERA

n.luamsri2@newcastle.ac.uk

s.nocera2@newcastle.ac.uk

Career Profile

Career Profile

Passionate about renewable energy and sustainable materials, with a focus on advancing Li-ion battery innovation. Driven to support clean technology solutions that address global challenges by combining technical expertise with innovative thinking. An experienced professional with four years of experience in R&D and business development. Speciality in materials sourcing, process optimisation and product development.

A proactive and resilient professional with diverse experience across production processes and R&D. Demonstrated leadership and organisational skills from overseeing operations as an assistant production manager, while fostering a positive and collaborative work environment. Experienced in analytical method development, with a proven ability to design and optimise processes for accurate and reliable results. Eager to learn and grow as a leader in a forward-thinking environment while contributing to organisational success.

Education 2024–2025

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK MBA Programme

Education 2024–2025

• Awarded: MBA Developing Talent and Leadership Scholarship

2017–2019

KING MONGKUT’S UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY THONBURI, Bangkok, Thailand Master of Sustainable Materials Technology, School of Energy Environment and Materials • Awarded: King Mongkut’s Full Scholarship • Postgraduate teaching assistant at the School of Energy, Environment and Materials

2013–2017

KING MONGKUT’S UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY THONBURI, Bangkok, Thailand Bachelor of Engineering, Materials Engineering

• Awarded: MBA Next Generation Impact Scholarship

2020–2024

2020–2023

ENERGY ABSOLUTE (Amita Technology Thailand), Bangkok, Thailand Project Management Engineer • Provided the technical portfolio, economic evaluation and decision-making with the business model for creating a proposal for a new project for a potential venture.

• Led team in undertaking cost-benefit analysis, preparing the project framework and policy advocacy for the Recycling Li-ion battery and Battery Energy System project model in Thailand.

• Advocated for the registration of a new tariff for battery energy storage systems with the Thai Customs Department by preparing technical potential impact, import and usage details, and tax impact documents.

• Market research for new venture companies, both regional and overseas, to create an economy system with sustainability businesses.

Senior Engineer of Research and Development: Li-ion Battery • Designed and implemented a Li-ion battery product strategy, creating a timeline for design testing, prototype development, and production line integration to capture market opportunities, achieve economies of scale, and meet project milestones.

• Design process improvement initiatives, enhancing efficiency and quality through digital transformation to drive operational excellence and foster innovation.

• Managed overseas materials sourcing and vendor relationships to support the development of new products, ensuring cost-effectiveness, raw materials quality and timely delivery.

• Collaborated with institutes, universities and government agencies to develop and implement new project strategies, driving innovation and fostering partnerships for successful outcomes.

• Spearheaded the certification process for new products, ensuring full compliance with international standards, including UN, IEC and EU regulations, to enhance global market readiness and credibility.

NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science

Experience 2022–2023

PROCTER & GAMBLE, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK Research Intern • Developed and implemented an analytical method that was five times quicker for enzyme screening that successfully passed quality assurance standards, ensuring accuracy and conformity with industry regulations.

• Coordinated and trained overseas teams in implementing newly developed analytical methods within their laboratories, ensuring compliance with standard operating procedures and laboratory protocols.

• Managed multiple simultaneous projects, overseeing the full lifecycle from development to implementation, ensuring timely delivery and coordination with various departments to achieve key objectives.

2017–2022

NCR ARREDA, Racale, Italy Assistant Production Manager • Oversaw production processes in a fast-paced plant environment, ensuring strict adherence to timelines and optimised operational efficiency to guarantee smooth workflow across the production chain.

• Led product demonstrations and service presentations for partners and potential clients, effectively showcasing value propositions to drive interest and secure partnerships.

• Assisted the main manager in monitoring the entire logistics process, from loading products onto trucks in the factory to ensuring timely installation in customers’ homes.

• Effectively coordinated with logistics teams and installation crews to guarantee seamless delivery and customer satisfaction.

Experience 2020–2024 2023–2024

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK MBA Programme

Additional Skills Languages Interests Other

Italian (native).

Playing and watching American football, travelling to experience new cultures and new food.

Volunteered for six weeks in Zambia with the Wallace Group to develop leadership skills in football coaches and increase engagement of sporting activities.

Additional Skills Languages IT Skills Other

24 – MBA students

Thai (native).

Power BI. Journal published “The Effects of Thermochromic Pigments on Optical, Mechanical and Heat Insulation Properties of Plasticised PVC Window Film” in the Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Materials in 2020.

Journal published “Spectral Selectivity and Stability of Energy-Saving Window Films Based on Poly(Vinyl Chloride)” in the Journal of polymer testing in 2019.

MBA students – 25

Piyush PANDEY

Syed Mohammed Irfan RAFIQ

p.pandey2@newcastle.ac.uk

s.rafiq@newcastle.ac.uk

Career Profile

Career Profile

Passionate product manager with five+ years of experience in the FMCG space, driving growth and innovation through strategic planning and cross-functional collaboration. Skilled in identifying new opportunities, launching successful products, and building impactful partnerships. Adept at leveraging analytical skills to expand market reach and deliver results.

Continuously eager to learn and contribute to the food industry’s advancement.

Highly skilled and results-driven product manager with seven years of experience in building and managing software products across diverse industries, including fintech, food and beverage, and insurance. Proven track record of successfully delivering innovative solutions in both B2B and B2C markets.

Education 2024–2025

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK MBA Programme • Awarded: MBA Developing Talent and Leadership Scholarship

2015–2018

UNIVERSITY OF DELHI, Delhi, India Bachelor of Science Microbiology

Experience 2018–2023

2018–2018

ORAYNA SOLUTIONS PVT LTD, Mumbai, India Product Manager • Aligned technical and business functions to optimise consumer models, cost targets and pricing strategies. This approach contributed to USD200,000 in sales during the first year, with products sold in 12 countries and achieving a 70% repeat business rate.

• Collaborated with marketing and sales teams to craft product messaging, positioning and go-to-market strategies, resulting in enhanced product relevance in global markets.

• As the principal innovator of the world’s first edible straw, launched a patented technology through independent research and development, successfully commercialising it, identifying a unique selling proposition in the market, attracting brand partnerships, and driving significant revenue growth and brand exposure.

• Spearheaded the conceptualisation, formulation and optimisation of eight products to meet retail market demands.

• Served as the primary point of contact for international and domestic stakeholders to outline the scope of work and modify products based on requirements.

• Analysed market gaps and identified new opportunities to expand brand reach, while conducting competitor research to enhance company strategies and strengthen market position.

• Developed and implemented lead generation strategies to build the pipeline of businesses for collaborations on product manufacturing, development and testing of products for product rollouts.

CREMICA FOOD INDUSTRIES LTD, Greater Noida, India Quality System Auditor • Led vendor audits for brands including KFC, McDonald’s, Subway, Barista and Burger King to ensure quality and food safety standards are met.

• Assisted in internal audits for the company’s manufacturing plant.

• Ensured that brands always complied with organisational and government norms.

• Prepared and presented audit reports to engagement managers, sharing the progress of activities.

Education 2024–2025

• Awarded: MBA Sustainable Leadership Scholarship

2012–2016

Other

SRM VALLIAMMAI ENGINEERING COLLEGE, Chennai, India Bachelor of Engineering – Electronics and Communication Engineering

Experience 2022–2024

YUBI, Chennai, India Product Manager II • Conceptualised and developed two new products, which included a loan origination system and loans via WhatsApp platform. Worked on the entire project lifecycle from strategy to launch, resulting in new revenue streams.

• Revamped the onboarding module to improve the onboarding conversions by 31%, user activation by 21%, and reduced TAT from three hours to 15 minutes through gamification and integrating with third party data sources.

• Added a new acquisition channel by introducing the partner program for Yubi and built product features for the same. This resulted in a share of 15% of acquisitions for small and medium businesses.

• Integrated the product with third party tools to build new communication channels like WhatsApp, chatbot, e-mail, and SMS which improved user resurrections by 11%.

• Built a configurable internal tool that eliminated the development efforts for routine changes and reduced the delivery TAT from two weeks to one day.

• Managed two development teams of 21 members, including the growth team and the tech platform team.

2020–2022

MAGILHUB INDIA PVT LTD, Chennai, India Product Owner • Responsible for building products that included an online food ordering marketplace and a point of sale (POS) system for restaurants.

• Created the product roadmap and met 90% of all feature deadlines by setting the right expectations to stakeholders and proactively identifying and mitigating any engineering roadblocks.

• Led a 10-member product development team where I also mentored two associate product owners.

• Owned the planning and scheduling of two-week sprints, and clearly articulated the product vision and sprint goal to the development team, which resulted in achieving 89% of the defined product goals.

• Accompanied sales team in multiple onboarding meetings to help with onboarding of customers and gathered customer feedback on the product.

2016–2019

SOLARTIS LLC, Chennai, India Business Analyst • Gathered and elicited requirements received from clients and coordinated with cross-functional team to build the same.

• Created business requirement document (BRD), software requirement specification (SRS), traceability matrix and process flow charts.

• Designed wireframes and mock-ups for product requirements.

• Worked on API Integration projects for integrating with third party vendors.

Additional Skills Languages IT Skills Interests

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK MBA Programme

Hindi.

Trello for project management, Zoho for customer relationship management.

Enthusiastic about staying updated with the latest trends and advancements in the sustainability and environmental technology, and FMCG sectors.

Playing football, listening to music and poetry.

Additional Skills Languages IT Skills Interests

26 – MBA students

Hindi, Tamil, Urdu.

MySQL, Amplitude analytics, JIRA & Confluence, WebEngage, FreshChat, Asana, Trello.

Travelling, reading non-fiction books, listening to business and fitness podcasts, running, playing cricket and badminton, watching movies and series.

MBA students – 27

Vinaya RATHOD

Jaskaran SAHNEY

v.v.rathod2@newcastle.ac.uk

j.sahney2@newcastle.ac.uk

Career Profile

Career Profile

An astute and results-oriented professional with eight years of experience in procurement, pre-sales, and profit and loss analysis. Skilled at negotiating agreements that generate shared benefits throughout their duration. Extensive experience in global sourcing, with a track record of significant achievement, including reducing costs and improving quality, leading to profits, and developing and improving purchasing programs to meet corporate objectives.

An experienced and results driven professional with extensive expertise in procurement, finance and sales. Proficient in negotiating agreements that deliver mutual benefits throughout their lifecycle. Demonstrates a proven history of success in global sourcing, encompassing cost reduction, quality enhancement and profit expansion.

Education 2024–2025

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK MBA Programme • Awarded: MBA Developing Talent and Leadership Scholarship

2013–2016

RAMRAO ADIK INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, Mumbai, India Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Telecommunication

Experience 2022–2024

2020–2022

2019–2020

2016–2018

PUBLICIS SAPIENT (Digital Industry), Bangalore, India Commercial Strategist • Collaborated with the account team to evaluate and structure optimal resource pricing for clients by conducting profit and loss analysis and various scenario planning, and submitting the bid on time.

• Created a new process for small deals (below USD7M revenue) that were being neglected, thereby finding critical projects and increasing the overall revenue for the retail industry from 46% to 53%.

• Successfully managed the transition from an Excel-based tool to Salesforce. Trained the crossfunctional team, conducted pilot testing, and consistently addressed queries related to the new system.

• Created multiple dashboards on Salesforce and Power BI for pricing calculations/review. This saved a lot of time by reviewing contracts and prices with a single click, rather than via manual calculation in Excel.

• Supported financial analysis of accounts, deals in major lifecycle events such as contract rollover, annual inflation, and discount adjustments along with managing/negotiating iteration of financial terms such as payment term adjustments from 60 to 30 days with the inclusion of the auto-renewal clause in the contract.

ARYAKA NETWORKS (Telecom Industry), Bangalore, India Pricing Manager • Managed telecom procurement for data connectivity services (internet, fibre optics).

• Managed overall process, ensuring correct vendor selection based on master service agreement (MSA), local incumbent, services, and competitiveness.

• Managed stakeholder requests and provided the best possible outcomes with profitable solutions. One of the major projects I handled was providing 157 customer site deals to one of the vendors to get a 25% price discount.

ORANGE BUSINESS SERVICES (Telecom Industry), Mumbai, India Quote Owner • Brought in client worth USD48M in revenue, following multiple bidding rounds.

• Led pricing strategy and input consolidation for voice and integrated services, collaborating closely with the business team to ensure accurate and competitive customer submissions.

• Spearheaded SaaS Zscaler deals for the Swiss and APAC regions, driving digital transformation and facilitating client cloud adoption.

RELIANCE COMMUNICATIONS (Telecom Industry), Mumbai, India Associate Procurement • Handled procurement process for network services across Europe and India.

Education 2024–2025

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK MBA Programme • Awarded: Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship

2018–2021

UNIVERSITY OF DELHI, Delhi, India Bachelor of Commerce

Experience 2023–2024

STARTTGENIX TECHNOLOGY & MARKETING PRIVATE LIMITED, Delhi, India Head of Operations • Successfully launched three products, generating over £1M in revenue within the first year of launch.

• Streamlined the production process by eliminating intermediaries to speed up operations by 50%.

• Led a team of 20, ensuring tasks were efficiently completed through regular sessions and a personalised training programme.

• Ensured a high level of customer satisfaction by taking swift action on feedback received from over 2,000 surveys conducted.

2021–2023

LA AFFAIRE, Haldwani, India Operations Consultant • Analysed various products from different sources based on market trends.

• Reduced product waste by 40% by implementing a feedback system.

• Conducted door-to-door surveys, to get better understanding of the market for procurement of products to reduce dump.

• Analysed competitive products internally to ensure the most appropriate products were procured.

• Identified the target market for the product and created a campaign in collaboration with local marketers to better understand consumer behaviour.

2018–2018

SAMSUNG INDIA ELECTRONICS PRIVATE LIMITED, Haldwani, India Sales Associate • Managed direct end-to-end sales, interacting daily with over 100 customers generating over £1.5M in sales.

• Handled post-sales customer queries and provided appropriate solutions. Assisted over 2,000 customers in real-time.

• Built a targeted database of over 5,000 customers, resulting in over 1,000 conversions.

• Developed a robust system for managing sales and inventories to boost sales and optimise efficiency.

Additional Skills Languages IT Skills Interests Other

Hindi (native), Punjabi (native).

MS Office, Basics of SQL, Power BI. Playing and watching table tennis, travelling, listening to music, spending time with friends and family.

Volunteered at various care homes and participated in multiple charity events within my community, knowledge of Accounting standards and IFRS.

Additional Skills Languages IT Skills Interests

28 – MBA students

Hindi, Marathi.

Excel, Power BI, JIRA, Salesforce.

Dancing, painting, sketching, travelling.

MBA students – 29

Sidhesh Deepak SAIGAONKAR

Ashmita SARKAR

s.d.saigaonkar2@newcastle.ac.uk

a.sarkar2@newcastle.ac.uk

Career Profile

Career Profile

MBA candidate from Newcastle University with nine years of experience in innovation and sustainable research in the personal care and beauty industry. Proven track record of driving product development and creating impactful solutions to enhance customer satisfaction and deliver exceptional consumer “wow” experiences in global markets.

Dynamic engineer with over five years of experience in different fields in technical backgrounds. Eager to expand existing skill set and knowledge to learn about management and business definitions to elevate leadership capabilities. Ready to contribute unique perspectives and bring positive change through Newcastle University Business School’s MBA programme.

Education

Education

2024–2025

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK MBA Programme • Awarded: MBA Developing Talent and Leadership Scholarship

2011–2013

INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY, Mumbai, India Master of Technology – Green Chemistry • Published research in Journal of CO2 Utilization: “Synthesis of quinazoline-2,4 (1H,3H)-dione using [HMIM] OH/SiO2 as a catalyst”

2007–2011

PRINCIPAL K M KUNDNANI COLLEGE OF PHARMACY, Mumbai, India Bachelor of Pharmacy

2024–2025

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK MBA Programme

2015–2019

SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, India Bachelor of Technology, Electronics and Communication

Experience 2019–2024 2021–2024

DXC TECHNOLOGY, Bangalore, India Senior Analyst Software Engineer • Worked on a long-term project within the insurance domain, collaborating with leading banking clients to deliver solutions and enhance existing operations.

• Gathered requirements by connecting with cross-functional teams to understand business challenges and pain points in the management system.

• Identified workflow inefficiencies and created an automated programme to reduce manual engagement and errors.

• Connected with stakeholders to deploy new working environments within business timelines.

• Developed test plans and performed software testing to validate functionality, performance and security of applications.

• Coordinated with QA teams to resolve 95% of software bugs before production release.

• Assisted in troubleshooting, debugging, and resolving software defects and system errors.

• Created Python scripts to automate daily transaction process and reduce manual processing time by 70%.

• Handled sensitive customer data by ensuring compliance and data privacy regulations.

2019–2021

Android Developer • Developed and maintained Android applications using Kotlin, improving app performance through optimisation techniques.

• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to design and implement new features like live updates using Kotlin and Jetpack libraries.

• Used actions and fragments to create a full-stack android application using Kotlin to manage user data and notifications.

• Worked with RESTful APIs to integrate social media sharing, location-based services, and in-app purchases.

Experience 2024–2024

FARM SONS CROP CARE PVT LTD, Nashik, India Assistant Manager (Technical Services) • Integrated a digital platform for tracking ingredient sourcing and evaluating their sustainability impact to identify and switch to greener alternatives for commonly used ingredients.

• Led new product development and launch management with innovative textures and concepts as per the marketing brief.

2022–2023

PITTIE CONSUMER PVT LTD, Mumbai, India Assistant General Manager • Analysed consumer insights and competitive analysis to create three in-house brands for personal care category.

• Designed innovation and value creation with formulation development with new and innovative raw materials by taking into consideration the latest trends.

• Demonstrated project management and team leadership skills by independently developing and managing the lab and all of its activities.

2013–2021 2016–2021

2013–2015

L’ORÉAL RESEARCH & INNOVATION INDIA PVT LTD, Mumbai, India Senior Research Executive • Designed the cleanser and skin care portfolio of L’Oréal Paris and Garnier for Southeast Asia and emerging markets.

• Created innovative claim and value through 10-layer removal which led to a 20% increase in sales.

• Presented innovation projects at Science Pops Beauty, an international forum in Paris.

Research Associate • Prioritised cost optimisation strategies to develop affordable cleanser technologies with estimated savings of €400K per year.

• Demonstrated sustainable leadership and awarded Sustainability Champ at L’Oréal for initiatives around solidarity sourcing.

• Coordinated with global team to implement Global Stability Harmonization Protocol across multiple zones including China, Paris, Japan and India.

Additional Skills Languages IT Skills Interests

Hindi, Bengali.

Java, Kotlin, MySQL, MongoDB, Python, HTML, CSS, Angular framework, Javascript.

Dancing, singing, cooking.

Additional Skills Languages IT Skills Interests

30 – MBA students

Hindi, Marathi.

Formulation software.

Vocal and character mimicry.

MBA students – 31

Sarthak SHARMA

Prashant SHEKHAR

s.sharma13@newcastle.ac.uk

p.shekhar2@newcastle.ac.uk

Career Profile

Career Profile

Natural leader and team player. Always excited to get work done. Nine years in the education sector with diverse experience in education technology, higher education, educational training, exam preparation, and handling leadership roles in sales and operations, as well as experience in B2B and B2C sales.

An adept and enthusiastic project manager with five years of experience in diverse project management and general management roles. Varied experience in managing teams and proficient in project management, cost reduction, and tender budget analysis for turnkey projects in the power transmission and energy sectors. Specialist in streamlining vendor-client relations for major state energy government agencies.

Education 2024–2025

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK MBA Programme

Education 2024–2025

• Awarded: Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship

2011–2015

ABDUL KALAM AZAD TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY, Lucknow, India Bachelor of Technology, Mechanical Engineering

Experience 2023–2024

2022–2023

2021–2021

JAIPURIA INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT, Corporate Office, Delhi, India Deputy Manager – Admissions • Managed pan-campus customer relationship management (CRM) software for smooth operations, including lead nurturing, distribution, automations and marketing campaigns. Efforts saw improved brand reception.

• Oversaw Marketing and Operations for the online PGDM programme, including content strategy, marketing strategy, process efficiency and process compliance. Improved content quality and timeline.

• Managed entire sales effort for the online PGDM programme, sales strategy, lead generation and conversion. Achieved two enrolments from previous batch.

2014–2018

SOA UNIVERSITY, Bhubaneswar, India Bachelor of Technology (Information Technology)

Experience 2018–2023 2020–2023

ABN TOWER AND TRANSMISSION PRIVATE LIMITED, Kolkata, India (Leading engineering, procurement and construction firm in eastern India.)

Lead Project Manager • Oversaw and monitored three teams of executives and site representatives responsible for design, construction, execution and operations of transmission bays, lines and grid sub-stations.

• Spearheaded operations across three states, overseeing the project management of 132kV and 220kV transmission lines and grid sub-stations, collectively valued at USD20.35M. • Managed the procurement, supply and commissioning of major electrical equipment worth USD10M. • Established and nurtured partnerships with global energy partners including Siemens and General Electric leading to effective cost reduction strategies in procuring switchgears, ensuring smooth product operations.

• Coordinated cross-functional teams to streamline project deadlines and enhance operational efficiencies, resulting in reduced project turnaround times.

2019–2020

UPGRAD CAMPUS (Impartus Innovations), Lucknow, India Business Development Manager • Territory management – managed sales, operations and marketing for Uttar Pradesh East region.

• B2B sales, Channel sales. Managed pre-sales team and customer success team.

• CXO meetings with higher education institutes. Helped with quick closures, contributing to 42% of overall revenue.

Lead Project Coordinator • Strategised budgeting and costing of multiple state power transmission tenders, worth USD35M. • Steered and managed leading government conferences for state agencies, enhancing both interagency communication and timely delivery of ongoing projects.

• Contributed significantly towards the growth of the firm by managing and supplying primary switchgears, valued at USD7.9M.

2018–2019

Project Executive • Formulated cost management and budget analysis at pre-tender and post-tender stages, resulting in minimum difference against the estimated value, boosting an overall profit of 22% of USD7.4M. • Proposed and researched new vendors and business partners for turnkey projects at pre-tender and post-tender stages.

• Sustained relationships with key stakeholders, government officials and vendors, ensuring timely project deliveries and adherence to quality standards.

TRIUMPHANT INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT EDUCATION, Lucknow, India Operations Manager • Launched online operations for the Institute to cater to 1,000 students, seven days a week. Switched the lecture delivery to Zoom.

• Managed operations team of seven executives, constantly monitoring the framework. Helped generate traffic for sales team during lockdown. Boosted digital presence through online marketing outreach.

2017–2018

TOTAL PRODUCTIONS PVT LTD, Bengaluru, India Key Accounts Manager • Event production, planning and conceptualisation, budget planning, and resource allocation.

Additional Skills

32 – MBA students

• Awarded: Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship

LEVERAGE EDU, Noida, India Senior Consultant • B2C – oversaw lead generation through inside sales team of 10. Helped process over 50 student applications and visas.

• Handled end-to-end process for each student working between seven different departments. Managed sales cycle on in-house CRM software for each student.

2020–2021

IT Skills Interests Other

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK MBA Programme

Additional Skills Languages IT Skills Interests

Hindi (native).

Jira.

Culinary arts, classical music.

CRM, prompt writing, sales automation, ChatGPT, Canva, bulk communication tools.

Sports, music, travel.

Sales strategy: building relationships to successfully sell; prompt engineering: how to talk to A, Head of Music Society during undergraduate degree.

MBA students – 33

Rishav SHYAM

Qianwen SONG

r.shyam2@newcastle.ac.uk

q.song10@newcastle.ac.uk

Career Profile

Career Profile

An ambitious MBA candidate with six years of experience in BI Development, is highly results-oriented with a proven track record across various verticals. Excels in delivering concurrent projects in fast-paced environments and driving business performance through strategic action plans. A trained Scrum Master skilled in both waterfall and agile methodologies; is passionate about start-ups and committed to sustainable goals.

Experienced marketing and communications specialist with over eight years’ experience in the Chinese technology markets and current MBA candidate. Specialist areas include brand positioning, cross-platform promotion and content marketing.

Proven track record in bringing new products to market from inception to final product delivery under budget while still meeting expected KPIs.

Education

Education

2024–2025

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK MBA Programme

2024–2025

• Awarded: MBA Developing Talent and Leadership Scholarship

2014–2018

VISVESVARAYA TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY, Belgaum, India Bachelor of Engineering and Technology

Experience 2022–2024

2018–2022

• Awarded: MBA Developing Talent and Leadership Scholarship

2011–2015

SMITH & NEPHEW, Pune, India (A British multinational medical equipment manufacturing company.)

Data Analyst • Served as a Scrum Master and managed a team of seven to deliver projects.

• Implemented Azure DevOps to streamline development and deployment processes.

• Developed comprehensive reports using Power BI, integrating data from SAP, Snowflake, UDP, SQL and SharePoint.

• Designed automated workflows with Power Automate and created Performance Review applications with PowerApps for higher management.

• Optimised reports developed on older versions and business logics.

TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES, Hyderabad, India Data Analyst and Data Engineer • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to analyse requirements, extract and transform data.

• Designed executive dashboards and enhance reporting with Power Automate and DAX for senior leadership.

• Managed dataflows and optimised dashboards for better performance.

• Active involvement during all phases of SDLC. • Worked on migration projects and assisted in troubleshooting any post-migration problems and making necessary adjustments to optimise the new system’s functionality.

• Responsible for design methodology and project documentation.

2018–2023 2021–2023

Hindi and Bengali (native).

Power BI, SQL, Scrum.

Water sports, culinary, art and culture.

Volunteered with an NGO called Youngistaan Foundation, Hyderabad.

QIHOO 360 TECHNOLOGY CO LTD, Beijing, China (A leading Chinese technology company listed in the Fortune China 500.)

Marketing Director • Led the development and market introduction of industry-leading smart hardware products, establishing a top market position.

• Executed comprehensive marketing strategies, including brand positioning and cross-platform promotions, achieving over 50% annual sales growth.

• Implemented high-impact marketing campaigns, such as a major product launch, resulting in over 2.5 million units sold.

• Conducted effective marketing activities under tight resources, significantly enhancing product visibility and customer trust.

2018–2021

Marketing Manager • Managed marketing efforts for multiple product categories, successfully coordinating the launch of 20+ new products annually.

• Pioneered a new sales channel through live streaming, achieving record-breaking sales with 15,000 units sold in just 10 minutes.

• Developed and executed brand strategies, including crisis management and content marketing, driving substantial brand growth.

2015–2018

SMARTISAN TECHNOLOGY CO LTD, Beijing, China (An innovative Chinese tech company known for its unique designs and user experiences.)

Marketing Specialist • Managed key projects, including a high-profile product launch event that attracted over 10,000 attendees and gained widespread media coverage.

• Coordinated the launch of a special edition product that sold out quickly, receiving positive feedback from consumers.

Additional Skills Languages Interests

34 – MBA students

NANYANG NORMAL UNIVERSITY, Nanyang, China Bachelor of Literature

Experience

Additional Skills Languages IT Skills Interests Other

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK MBA Programme

Mandarin (native).

Photography, travel, floral design.

MBA students – 35

Sawarot THAWINWONGRAK

Amala VINCENT

s.thawinwongrak2@newcastle.ac.uk

a.edakkat-vincent2@newcastle.ac.uk

Career Profile

Career Profile

A self-motivated public relations and communications professional with a proven track record of developing communication strategies for businesses in various industries such as automotive, fashion, beauty, quick service restaurants and FMCG. Proficient in influencer marketing, project management, client management, event management and content creation. Aim to leverage expertise in communication and business to drive growth and positive organisational change.

10 years of experience in the overseas education sector. Proven expertise in business development, regional operations management, and team leadership, with a track record of achieving 250% sales growth and driving operational excellence.

Adept at market research, client engagement and strategic planning to deliver exceptional results.

Education 2024–2025

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK MBA Programme • Awarded: MBA Developing Talent and Leadership Scholarship

2009–2012

CHULALONGKORN UNIVERSITY, Bangkok, Thailand Bachelor of Arts (first-class honours)

Experience 2020–2024

IMPACT MARCOM, Bangkok, Thailand Communication Director • Developed and launched successful public relations and communications campaigns.

• Oversaw and guided a team of seven junior consultants to deliver results that ensured client satisfaction.

• Identified new business opportunities and secured repeat businesses from existing clients through proactive and successful project management.

• Gained 15+ new client acquisitions through successful pitches and referrals.

• Achieved a revenue contribution of 35–40% by the strategic implementation of campaigns and the establishment of strong client relationships.

2017–2018

NISSAN MOTOR THAILAND, Bangkok, Thailand Senior Communication Staff • Strengthened brand reputation through content development, media engagement and press events.

• Delivered brand communication that deepened brand relationship with external and internal stakeholders.

• Liaised with HR department to build employee engagement by implementing internal events.

2015–2017

HILL + KNOWLTON STRATEGIES, Bangkok, Thailand Associate • Planned and developed communication strategies for clients in various industries.

• Implemented public relations activities from developing press materials to organising press events.

• Established and maintained relationships with media, online influencers and external stakeholders.

2013–2015

DELPHYS HAKUHODO, Bangkok, Thailand Account Executive • Proactively supported team leader, strategic planner, creative team and media planner in developing and implementing a range of marketing and advertising campaigns.

• Executed and ensured all projects remained on deadline and budget through effective monitoring.

Additional Skills Languages Interests

36 – MBA students

Thai (native).

Travelling, hiking, fitness, food, movies, wine, dogs, learning about different cultures.

Education 2024–2025

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK MBA Programme • Awarded: MBA Developing Talent and Leadership Scholarship

2011–2013

ST ALBERT’S COLLEGE, Ernakulam, India Master of Science Mathematics

Experience 2013–2024

SANTAMONICA STUDY ABROAD PVT LTD, Calicut, India Senior Regional Manager • Responsible for overseeing management and daily operations of three branches, and established performance targets and drove the team to consistently meet and exceed company objectives.

• Successfully achieved a growth of 637% in visa approvals through strategic initiatives and team performance.

• Managed the recruitment and training process, building a skilled team and ensuring they were equipped with the knowledge and tools to achieve business goals.

• Monitored team performance using software reports and KPIs to ensure targets were met and identified areas for improvement.

• Spearheaded the expansion of branch infrastructure from an eight-seater to a 40-seater office, along with the establishment of two additional branches, securing prime locations in central Calicut, negotiating lease terms, and overseeing the completion of all necessary documentation.

• Drove the digital transformation during the pandemic, resulting in a 30% increase in lead generation through webinars and virtual consultations.

• Organised the Educational Expo, attracting 1500+ participants, with a 60% lead-to-enrolment conversion rate.

• Developed and executed branding strategies to foster growth in an underdeveloped region, successfully exceeding registration targets.

• Focused on enhancing service delivery, managing complex cases, and collaborating with key stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of initiatives, ultimately driving regional development and performance improvements.

2010–2011

NGA HR PVT LTD, Ernakulam, India Associate • Assisted in HR functions, including payroll, recruitment, benefits, and talent management.

• Managed client payroll processing, ensuring accuracy and resolving any payroll issues.

• Proactively identified and prevented payment errors, ensuring timely and correct employee payments.

Additional Skills Languages IT Skills Interests

Malayalam, Hindi.

SAP, Windows, MS Office.

Travelling, socialising, exploring culinary arts.

MBA students – 37

Sukhsimran VIRK

Kentaro YAMAZAWA

s.s.virk2@newcastle.ac.uk

kentaro.yamazawa@newcastle.ac.uk

Career Profile

Career Profile

Results-driven Associate Product Manager with a background in IT as a Business Analyst and experience in the Fintech sector. Skilled in prioritising and managing multiple projects with a strong emphasis on innovation and user-centric solutions.

Currently pursuing an MBA to enhance my strategic capabilities. Eager to leverage my expertise to drive product success in a dynamic organisation.

A qualified accountant (CPA) with over five years of auditing experience, starting as a sales representative at a chemical company after graduation. After obtaining CPA certification within a year, transitioned into auditing and contributed to over 10 audit teams across various industries. Served as an audit team leader for two years, clarifying tasks and ensuring high-quality outcomes. Known for delivering results within deadlines.

Education

Education

2024–2025

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK MBA Programme

2024–2025

• Awarded: MBA Developing Talent and Leadership Scholarship

2015–2019

PUNJAB TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY, Fatehgarh Sahib, India Bachelor of Engineering

Experience

• Awarded: MBA Developing Talent and Leadership Scholarship

2013–2017

WESTERN UNION, Pune, India Associate Product Manager • Collaborated with the VP of Product to launch an omni-channel money transfer tracking solution, improving user experience, and reducing customer care calls by 7%, while earning a Bravo Award for my contributions to KYC enhancements in Nordic markets, increasing customer verification rates by 4%.

• Developed analytics dashboards for pre- and post-launch performance assessment, enabling agile adjustments and driving continuous improvement through detailed analysis of user engagement and customer feedback.

• Directed cross-functional teams and implemented A/B testing methodologies to optimise product features, ensuring effective communication and streamlined processes through agile project management practices.

2022–2022

COGNITER TECHNOLOGIES, Chandigarh, India Senior Business Analyst • Led the development and implementation of Talygen, a project and asset management tool that optimised business operations and enhanced client asset management experiences through effective collaboration with developers and UI/UX designers.

• Conducted market analysis to inform strategic feature enhancements, contributing to product evolution and improving market competitiveness, while actively participating in brainstorming sessions to drive client satisfaction.

2019–2022

OATI, Chandigarh, India Business Analyst • Designed and implemented features for WebOMS, optimising product efficiency through rigorous peer reviews and thorough analysis of subsystem outages to maintain system integrity and functionality.

• Facilitated mentoring and training programmes for new team members, promoting smooth integration and proficiency in project workflows, which enhanced overall team performance and productivity.

2018–2024 2022–2024

DELOITTE TOUCH TOHMATSU LLC, Tokyo, Japan Leader of audit team • Supervised on-site for a health food manufacturing company with annual sales of JP¥10BN. • Coordinated between an audit partner, staff and client representatives, gaining experience in trustbuilding through effective communication.

• Analysed gap between budget and actual audit fee and successfully increased audit fees by 10%.

• Managed the four-person audit team by understanding the personalities, strengths and weaknesses of team members, appropriately assigning tasks, and ensuring no delays or oversight in the audit plan.

• Led the project to work on key estimation items by involving executives and department heads in discussions, analysing past performance, and assessing feasibility based on future business plans.

2018–2024

Core member of audit team for listed company • Improved audit efficiency by identifying areas requiring specialised expertise, delegating tasks to other business units, and managing communications with the client and departments.

• Conducted analysis of the client’s past performance, external environment, internal environment, and competitor trends to identify high-risk audit areas and develop appropriate procedures.

• Oversaw and guided auditors of overseas subsidiaries, creating audit instructions for significant impact on consolidated statements.

• Monitored audit performance via video calls and site visits to ensure compliance. Adjusted procedures as needed through communication with local audit firms.

• Managed the division responsible for approximately 50% of client revenue, developing an understanding of audit planning and internal controls while focusing on high-fraud-risk areas.

• Collaborated with departments to design and implement audit procedures addressing fraud risks.

2017–2018

DAICEL CORPORATION, Tokyo, Japan Sales representative • Assigned to the synthetic resin division, responsible for sales of general-purpose resins primarily to existing domestic clients, ranging from small manufacturing companies to large trading firms.

• Key activities included selling new products and implementing price increases for existing products.

Additional Skills

Interests

38 – MBA students

MEIJI UNIVERSITY, Tokyo, Japan Bachelor of Global Japanese Studies

Experience

2022–2024

Languages IT Skills

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK MBA Programme

Hindi, Punjabi.

Scrum Agile framework, Jira, KPI defining, Amplitude Analytics, Quantum Metrics, Tableau, Power BI, A/B Testing, Stakeholder communication, UI/UX, Figma, Product Vision and journey mapping, SQL, and Technical Documentation.

Hiking, weightlifting, football, ultimate frisbee.

Additional Skills Languages Interests Other

Japanese (native).

Badminton, tennis, travelling.

US Certified Public Accountant.

MBA students – 39

Roberto YEPES

Xuexia ZHANG

r.yepes2@newcastle.ac.uk

x.zhang213@newcastle.ac.uk

Career Profile

Career Profile

A reliable economist with excellent conflict resolution and management skills. Innovative, proactive, and organised in the performance of multiple tasks and projects, with great adaptability and the ability to learn quickly in any situation.

Experienced in the banking sector, including cash management, trade finance and working capital operations, and managing relationships with clients and investors. Proven record as a team player, great negotiator and leader.

An MBA candidate with more than seven years of experience in real estate marketing and personal loan management.

Previously worked as a Personal Loan Manager at the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and held roles as a Case Manager in the real estate industry. Possess strong leadership and analytical skills, and a strategic mindset. Currently pursuing an MBA at Newcastle University Business School, aiming to gain insights into UK and global business practices.

Education

Education

2024–2025

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK MBA Programme • Awarded: MBA Developing Talent and Leadership Scholarship

2016–2021

UNIVERSIDAD DE LA SABANA, Bogotá, Colombia Bachelor of Science: Economics and International Finance

Experience 2021–2024

2021–2021

BANCO DE BOGOTÁ, Bogotá, Colombia (Third largest bank in Colombia.)

International Correspondent Banking Analyst • Cash management of 28 different accounts in 10 different currencies (eg USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, JPY) for international operations regarding liquidity, trade loans, working capital, and FX operations of the bank.

• Assisted in managing an international asset portfolio of USD650M. International investments in the Americas, mostly in Latin America, seeking profitability at short and medium term. Increased portfolio by 15%.

• Led innovative and agile projects within the bank, decreasing operative processes by 35% for Treasury Direction.

• Managed interbank relationships with global banks (JP Morgan, Bank of America, Citibank, Standard Chartered etc) for current and future business opportunities.

VANTI ESP, Bogotá, Colombia (Public gas provider for central Colombia.)

Financial Planning and Projects Intern • Established a process optimisation mechanism for information collection leading to shorter data collection times.

• Responsible for the management of financial reports (related to financial statements analysis) directed to company presidency.

2018–2018

CURTIS POWER SOLUTIONS, Baltimore, USA (Power generation company for Mid-Atlantic states.)

Marketing and Sales Assistant • Developed tailor-made marketing strategies for each existing and new customer.

• Presented products and negotiated with suppliers for new business opportunities.

2017–2018

LACTEOS PASCO, Bogotá, Colombia (Third largest dairy company in Colombia.)

Financial Assistant • Collected and maintained data, ensuring accurate management of databases for the preparation of financial reports.

Additional Skills Languages IT Skills Interests Other

40 – MBA students

2024–2025

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK MBA Programme

2013–2017

JINAN UNIVERSITY, China Business Administration Bachelor’s Degree in Management

Experience 2023–2024

INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL BANK OF CHINA, Zhuhai, China Manager, Personal Loan Department • Marketed personal loan products, developing and maintaining customer relationships, initial review of borrower and applicant data experience.

• Processed customer details and loan information, undertook post-loan inspection and expected loan collection.

2020–2022

XINGWAN REAL ESTATE LIMITED, Zhuhai, China (A real estate development and investment company specialising in residential and commercial properties).

Case Manager • Led a team of seven in market research and strategic planning, achieving a 120% sales target in 2021.

• Strengthened brand visibility through targeted public relations efforts, increasing local market share by 15%.

• Managed external partners, established customer files, and managed customer relationships.

• Conducted external public relations to ensure the promotion of the group’s local popularity and brand.

• Managed customer resources, coordinated teams within the department, and provided excellent customer service.

2017–2019

YANLORD LAND, Zhuhai, China (A real estate development service provider in Singapore, specialising in the development, investment and construction of high-end residential properties.)

Signing Commissioner • Processed over 5,000 real estate contracts annually, streamlined the pre-mortgage approval process, and reduced processing time by 20%.

• Responsible for the first-hand building of commercial real estate sale and purchase contracts signed.

• Filed commodity house sale contracts, re-mortgaged contracts involving sale of commercial properties, assisted with bank mortgage loan. Applied for real estate title deeds.

• Answered legal questions and policies related to home purchases for customers.

Additional Skills Languages IT Skills Interests

Cantonese (native), Mandarin (fluent).

Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Swimming, badminton, tennis.

Spanish (native), French (intermediate).

Bloomberg online trading platform.

Practise sports (football, American football, basketball), travelling, video games, music.

Black belt karate-do and karate professor, English tutor for low-income families in Colombia, AMV (selfregulator of the Colombian Securities Market) fixed and variable income specialist.

MBA students – 41

Taowei ZHU t.zhu10@newcastle.ac.uk

Career Profile Founder and CEO of CGAMES, a game publishing company based in Shanghai, which mainly provides game companies, such as Tencent and NetEase, with game evaluations and game industry consulting. An experienced leader and expert in the gaming industry with a specific interest in building connections across the gaming industry. Holds ambitions to expand CGAMES into new markets like the US and Japan.

Education 2024–2025

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK MBA Programme • Awarded: MBA Developing Talent and Leadership Scholarship

2011–2015

FUJIAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, Fuzhou, China Chinese Language & Literature

Experience 2019–2024

CGAMES, Shanghai, China CEO • Founded CGAMES and built the company to become one of the top five gaming media companies in China.

• Built and successfully led a team of 14 people to efficiently compete with larger companies.

• Developed corporate strategy and maintained core client relationships.

• The Social Media Index (WeChat) peaked at 4.5 million in a single day, making it the centre of attention on the Chinese Internet.

• The highest single-month revenue exceeded CNY850K, becoming the top three companies in China’s game media revenue.

2016–2019

TMTPOST, Beijing, China (Chinese technology media company) Operational Editor • Responsible for reviewing games, interviewing game company management and writing related reports.

• Oversaw the company’s main commercialisation platform TMTPOST WeChat.

• Wrote and collaborated over 10 high-impact articles, with the most popular piece reaching a readership of over one million.

• Established partnerships with multiple companies, including Tencent Games, NetEase Games, generating over CNY1M in revenue.

Additional Skills Languages IT Skills Interests

42 – MBA students

Chinese (native).

Adobe Photoshop.

Swimming, diving, piano, F1.

Creating together

Follow our MBA students’ journey #NCLMBA Acknowledgements Editing: Newcastle University Business School Design: GDA Print: Statex Colour Print Photography: TyneSight Photographic, Chris Bishop