Martina Costa, CEIBS MBA Class of 2022
Age: 29
Hometown: Pino Torinese, Italy
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Bachelor’s Degree in Energy Engineering. Polytechnic of Turin, Turin Italy. Master’s Degree in Energy and Nuclear Engineering. Polytechnic of Turin, Turin Italy. Participated in an exchange scholar study at Colorado School of Mines at the Advanced Energy Systems Group (AES) to write the master thesis “Evaluation of cost and performance of advanced carbon capture strategies for integrated gasification fuel cell hybrid power generation system.”
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): From Nov 2016 to April 2017 as a ski instructor for New Generation Ski & Snowboard School in France right after graduation. From July 2017 to Dec 2019 as a technical support engineer for the Opto Engineering subsidiary in Taipei handling the SEA market. From Jan 2020 to July 2020 as Sales Director of the subsidiaries based in Taipei for Opto Engineering.
Opto Engineering® THE TELECENTRIC is specialized in OPTICAL IMAGING TECHNOLOGIES. The focus is to build and provide every single component needed to solve imaging applications: starting from the optical know-how and going through competence in lighting supplying the best combination of tools available on the machine vision market: optics, lighting, industrial cameras, software, and vision units.
Why business school? Why now?
Starting my career in a medium-size firm gave me the chance to gain knowledge and insight beyond my role. I wasn’t anymore just an ordinary engineer but slowly I acquired experience in sales, data analysis, and business development. I am fascinated to master the skills to assess the extent to which a company has a sustainable competitive advantage and develop innovative strategies in product, value chain, and geographic dimensions. Completing an MBA will help me to achieve my goals by acquiring the necessary tools and knowledge provided by a highly prepared faculty in the fields of Marketing, Finance, Strategy, and Entrepreneurship. I am still at the beginning of my career and I strongly believe that pursuing an MBA from a world-class business school such as CEIBS will help me to develop an effective managerial style.
Why CEIBS? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
CEIBS has the elements that best fit my expectations, objective, and background. It is considered one of the top players in the world for developing general management skills and acquiring management tools in the marketing and financial areas and after a short visit in November where I had the chance to attend a class of Prof. Xu Bin and had a warm tour of the campus given by a previous MBA 2021 student helped me to do the right choice.
I believe that on my way to achieve my professional goal, express my talent and contribute to be part of a new generation of managers forged by a fusion of Western and Asian culture CEIBS was the only MBA school I had in mind.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2022?
I like to think outside the box and come out with very unusual solutions. My interest in philosophy fits in perfectly with my adaptative and transformative way of thinking; endless re-constitution by the questioning of the self, the world in which we live, the reality of multiverse, etc., so why do not go off the beaten track sometimes? To quote Jeffery Taylor “The beaten path is the safest, but the traffic’s terrible.”
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application?
I love to read science fiction-fantasy books. In particular, I am a super fun of the “Darkover series” written by Marion Zimmer Bradley and the “The Three-Body Problem” by Liu Cixin.
Post-MBA career interests?
In my post-MBA, I want to focus on corporate and marketing strategy, possibly for some big Tech company. There are a lot of challenges and opportunities that come across your radar in a strategy role, related to competitors, potential partners, product development, etc. I want to be able to rise above the noise, clearly see which issues are most and least critical, and deliver targeted recommendations combining my engineering background and my fresh business knowledge. 2020 isn’t the first “worst year ever” but we will face some revolutionary changes in the market and business world and I want to be part of it.
Advice to current prospective applicants:
–One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Visit the campus ahead and talk to the CEIBS staff and CEIBS ambassadors. They know how to provide guidance and show you everything you need to know about this amazing community. In case of doubts or uncertainty, they will reach out with exhaustive answers and explanations. Don’t be shy and just ask freely!
–One thing you would change or do differently?
I can definitely say that I am proud to have chosen CEIBS over other schools and I don’t feel I would have done something different during the application from my experience. But if I have to say something, I would have probably taken more time to prepare for the GMAT. You could use some of the notions to start a Data Analytics class with the right foot (especially if you feel like you are not a math-person).
–Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
Getting into many applications for different MBA schools will confuse you even more when it comes time to choose your path. Stick to 1-2 schools you think will allow you to grow both personally and professionally and help you to develop the best version of yourself. Don’t think just about the curriculum and courses provided, but give the same focus to the set of shared values, goals, attitudes, and practices that characterize the school itself. You want to be proud to be an alumnus. These few points where the turning points to choose CEIBS above all the other schools.
What is your initial impression of CEIBS’s students/culture/community?
CEIBS really cares about the development of each singular student keeping into consideration all the different facets. Being exactly the same copy of someone else won’t make you stand out from the crowd. The mentoring program is a CEIBS gem and I cannot explain in written words how passionate and committed are the alumni to help express yourself. To summarize in one word the culture in CEIBS: CARE.
One thing you have learned about CEIBS that has surprised you?
CEIBS doesn’t procrastinate. It will always have a door open for you even when the times get darker. This year, with all the covid-19 situation there was a lot of uncertainties and it was very easy for the school to opt for an online version. However, CEIBS worked really hard to get every single member of the CEIBS community involved and deliver something no other MBA schools have done. I could not be prouder to be here in Zurich with all the other 41 international students that had the courage to go the extra mile this year despite all the adversities.
Thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
The first two terms seem to be the main concerns for all the previous students, and having just a technical background will make things even more challenging. The never-ending nights on a case study, group discussion, and exam review (just to mention a few of the many commitments) … It is going to drain out all the energy. If you are not caffeine-addicted you will slowly become so, trust me. Furthermore, being in Zurich can be considered both as an opportunity and a challenge even if the Zurich Team and CEIBS couldn’t have done a better job of organizing our arrival and life on campus.
Thing you are most excited about in your first year?
Have the chance to meet many amazing and unique professionals that have a completely different culture and background. It is an amazing opportunity that it is not possible to duplicate anywhere else besides joying an MBA program. I can’t hide that as soon as we have some free time (no pain no gain, right?), I am ready with my skis and boots to enjoy some of the best slopes in the world here in Switzerland.
