Alumni Interview – Mariam Ahmed – Experience of studying International Finance

Alumni Interview – Mariam Ahmed – Experience of studying International Finance

Mariam can you tell us a bit about yourself? What did you study and what was your favourite part of the course? 

I am an egyptian that was born and raised in KSA. I believe I am truly passionate about the region and believe that it has a lot of potential for growth and prosperity. I always felt like I wanted to leave an impact and support my region, but I never know how given my seniority. Until one day I decided that given how young our region is, business is the key catalyst that will drive change and create opportunities. I therefore decided to study International Finance and was lucky to have the DCU program. My favorite part of the degree was our dynamic projects. Each project exposed us to a new topic in an innovative way that really allowed us to broaden our knowledge horizons beyond the textbooks.

Can you tell us about your current role?

I am an Associate at Boston Consulting Group where my role is to work with my team to support clients by developing strategies based on quantitative and qualitative analyses, where we work with our client teams to understand their challenges and build tailored solutions that fit them.

Congratulations on your move to Boston to complete the Harvard MBA. What are you most excited about as you plan the move to Boston?

Thank you! I am mostly excited about getting exposed to all the different phases of the journey. whether its exploring Boston as a city, or enjoying the educational journey at an institution as prestigious as Harvard. I am really looking forward to meeting the lecturers, students and learning from them.

What’s your longer term goals and career plan when you finish your MBA?

After my MBA I will be returning to BCG at a more senior role with greater influence throughout my projects to continue my efforts to change societal beliefs. In addition to achieving professional success and becoming a leading business figure in the region. However, I do not see myself reaching this alone, I want to dedicate my journey to supporting those around me and becoming a catalyst for talented females who may not have the same opportunities that I did. I have an uphill battle to change the views of those trying to hinder their progress and marginalize them. Nevertheless, I know that my DCU degree, Harvard MBA , and BCG experience will equip me with the knowledge and tools to continue my journey.

What would be your advice to other DCU students who are just finishing their course and starting their career?

It is crucial to have big dreams and ambitions yet stay humble at the start of your career. Learn from everyone around you, no matter how junior, be sure to constantly be open for challenges and leverage all opportunities that may come your way. I would also say that it may not always be clear where your career is heading, and that’s fine as long as you are constantly learning and exploring different options.