Page 15 - Business Insights 2012-2013

people. It is hard moving around and starting again,
especially coming from a city of 20 million people to
a small European town. But I have always travelled
a lot, even as a student. I haven’t really stopped! I
have followed where the opportunities have led me
and, along the way, learnt about new cultures and
new ways of working.”
Marta’s international career was driven by her
chemical industry background and it has certainly
provided her with many challenges and rewards over
the years. “If you want a successful international
career path my advice would be to take on
challenges and be flexible. If you join a multinational
organisation, you can build a career for yourself, raise
your profile and opportunities will become available.
Get established in the right job first and then look for
opportunities – it is much harder to go to a country
and then find a job.”
Although busy forging her new career, Marta still
has time for her Business School alumni. “I have
regular contact with other alumni. I have met
former course colleagues in Tokyo, Germany, France
and London and I received numerous visits during
my time in Shanghai.”
Since graduating from the Business School in 2007,
Canadian-born Rajen Ruparell has been both very
busy and very successful. There is no doubt this has
a lot to do with his drive and ambition, as well as his
belief that the years following graduation are about
“learning, and if you keep that in mind, you will win”.
And it is fair to say Rajen has been successful when it
comes to career achievements. “My heart was set on
studying business from an early age, but I decided to
pursue economics and politics in my undergraduate
studies. As business was my long-term path, trying
something different as an undergrad was the right
way forward. As an entrepreneur, I chose to study
MSc Management because it would give me a strong
background in business and allow me to begin my
career early. And I chose Imperial College Business
School for its clear focus in entrepreneurship, its
leading global reputation, and my desire to live
abroad in London.”
Rajen put these entrepreneurship skills into practice
when he co-founded CityDeal in 2010, a collective
buying power, deal-of-the-day website which focused
on offering discounted price deals. Rajen certainly
found the strength of the Imperial College brand was
a positive influence during this time. “At CityDeal,
we launched in countries around the world very
quickly. We were in Japan one day, Korea the next,
and back in London the following week. When hiring
strong talent, candidates always want to know they
are working for someone from whom they can learn
and who has strong supporting credentials. Success
attracts success, and Imperial College was incredibly
influential in forming my track record to date.”
If you want a successful
international career path my
advice would be to take on
challenges and be flexible.
If you join a multinational
organisation you can build a
career for yourself, raise your
profile and opportunities will
become available.
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Photo courtesy of O Peixe Audiovisual
15 BUSINESS INSIGHTS 2012 – 2013