The Management Boot Camps, organized by industry experts, enable students to experience how theory works in concrete business contexts while allowing them to interact with senior level executives. Students select courses from a range of emerging management topics such as big data, entrepreneurship, and design thinking.
Originally from Kazakhstan, Izolda Urazgaliyeva attended a guest lecture on sustainability featuring a representative from Eli Lilly—the global pharmaceutical and biotechnology company—as part of her Boot Camp experience at MIP. After it, she secured a marketing internship at the firm. She’s now working on a multichannel engagement project to promote a recently-launched drug.
BusinessBecause caught up with Izolda to find out more about MIP’s Management Boot Camps.
Which of MIP Politecnico di Milano's Management Boot Camps stood out for you?
The sustainability and business ethics module stood out for me. The aim of the Boot Camp was to provide a thorough and comprehensive view of the sustainability concept and its managerial implications. I worked with a team on a real business case presented by Barilla—an Italian food company.
I now know that sustainability should be embedded in company processes, and have no doubt that the knowledge I've gained will be useful to my career. Coming from the oil and gas industry, I am conscious that the importance of sustainability will only grow in the future.
Another interesting boot camp was on circular economy. We had the opportunity to network during a presentation by EIT RawMaterials—a company providing sustainable supplies of raw materials for European industries. Our final task was to develop a viable circular business model for a case-study company.
How did the Boot Camps complement your learning in class?
The Boot Camps were a very useful, practical activity with a mix of lectures, workshops, company guest presentations, and a final assignment that needed to be developed during the week. The MBA is not just an academic experience—the Boot Camps based learning on real-world examples, evidence, and business cases.
Why did you decide to pursue an MBA?
Following my undergraduate degree in public administration in Kazakhstan, I started a career in corporate governance roles at an oil and gas company. Through this job, I had the opportunity to gain experience in one of the parent company's headquarters in Milan.
I returned to my home country to work on a mega project for the development of Karachaganak field in West Kazakhstan. However, the crisis in the oil and gas industry would slow down the project, and reduce its scope. This impacted my job functions, and I felt it was the right moment to make a change.
I am convinced that learning is a lifetime process. I always wanted to do an MBA, but international career opportunities meant I kept postponing my plans. Once I decided that I wasn't learning anything new on the job, I started researching programs.
Why MIP?
Milan was already familiar to me, while MIP has a great reputation and impressive industry connections. I trusted an MBA at MIP Politecnico di Milano would give a boost to my career, and I have already profited from the experience both professionally and personally.
Now, [on the internship at Eli Lilly] I’m putting into practice everything I've learned during classes. It's a completely new industry and job function for me, but I’m thoroughly enjoying it!
Student Reviews
Polimi Graduate School of Management
