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 Name: Nessim Djerboua
Degree (University): MBA (Hawai`i Pacific University)
University previously attended: Verwaltungs-und Wirtschafts-Akademie Essen, Germany
Degree obtained: BA in Business Administration with a major in marketing
Country of origin: Germany
Age: 26
Career History
My undergraduate degree program in Germany was a combination of in-class lectures and full-time work. I was able to earn my BA in Business Administration in only three years and gained professional experience as a retail salesman in the automotive industry in Germany at the same time.
This past winter, I pursued a three-month internship at Merrill Lynch in Honolulu. I primarily assisted the financial advisor with daily activities, such as researching new investment opportunities and helping to build up the current client base.
Currently, I am doing an internship at Sopogy, a solar start-up company in Honolulu. I work as a research analyst in corporate development, helping the company to enter new markets, especially Europe, Africa, and India. I am also writing my master's thesis in the area of renewable energy, which makes this internship a great match for me.
Why I Chose Hawai`i Pacific University
I chose Hawai`i Pacific University (HPU) because of its recognized MBA program, its diverse student population, and of course the stunning location. The small classes are very practical and many courses focus on real-world case studies to highlight complex business concepts. For example, students have to create realistic plans for local businesses that are later presented to the respective companies. HPU's major advantage compared to other business schools in the United States is its diversity. I think it would be very hard to find a comparable ratio of international students at any other business school in the country.
HPU's MBA Program
The MBA program at HPU has an excellent reputation and is constantly improving. After some structural changes, the newly re-engineered program now offers a number of engaging and relevant topics, such as leadership courses, courses on group and team dynamics, as well as a course on decision models for managers.
All these components recently inspired me, along with two other students, to establish the MBA Club Hawaii--providing MBA students the opportunity to network with professionals and support local businesses through consulting projects.
Future Goals
HPU has enriched my graduate experience in a variety of ways. In addition to making life-long friends, I met Dr. Bee-Leng Chua--the director of HPU's Entrepreneurship Center. Dr. Chua is an entrepreneurial mentor for me. She has sparked my interest in running my own business. While working with her on several projects such as the New Venture Challenge, I experienced her inspiring and supportive personality. She always shared her experiences with me and gave me advice when I needed it. She also helped me connect with successful entrepreneurs who further reinforced the desire to create my own company in the future. One aspect that I particularly like about Dr. Chua is her "Think Big" attitude, which encouraged me to have big plans for the future. It is mostly due to her motivation and the solid business education I am receiving at HPU that I feel well-prepared to excel as an entrepreneur. After graduation, I am planning to gain further professional work experience in the renewable energy sector to learn more about the industry and to identify potential business opportunities before hopefully starting my own business.
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