Yigit Okudan

During his 2nd year of university, he created his own burger delivery business in Segovia, Spain. After closing his burger business, he has joined 6 of his friends to create an event organisation company where he organised different events in unique venues such as an Antique Monastery, airports and one of the biggest clubs in Madrid called BlackHaus with 500-1000 participants for every event. Other than organising, he was taking care of CRM and Social Media accounts as well as Marketing Plans. He has 2 years experience in Event Management & Event Organization.

DEFINE YOUR EXPERIENCE IN ONE WORD

Discovering.

IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU THINK PROGRAM HAS CHANGED YOUR LIFE PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY?

MRCB helped me to understand two different approaches. First approach is the qualitative approach such as understanding the human mind, observation, perceptions, influence and persuasion and much more psychological understanding of the human behavior. This learning helped me to understand that these techniques are not only used in professional life but also the life itself. Especially the qualitative methods I have learned changed my communication skills in professional and personal life. It also taught me how to be a good listener, to understand the different perceptions of people who are coming from a completely different background and how to create a balance within these different backgrounds.

The quantitative methods I have learned taught how to make decisions based on reality (which is data), it also showed me that data never lies, it is the truth and the correct path to excellence in everything you professionally or personally do.

Of course, these are only the classes that taught me something but being in a class with more than 95% of students being international also taught me again that coming from a different background, nationality or anything that includes “differences” between people is not important at all. We all are human beings in the end and nothing else matters.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY OF YOUR EXPERIENCE?

I had plenty of favorite memories, but I can easily say that the best memory I have about the program is about my professors. I know “professors” as a memory can sound a little weird but in more specific terms, the memories about my professors are my best ones! I have never seen a friendly environment like this during my education life. The professors are literally there to help you out on everything (when I say everything, I mean EVERYTHING). Their approach to the students is top level and super friendly. They know how to read their students’ minds and can clearly understand how to approach you. I know that their full support is always with me during my studies and after my studies. Since the professors are approachable, I still talk to some of them in order to ask for some advice in my professional life or just to chit-chat about life in general. It is a crazy feeling to know that once I was their student but now I became their colleague/friend. I especially can’t thank enough to my professor for Influence and Persuasion and would like to thank him here, again. Balvinder, thank you for everything, thank you for making me realize a different point of view for the world!

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO STUDY THIS PROGRAM AT IE?

I was already studying my bachelor’s in business administration at IE and during my 3rd and 4th year elective courses I was specializing on marketing, market research and branding. When I was in my market research elective which was taught by Maria Eizaguirre, I fell in love with her style and passion on this subject. I really started enjoying it because of her passion and decided to pursue this program at IE. It was a life changing moment for me.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE MAIN CHALLENGES THAT YOU ENCOUNTERED ON YOUR WAY? HOW DID YOUR MASTER PROGRAM AND IE HELP YOU THROUGH THESE CHALLENGES?

As a lifestyle I do not believe in challenges. I see every obstacle or “challenge” which I encounter as a learning opportunity and personal/professional development practice. Calling these obstacles a challenge would be wrong since it is always possible to learn and develop yourself. My program helped me to realize more that everything can be learned from the beginning and you can always do the best work possible as long as you are open to receive feedback and develop yourself more from your mistakes.

WHAT IS NETWORKING LIKE IN THE PROGRAM?

Networking is so easy if you are not shy and open to share your life. Once you are out of your comfort zone, people who you want to talk will always be there for you. During my program, I exactly realized what I just said. Once I got out of my comfort zone and started talking, all my professors and other students from other degrees were open to talk and network. There are also a lot of events which I attended and shared my life with professionals who arrived in those events as a recruiter or panelists, like I said before, if you open your world to people, they will always be there to help you. A tip for the future IE Community: If you don’t use every opportunity you have, you will always stay in the same position but if you do talk to people, either you receive a negative response for a job opportunity or a positive one, at least you will know what to do or what not to do in the future. Get out of your comfort zone to meet people and chase what you want!