For ambitious professionals ready to lead transformation at the highest levels, the Global Executive MBA at IE Business School offers more than a degree—it offers a launchpad. Just ask Aslan Moldanyazov and Majan Al-Abdullatif, two recent graduates whose career progression has accelerated dramatically since embarking on the program.
Want to see how an MBA can enhance your profile? Let’s find out more.
How does the Global Executive MBA expand your reach?
For Aslan Moldanyazov, graduating from the Global Executive MBA wasn’t the end of a chapter—it was the launch of something bigger.
When he started the program, Aslan was already working as Head of Sales at Terumo Interventional Systems, and his career blossomed during his time at IE Business School. He was promoted to Business Unit Director for Eastern European Markets and is now preparing to expand his responsibilities further into the expanded Eurasia region.
Commenting on his recent promotion, Aslan shares, “This is a big responsibility—but also a big opportunity to lead with purpose, connect people across borders and build something bold together.”
“More than terabytes of notes or case studies, I walk away with deeper awareness, sharper resilience and a new lens to reflect on what truly matters,” Aslan Moldanyazov.
With a leadership scope spanning five strategic subregions, Aslan credits the Global Executive MBA with helping him adapt, grow and meet the moment. The program’s real-time, real-world learning model meant that every insight could be directly applied to his evolving leadership journey—a step he considers essential to the learning process. “You need to keep the dynamic going, and you need to apply the knowledge gained. Working while studying is crucial,” he says.
After 650 days of balancing work, study and life, Aslan walked away with something deeper than knowledge: “More than terabytes of notes or case studies, I walk away with deeper awareness, sharper resilience and a new lens to reflect on what truly matters—connection, curiosity and contribution.”
For Aslan, the transformation he experienced went beyond strategy frameworks and business acumen. “This journey was never just about business theory… It was about people.” He describes his classmates as “more than peers” and says they have become “lifelong friends.”
Creating impact in the boardroom
For Majan Al-Abdullatif, the Global Executive MBA saw her through a powerful transformation, bridging her leadership role at Shell with a position as Board Director at Petroleum Development Oman.
Majan, now General Manager of Asset Management at Shell, describes the Global Executive MBA experience as: “Far more than academic. It was deeply personal. A mirror. A proving ground. A reminder that growth often begins on the edge of discomfort.”
Over 20 months and three continents, Majan developed not only her strategic thinking, but also her sense of self. “I discovered powerful truths about myself,” she shares. “That my instinct to plan, structure and integrate is not just a strength—it’s my leadership signature. That vulnerability is not weakness, but a gateway to connection and growth.”
“I leave this program not just with an MBA, but with lifelong friendships, renewed self-belief and a reignited curiosity for the world ahead,” Majan Al-Abdullatif.
She credits the program’s team projects, international residencies and peer discussions with sharpening her leadership instincts. “There were moments I doubted myself,” she admits. “But with every group project, forum post and residential discussion, I grew in confidence, in clarity and in community.”
An introvert by nature, Majan highlights the program’s global network as one of its most rewarding elements. “Meeting people from different countries and cultures has taken me out of my comfort zone—and I’m really enjoying it. Hearing about the career challenges they’re facing in their industries has been very interesting.”
The program has transformed her into a leader who’s now operating at the highest levels of governance, armed with both strategic insight and emotional intelligence. “I leave this program not just with an MBA,” she said, “but with lifelong friendships, renewed self-belief and a reignited curiosity for the world ahead.”
What makes the Global Executive MBA a catalyst for transformation?
Both Aslan and Majan’s stories point to something deeper than a traditional educational experience. Their promotions and board-level roles are clear indicators of professional success, but what truly sets this program apart is the personal transformation it sparks.
IE Business School’s Global Executive MBA is a 15-month program designed for senior professionals ready to lead through uncertainty and complexity. Its project-based methodology ensures students work on real-life business challenges, applying insights to their roles in real time. Every module is built to deliver immediate impact, from digital transformation to board governance.
The program also features international residential weeks in four global business hubs: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA); Singapore Management University; Oxford University; and IE Business School’s own facilities in Madrid. These residencies provide invaluable exposure to diverse markets and leadership styles, while offering a close-up look at global business practices.
Students also take part in simulations like the CEO Challenge and the Board Leadership Module, gaining hands-on experience in C-suite decision-making. Meanwhile, the Impact Skills Accelerator equips them with essential tools such as negotiation, data analytics and public speaking, all critical in high-stakes environments.
Shaping transformational leaders
The Global Executive MBA prepares students to manage complexity and gives them the insights to lead through it. With personalized coaching through the Personal Advisory Program, students explore their own leadership styles, identify gaps and build the self-awareness needed to lead with confidence and empathy.
Entrepreneurship and Change Management are also key pillars of the curriculum, giving graduates the agility to lead across industries or even launch their own ventures.
Both Aslan and Majan exemplify this leadership mindset. They stepped into new roles during and after the program while embracing discomfort in growth, building powerful global networks, and emerging as more reflective, purpose-driven leaders.
As Majan puts it, “I am eternally grateful. Humbled. Energized. And ready for what’s next.” Aslan shares a similar optimism for the future, commenting upon his graduation from the program, “This isn’t the end. It’s just the beginning.”
Ready to begin your own transformation?
Whether you’re eyeing the C-suite, already working in the boardroom or planning your next big leadership move, the Global Executive MBA is designed to get you there. Across 15 months, five global residencies and a robust peer network, you’ll gain the skills, experience and perspective to thrive in a complex, fast-moving world.
Benjamin is the editor of Uncover IE. His writing is featured in the LAMDA Verse and Prose Anthology Vol. 19, The Primer and Moonflake Press. Benjamin provided translation for “FalseStuff: La Muerte de las Musas”, winner of Best Theatre Show at the Max Awards 2024.
Benjamin was shortlisted for the Bristol Old Vic Open Sessions 2016 and the Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize 2023.
