"MIB program has turned into a great investment in my career"
MIB second-year student Elena Afanaseva shares her impression of the programme.
Current job: Producer, RT International
Prior education: HSE: Bachelor of International Relations, Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs
Professional areas of interest: Media and Business
Languages proficient in: English, Spanish
Why did you decide to pursue Master of International Business at the HSE? What attracted you the most?
I wanted to do something completely new for myself, and MIB, without doubts, has turned into a great investment in my career. It also gives a great opportunity to meet plenty of interesting speakers who are ready to share their experience and knowledge.
Courses and lecturers you find the most exciting, and why?
Among the most interesting courses were international marketing and digital advertising because these disciplines are at crossroads and expand my creativity. It has turned out that both of them made a great impact on my career.
What is it like to study in MIB during the pandemic, compared to your first year here?
It was rather convenient because all classes were online, and MIB admins were ready to help me almost any time. Unfortunately, due to my work it was difficult to attend all classes even by Zoom due to my work schedule.
You are a second year MIB student and now you are working at RT. Why did you decided to pursue a career there?
I started working at RT even before applying for MIB. I wanted to continue growing not just in the media field, but also in the business sphere, and MIB seemed to be the best option in Russia. Also, one of the key aspects is that the disciplines are taught in English, which is crucial in my career because I work in the English department of RT?
Tell us about your experience at RT. What do you like and what are the challenges for you?
Probably one of the main challenges is that sometimes I need to work 24/7 without breaks for several days straight, or I need to work late at night because I’m in charge of American news stories. But despite all this, I like my job because it’s creative and enables me to interview people from all over the world.
How did your MIB skills help you during the application process and/or worktime?
I think the most important thing MIB gives me is broadening my horizons in the business sphere: it teaches a perfect theoretical base which I can implement even in the media field. I often need to talk to businessmen from all over the world and understanding the basics makes me an interesting and profound interviewer.