What did you do before this Master?

Following completion of my Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy & International Business, Iworked on Wall Street for a leading bulge-bracket investment bank specializing in the alternative investments industry. I continued my professional experience as a consultant for the strategy and economic development policy unit for the government of the City of New York during the height of the U.S. Financial Crisis in 2008. This initial experience in organizational strategy and projectmanagement was followed by a two-year international experience as a visiting researcher and independent consultant in Brazil.

Why did you decide to do this Master?

My interest in the Master in Strategic Project Management (European) program was three-fold: toobtain academic training in strategy-focused business theory and project management techniques, toconduct original research within the EU, and to experience intensive cross-cultural immersion in adiverse set of EU member states.

Why did you choose this school?

My particular interest in MIP Politecnico di Milano School of Management was based heavily on the schoolʼs unique array of high-quality offerings in academic and executive training as well as researchthat actively incorporates its strengths in engineering, design, and economics to the practice ofbusiness management.

What did you experience during the program?

My experience through the program included professionally organized visits to project sites hosted by companies such as BAE Systems (Glasgow, UK) and Komatsu Forest (Umeå, Sweden) where students were able to observe management of real-time operations. I also had the wonderful opportunity to live with and learn from Italian nationals about fine wine and regional cuisines. Inaddition to learning a great deal from the three host nations, I observed cultural differences in manyother EU member states spanning the Scandinavian, Benelux, and Central European regions.

How did you benefit from the program?

Overall, the experience has provided me with even greater confidence in my professional, analytical, and leadership skills. Additional skills related to business model design and cross-cultural communication or collaboration have been particularly useful in my independent consulting work.

Why would you recommend this program to others?

I would recommend this program for its valuable intercultural experience, which strikes a focus on both business and project management in the context of not only the nations of the participating consortium institutions, but also of the EU as a whole. The relationships with international students and crossborder professionals are also tremendous value-added qualities. Outside of the classroom, prospective students can expect to also learn a great deal about themselves through the full immersion experience,daily challenges and triumphs, and intellectual discussions with peers and host communities.

Eric L. Chambers
Master in Strategic Project Management (MSPME)
MIP Politecnico Milano