Lev Mukhin, class of 2018, is one of EMLV Graduates of the MBA Program. From his participation in an international contest organised by Pernod Ricard China to his actual role as a digital marketing manager for Europe at OPPO, the Chinese smartphone maker, it has been a short story to success.
The EMLV’s MBA takes students on an immersive journey at the heart of digital technology. Thanks to empirical and practical teaching methods, the future digital marketing managers will learn how to anticipate the evolution of the digital economy, e-business and digital marketing.
As part of the learning by doing method, the MBA students get the opportunity to participate in contests that challenge student teams to apply their personal and professional skills to contribute to the growth of some multinational companies, such as Pernod Ricard. Lev was one of the team members that flew to Shanghai to pitch their solution in front of Pernod Ricard’s subsidiary, as part of the “Ask Jerry” Challenge.
Studying for his MBA in Paris-France inspired Lev to pursue his dreams, and set into a career in digital marketing with OPPO, the third-most-popular smartphone maker in China .
How an MBA in Digital Marketing can open doors for international careers in Paris
I used to live and work in Almaty – it’s considering today as a cultural & financial centre of Kazakhstan, and this is where I got my first bachelor’s degree in engineering. Ever since childhood, I had a passion for computer technologies. So I started to work in IT & internet industry even before my very first graduation (I come from the ICQ generation, and still remember the number I was using at that time). Thus, it happened imperceptibly to me: doing private website development & SMM campaigns became a way of earning money.
In 2014, I was lucky to be hired as manager of the e-commerce department at Kaspi Bank, the largest retail bank in Kazakhstan, known for its achievements in providing the best online customer experience in the region. In this role, I learned about well-known SAP Products and completed my knowledge in web development & digital marketing. The online store we launched in 2014 remains today the most advanced and popular in Central Asia.
Later I joined another company, and this time an international one: Home Credit Bank. Retail banking is notable for its audience scale and performance potential: a new experience, some new friends and renewed ambitions.
Still, France stays one of the best places in Europe to fulfil your ambitions! To succeed, you need to be self-confident on your plans, and to invest correctly so to receive the most significant benefit for yourself and future long-term prospects. It turns out that for me, following the MBA Program at EMLV Business School was a good investment.
Most of the courses offered as a part of the program were about what I did before. Taking the MBA Digital Marketing journey is more about the development of an international experience. In my group, I met experts from Europe, Asia, America & Africa. It was always exciting and funny to hear from some of my classmates: “You know, guys, in my country this thing works like that…”.
The program includes different types of projects. The most remarkable one for me was the corporate consulting project.
As a part of the project, we created a digital solution for Pernod Ricard, a well-known French company with a branch in Shanghai, China. It was my team’s next destination at that time, but not my last experience within a Chinese company.
Being a digital manager for a Chinese tech giant based in Paris
A month later after the defence of my diploma at EMLV, I joined OPPO – one of the biggest smartphone manufacturers in the world with plans to enter the European market, and a brand new office in Paris.
As a Digital Marketing Manager for Europe, and member of the OPPO Western European Hub & Marketing Dept, for my third year in a company, I am responsible for implementing digital projects and campaigns around Western Europe. It’s a great teamwork hub, and I find it fantastic to be working with cool, smart, creative and experienced professionals from Europe and China.
I believe every digital manager should be a little bit programmer, engineer, designer, journalist, accountant, lawyer etc. All those skills are helpful in activities related to social media buying & planning, web development, e-commerce, KOL management etc. Analytical skills are something every single local digital manager has to add in the list of his professional assets. I would say, a sort of a Superman with a laptop. It’s a fascinating role with many perspectives.
There is always room for perfection, especially in a world where digitalization is a priority for almost every single industry. French Business Schools give a good push to start or continue your career in marketing and digital.
More than a school, EMLV is a good service. More than teachers, its professors are experienced managers. More than just a diploma, a degree from EMLV Business School is a key to career prospects. It’s essential to have a right and clean vision of that without any illusions.
Know what you need and get it! My greetings to the EMLV Administration & Teaching Staff!
