Originally from Lebanon, Mohammad moved to London to study MSc International Financial Management and now works as a Consultant at Deloitte Middle East. Mohammad shares his story of why he chose Queen Mary and how his degree has helped him so far in his career.
As an international student from Lebanon, what was it that attracted you to London and Queen Mary in particular?
London has always been my favourite city, I’ve visited many cities around the world yet always felt most comfortable in London as if it was my second home. I also think it’s a great city for students.
I got accepted to many universities in the UK and Europe, but I chose Queen Mary because of its worldwide reputation, world class teaching level and the beautiful campus within London.
What aspects of your MSc International Financial Management degree did you find most enjoyable? What modules did you enjoy learning about and was there anything that surprised you in your studies?
I hold a bachelor's degree in economics and I’m personally very interested in the subject, so what surprised me was the addition of the Econometrics modules to the program which I also found very enjoyable. My favourite module would definitely be Dr Androniki Triantafylli’s Accounting class, simply for her amazing teaching method and great times we had during her lectures.
Can you describe your career path up to date and your current role?
While I was working on my dissertation, I was interviewing with multiple firms, one of which was Deloitte. I got several offers in consulting specifically, and directly after our graduation from Queen Mary in December, I joined Deloitte as a Business Analyst. Now, two years later, I’m a Consultant at Deloitte Middle East.
Can you describe what a typical working day looks like for you?
I’d have to say a typical work day consists of a lot of meetings and different tasks day by day. The most interesting thing about consulting is that there is no routine. With every new project comes a new challenge and learning opportunity which makes it very interesting for me even though it is very demanding and can be hectic at times, I get to learn a lot in a very short period of time which makes it all worthwhile.
How did your time and study at Queen Mary help your career and development?
The year I spent at Queen Mary was much more than just studying to obtain a master’s degree. For me, it was a year of soul searching; finding out what I like and what I don’t like in terms of a future career. All of the support available at Queen Mary helps you decide what you want to do moving forward, at least that’s what it did for me, in addition to the great technical skills I acquired from my MSc program.
Is there any advice you would give to current students or recent graduates considering studying in London?
Simply enjoy it as much as possible because these are times and memories you will cherish later on. I personally love London and I think it really is filled with a lot of opportunities for everyone.
What is the most exciting thing about what you do?
The most exciting thing about what I do would have to be the new challenges because of the satisfaction you get once you overcome them and the number of things you learn from them. Oh, and the constant travel!
What was special about your time at Queen Mary? Can you give one or two examples of your most memorable moments?
Definitely the new friends I made. This is something I cherish; all my greatest memories are with them making my time at Queen Mary literally epic. One of my most memorable moments would have to be Dr Androniki giving an example of me as a CEO in her lecture and all the laughter that used to happen in the Applied Econometrics class when no one was understanding a word!
Do you have a favourite spot on campus? If so, where is it and why?
Library Square and the top floor of the Graduate Centre. Library Square was our spot after classes and exams to chill and have a good time, and the top floor of the Graduate Centre is where we used to gather around to study and enjoy the view.
Can you give 3 reasons why you’d recommend Queen Mary to prospective students hoping to study MSc International Financial Management?
It goes without saying that it is a reputable university that helps you plan your future and opens up a lot of doors and opportunities.
The ambience and vibe of the campus life within London is amazing and feels just like home where you can study and have a great time in a safe environment.
The program itself is a mixture of Finance, Economics, and Business (depending on your electives) which gives you technical skills in all three areas which will really help you in whatever you choose to do after you graduate.