
Changing global brands via new propositions and products
- Job title
- Product Lead
- Company
- 11:FS
- Programme
- MSc Management
- Graduation year
- 2017
The course
Why did you choose to study at the University of Edinburgh Business School (UEBS)?
I first visited Edinburgh when I was about 15 and immediately fell in love with the city - its history, culture and above all the people - and I remember thinking about how incredible it would be to study there.
Having grown up in Cape Town, and upon completing my BSc in Biochemistry & Genetics at the University of Cape Town, I decided I wanted to pursue further education and I immediately thought about Edinburgh.
After doing my research I discovered that the University of Edinburgh Business School had exactly the type of degree I was looking for, one that would bridge the gap between science and business.
What was it about the degree programme that particularly attracted you?
The biggest draw for me was the breadth and depth of subjects available on the Masters in Management course.
After completing my BSc, I knew I wanted to pivot into the world of business and I was looking for an intense and comprehensive deep dive into management - everything from accounting to marketing to consumer behaviour.
I was also attracted by the prospect of meeting like-minded individuals from all across the globe and I knew that the Business School attracted many international students.
Lastly, the Masters in Management at the Business School is consistently ranked as one of the best in the UK, so I knew I would receive a top quality education.
Your career
Can you tell us about your career before and after graduating?
After graduating, I joined the Barclays Graduate Programme. There I completed a number of rotations across the Retail bank, the Wealth Management and Investments business and the Ventures business.
I was promoted to Vice President and moved into a strategy & innovation role in the Ventures business where I combined emerging technologies with intuitive design to make customer engagement more personal and relevant.
After four and a half years at Barclays, I was excited to explore new opportunities and I took a role at 11:FS, a fintech consultancy. Since joining, I have worked on a wealth management proposition in Singapore for one of the world’s largest wealth managers. I’ve worked on a private banking proposition in the US and with a credit union in Canada.
My Masters gave me invaluable organisational and management skills that I rely on every day.Nadine Timmer-Bodenstein MSc
How did your degree prepare you for your career?
I was never someone who knew exactly what they wanted to do and, quite honestly, I fell into banking.
The Masters in Management programme adopts a holistic approach to business and management so it prepared me so well to be adaptable to whatever industry I ended up in. The programme really contributed to me building my confidence, creating a personal brand and thinking about the type of impact I wanted to have.
Masters of Change
What notable changes has your degree enabled you to make in your professional or personal life?
From a professional perspective, my degree enabled me to change field from science to business and to do so with confidence. It gave me the skills - both technical and soft skills - to excel on my graduate programme, which subsequently paved the way for the opportunities I’ve had since then.
From a personal perspective, I met lifelong friends whilst at the Business School, two of whom were able to travel to South Africa this year to attend my wedding.
What are the changes you have been able to make in your chosen field, of which you are most proud?
At 11:FS I get to work with global brands to define new digital banking propositions and products that answer real needs so that our clients and their customers thrive.
I am motivated by making a difference in customer’s lives and I’m proud of the fact that I can do so whilst also transferring knowledge to my clients in the process.
How did your studies at the Business School help you to make those changes?
The Business School gave me the knowledge I needed to change from science to business, the confidence I needed to believe that I could excel in a new field, the skills I needed to manage people and teams effectively and the friends I needed to support me through these changes.
What key things that you learnt at the Business School do you still rely on today?
As part of my Masters programme, we had to complete a number of group assignments. At the time I wasn’t too excited by this prospect because I was worried about managing differences in work ethic, working style and commitment to the assignment. However, those group assignments taught me invaluable organisation and management skills that I still rely on today: project planning, time management, objective setting, review cycles and clear communication. These are skills that I practice every day and are some of my greatest strengths.
Course highlights and advice
What are your best memories on the programme?
I have a standout person, instead of a moment, and that person is Augusto Voltes-Dorta. Augusto was my Economics lecturer and dissertation advisor. He went above and beyond to provide me, and the rest of the class, with standout education and support.
My best memories are of experiences with my friends: a ceilidh during induction week, a trip to North Berwick for beach walks and fish and chips, a class trip to Gran Canaria, picnics in the Meadows, the South African Society ball and many more.
What one piece of advice would you give to current students and recent graduates?
If your experience is anything like mine was, this will be one of the best years of your life. Submit your assignments on time, contribute fairly to group work, excel at the subjects that interest you the most. But most importantly, invest in friendships that will last a lifetime. Explore Edinburgh and its beautiful surrounds and enjoy your months of being a student.
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