Afekuana Henry Eshioghemeh
Esade Business School, Spain
Age: 31
“Idea catalyst with a purpose to guide institutions and people to ‘Break boundaries, exceed limits’.”
Hometown: I am from Okpella, Edo State, Nigeria. Currently based in The Netherlands.
Family Members: Mother, 4 brothers, 1 Wife & 2 Children (My Cheerleaders)
Fun fact about yourself: I derive joy in being able to anticipate a movie plot.
Undergraduate School and Degree:
Western Delta University, Oghara, Delta State
A Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science
Where are you currently working? Growth & Transformation Champion – AME at The Heineken Company (driving business growth and digital transformation across different markets).
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles:
– Class Delegate EMBA Cohort Class of 2024 (Leading diverse teams and fostering collaboration)
– Football (Soccer) enthusiast and community player.
– Member of Bowling for Impact, supporting social causes in Nigeria and Africa (making a difference, one strike at a time)
– Career mentor for young professionals (paying it forward, one conversation at a time)
Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school?
– Co-leading a diverse (Culture, Age and Professional Experience) EMBA class.
– Winning some cool challenges (Physical & Mental) with different groups.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? It would be navigating my way through Entrepreneurship in 2013. I ioined the Corporate ladder in 2014 in Sales, gathering experience in Procurement and finding my path back to Business & Digital Transformation supporting different countries across different continents for The Heineken Company.
Who was your favourite MBA professor? This is difficult to say because I had very amazing professors across different courses throughout my EMBA. However, one of the professors in ESADE who comes top of mind will be Dr Alexis Mavrommatis. I first met him during the MBA open day in 2022 with an amazing delivery of a Business Case study Analysis, which was very instrumental in helping me decide to join the program and then again during our Marketing course. His passion and diverse experience were amazing.
Why did you choose this school’s executive MBA program?
– Growing ranking and reputation.
– Program format and flexibility (Tailored to my professional needs).
– Esade’s slogan, ‘Do Good, Do Better’, aligns with my purpose: “Dream Again” (empowering me to make a meaningful impact)
– Amazing hands-on admission team.
What is the biggest lesson you gained during your MBA and how did you apply it at work? Wow! There are so many lessons learnt in different aspects. One that comes top of mind right now is this: “We have to be able to read the informal structure of the organization, understand who and how exercises power beyond their position in the formal structure of the organization, how alliances are formed and how situations evolve.” (Professor José M. de Areilza)
Give us a story during your time as an executive MBA on how you were able to juggle work, family, and education. I vividly remember one particularly chaotic period. I had just moved to the Netherlands with my family, started a new role overseeing multiple countries, and was also taking an intensive two-month Education Execution course. On top it off, my Esade MBA program had just begun! It was a real challenge to balance work, family, and education.
However, I learned to prioritize and allocate my time effectively using the Time Management Quadrant. I made sure to schedule dedicated time for my family, focused on the most critical tasks at work, and utilized every spare moment for my studies. It wasn’t easy, but with careful planning and discipline, I managed to keep all the balls in the air. Looking back, it was a remarkable experience that taught me the importance of time management and resilience.”
What advice would you give to a student looking to enter an executive MBA program? Define your purpose and ambitions. The program will test you, but with determination and hard work, you’ll emerge stronger and wiser. What you put into it is what you will get out of it.
What was your biggest regret in business school? Reflecting on my journey, I’ve learned from every experience, shaping my path without dwelling on regrets.
Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Rayyan Mofty! Rayyan is the true epitome of what you should expect in an Executive MBA. He is very well knowledgeable and experienced, ready to learn, and available to participate in every task and his humility is the icing on the cake.
What was the main reason you chose an executive MBA program over part-time or online alternatives? The flexibility to accommodate my work schedule without compromising the quality of an Executive MBA. The best of both worlds.
What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? Leading and supporting impactful projects and ventures that bring satisfaction and positively impact lives more than just a paycheck – making a difference, one initiative at a time.
DON’T MISS: BEST & BRIGHTEST EXECUTIVE MBAS OF 2024
