Aulia Virnanda Suraperwata, Manchester AMBS MBA Class of 2025
Aulia Virnanda Suraperwata, Manchester AMBS MBA Class of 2025Age: 33
Hometown: I was born in Sydney, Australia, but spent my upbringing and worked in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia. Telecommunications Engineering.
Pre-MBA Work Experience (role, company, years): I have six years of experience working as an IT infrastructure engineer in the oil and gas industry and four years of experience working in product management functions in the telecommunication industry.
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I started my professional career in 2013. For six years, I worked intensively in a technical-heavy role as a network engineer, and after that, I switched to a business role. After ten years of work-related activities, I thought 2023 was the right time for me to go back to school, blend my technical and business experience, and further leverage my business acumen to prepare me for a more strategic position. I believe the MBA program would help me broaden my perspective, especially in a global and multicultural environment.
Why did you choose Alliance Manchester? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I considered several business schools in the US and UK by comparing their curriculum. Having done my undergraduate degree in a recognized technological university in Indonesia with a strong theoretical focus, I felt keen to attend an MBA program with a strong practical focus. The Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS) was the only business school that attracted me. Their well-recognized Manchester Method has an immensely practical approach to learning and assessments. They have three live client consultancy projects (not-for-profit, commercial business, and international business consultancy projects), enabling us to learn by doing and apply our knowledge gained from the class simultaneously. They don’t just give us the theory; they show us how to use it to get the results we want.
I also considered bringing my family along during the study. Therefore, I considered the environment (safety and inclusiveness are a must) and the living cost. Manchester is absolutely one of the most affordable and multicultural cities in the United Kingdom.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Manchester AMBS Class of 2025?
I consider my nationality and career experience as my most valuable contribution to the cohort. I hail from Indonesia, a diverse country with over 17,000 islands, 1,340 ethnic groups, and 700 local languages. I also have work experience as a technical expert in the energy industry, involvement in the business aspect of the telecommunication industry, as well as international experience managing operational activities in the Asia Pacific and the Middle East region. These traits are what I consider advantages, as I can leverage inclusivity and broaden the class perspective.
Another thing that will be my differentiating contribution is my experience in bridging the cohort and the academics team in the past. I am very glad I was elected as the VP academic of the student council and can realize this contribution to the class.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I pivoted my career from my first company in the oil and gas industry to join a telecommunication company, which only gave me a 10% fraction of my previous salary, to pursue my passion in the telecommunication industry (which aligns with my educational background). At that time, I already had a baby and extremely struggled financially during the transition. I even often regretted my decision to resign.
As years went by, it turned out the company I joined gave me a fully funded scholarship to study for the MBA in Manchester, including the living allowance. Even they are still paying my monthly salary while I’m away for study. You will definitely never know what God’s plan for you is!
Post-MBA career interests:
As I have a passion for the telecommunication industry, I will indeed go back to the industry. I project myself to have a role in business development, especially in international business expansion. Therefore, I’m really excited about the upcoming practical course in AMBS, Mergers and Acquisitions Project.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I would discuss with a lot of people, including current students, alumni, and admission staff. This is a very important part, especially to understand the curriculum, the type of candidate they need, and even the city itself. I would also make sure to apply as early as possible to have spare time if things go south.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would attend an open days event or choose an on-campus interview in Manchester to understand better the learning environment and the various opportunities available in its community and the city.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
GRE exam! As my strength is in mathematical analysis, I felt I made the wrong decision to choose the GRE instead of the GMAT. If I could, I would have skipped the GRE preparation because studying for it was incredibly time-consuming and exhausting (especially for the verbal reasoning part!). What kept me motivated was the affirmation of receiving my acceptance letter.
What is your initial impression of the Manchester AMBS students/culture/community?
My initial impression was that I felt at home. The diversity in the cohort, school staff, and citizens of Manchester has enhanced the overall rich culture of the community. I think this has helped students from different countries quickly adapt and transition to life in the UK (apart from adapting to the highly fluctuating Manchester weather).
What is one thing you have learned about Alliance Manchester that has surprised you?
I’m totally surprised by the load and complexity of the consultancy project. It is very demanding, but it was tremendously insightful and rewarding!
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
As someone who has never studied abroad, I am very anxious about coping with the cultural differences. In the induction, when I was told that I was part of a cohort from 29 nationalities, I was a bit shocked. Luckily, I had already built connections with my classmates long before the class began from the online community and group chat. This has made the transition easier, as I already made the initial chemistry with the class. The school also really supported us to strengthen the bond by organizing plenty of networking events and even a 3-day teambuilding trip to the outskirts of Manchester.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I am most excited about getting to know my cohort and making new connections. This may sound cliché, but I am very keen to build memorable and lasting relationships. AMBS is full of collaborative, ambitious, and brilliant people whom I’m really sure will be good leaders in the future. I am looking forward to maintaining the relationship with them and having a reunion in the future when we’re already on top while we’re laughing at our anxiety about the assignment deadlines.
