How Areesha changed career – and kept her sustainability focus

How – and where – do you bring together a passion for sustainability and making an impact through business? For Areesha Banglani, taking a Full-time MBA at Vlerick was the answer.

She’d already achieved a Bachelors in Anthropology & Sociology in her native Pakistan – and a Masters in Gender & Women’s Studies in The Netherlands. She’d also worked as a lecturer and a research and insights consultant.

But she wanted to move into the corporate world. It was a change that she wanted to be meaningful, and where she could have impact.

She says: “A business founder I knew recommended Vlerick. And of course, the school ranks really highly in the Financial Times rankings – and offers fantastic programmes – so it was an easy choice.”

Taking the leap

So Areesha took the leap. She says: “Vlerick were really helpful throughout the whole process.”

And from the moment the programme started, Areesha knew she’d made a great choice. She says: “The Full-time MBA programme has a real focus on sustainability. I had been concerned that moving into a corporate role might reduce my sustainability impact – so it was reassuring to feel Vlerick’s commitment to ESG throughout the school.

“Before joining the Full-time MBA programme at Vlerick, I lacked hands-on corporate experience. I’d come from a different professional background to most of my cohort – and had never worked in the corporate world. But by the end of the programme, I had the skills, knowledge and confidence to succeed.”

Consultancy project

As part of the Full-time MBA programme, Areesha took part in a consultancy project with industrial tools and equipment manufacturer, Atlas Copco.

She says: "The consultancy project gave me an amazing confidence boost. I was able to take a client’s brief and translate it to find a solution. I put the things I’d learned into practice – and the experience I gained helped me land my previous role as Business Process Manager at DHL.”

Another highlight for Areesha was taking part in team activities. She says: “I had so much fun on the team building exercise. It taught me how to build relationships, how to be vulnerable and how to rely on each other. I often use the same exercises with my team now – and they love it.”

Inspiring faculty

She adds: “The faculty are true experts in their field. They’re so talented and helpful – and it was amazing to learn from them.”

And thanks to Vlerick’s inspiring faculty, Areesha was able to keep her passion for sustainability alive – and learn how to embed it in her corporate career.

She says: “Prof Behzad Samii’s supply chain course was fantastic. It taught me that working in supply chain, there are a lot of opportunities to introduce and empower sustainability. And it showed me I could have a career that aligned with my two priorities: being analytical and making an impact.

“Prof Martin Weiss also had a huge focus on sustainability and really emphasised the Three P’s: planet, people and profit. His courses strengthened my understanding of the corporate world – and developed my creative problem-solving skills.”

Bringing stakeholders together

“One of my biggest takeaways was learning how to communicate with different audiences. I learned new vocabulary and business terms – and an understanding of the corporate world that helps me translate my knowledge for a new audience.”

In fact, studying at Vlerick helped Areesha develop new skills – and reveal existing ones. She says: “The Full-time MBA programme helped me uncover transferable skills I didn’t know I had. It showed me I already had project management capabilities, communication skills and an analytical mindset.

“I also developed my organisation and communication skills. I’m often complemented on my stakeholder management, so it’s great to see the skills I learned being put to use every day.”

Discovering new passions

By the end of the programme, Areesha says she had changed as a person – and found a brand-new career she was passionate about.

She says: “Studying at Vlerick unleashed my inner creative. I used to see things in black and white, it was very much all or nothing. Now I’m able to break my projects down into manageable steps – and find creative solutions to challenges.

“The faculty, staff and programme helped me realise and shape who I am – and where I want to be. They helped me find my gaps – and bridge them together. And they showed me what my unique selling points are – and taught me how to translate them to new contexts.”

Outstanding careers support

Areesha also used Vlerick’s dedicated careers and coaching team to enhance her CV – and network with alumni.

She says: “The team were a hugely valuable resource. They helped me strengthen my networking skills – and taught me how to initiate conversations with potential employers. They showed me what questions I should ask, how to follow up after a conversation – and how to get the most value from my network.

“They also helped me restructure my CV for a career in supply chain logistics – and translate my experience for a new audience. And they put me in touch with alumni who had recently been in my position. There’s a really big focus on collaborative learning at Vlerick – and it was so helpful to learn from people who’d been in the same situation.”

A worldwide network

Areesha learned the skills that support her in her career at Vlerick. And she gained a lifelong network. She says: “I use the skills and knowledge I learned at Vlerick every day. I’m always flicking through my Vlerick notes to find frameworks and tools that support me through projects – and help me find creative solutions.”

Areesha came to Vlerick to gain a corporate role where she could create positive impact – and put her analytical skills to use. Now, she works as a Continuous Improvement Manager – Europe, at NewPort Tank Containers.

She says: “The Vlerick community is very hands on – and people are always happy to help each other out. And now, as part of that community, anytime I get a message from a current or potential Vlerick participant, I hop on a call.

“I’d recommend Vlerick to anyone looking to invest in their future. You’ll be exposed to amazing faculty who have incredible experience – and learn the skills that transform your career. I definitely changed as a person at Vlerick – there’s no doubt about it.”