Andrew (He/Him/His) is currently pursuing his Master of Business Administration/Master of Science in Business Analytics Dual Degree at Brandeis International Business School and is expected to graduate in February 2025. He graduated with his Bachelor in Textile Sciences and Engineering from the National University of Science and Technology, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe in August 2007. In November 2020, he passed his Project Management Professional (PMP) Exam and became a PMP Certification holder. Andrew works part time as both a CSE Career Captain and an Admission’s Student Ambassador. Before studying at Brandeis, he worked for one of the largest Christian organizations in Southern Africa (Harvest House International) as Head of Operations and Strategy.
My Experience as an MSBA/MBA Dual Degree Student
By Andrew Mukurazita MSBA/MBA‘25
When I was introduced into the world of Real Estate and Project Management a decade ago, I developed a particular interest in the ways data influences these fields; there grew my passion for using data to manage mission critical projects. Fast forward to early 2022, I took stock of my career and noticed a deficiency. Running and implementing large infrastructure projects had enabled me to develop the technical capability needed to operate and excel in complex and uncertain environments. However, I had limited understanding of business strategy formulation, financial theory, and cutting-edge business management practices. This culminated in my decision to enroll for the MSBA/MBA Dual Degree Program at the Brandeis International Business School. Here is what I have learned in the past few months:
Time moves incredibly fast at Business School
One of the most surprising things for me at Brandeis has been the speed at which weeks fly by and how fast the semester comes to an end. It is incredibly important as a student to roll up your sleeves and get into the trenches from day one of the semester. As an international student, I behaved like a tourist during the first two weeks of my first semester and when the first assignment deadlines approached, I was woefully unprepared and had to pull off a couple of all-nighters to catch up and understand course material. From that experience, I realized that the success of a student comes down to one thing: mastering time management. I recommend students familiarize themselves with Google Calendar. It became a great tool for me to keep track of important events, plan my study sessions, share my schedule, and keep track of my daily tasks.
Networking is just as important as obtaining good grades
I have always been a high achiever and coming to graduate business school, I initially focused all my efforts on getting good grades. However, it was a small talk interaction with one of the Brandeis CSE Staff, Ryan Olthoff, that changed my mindset. In our talk he advised me to immediately start making meaningful interactions with alumni and persons of influence in industries and companies I seek to be employed in post-graduation. His epic statement was “seek to have people batting for you from the inside” when you apply for a job. I reflected on that statement, took it to heart, and concluded that having a 4.0 GPA without having those industry connections will not help me that much. From that conversation, I have put significant effort into career networking and am making good progress.
Teamwork is a key requirement of success for a dual degree student
The MSBA/MBA Dual Degree program is an academically challenging program and as an incoming international student, during my first days in class, I found it very uncomfortable reaching out to my peers to establish friendships. I did my first set of assignments on my own and took a long time to complete them. An office hour meeting with one of my professors became the game changer. He advised that we work on problem sets as a group rather as individuals. Since that time I have pushed myself out of my comfort zone to establish good relations with my peers from both the MBA and MSBA programs. We have collaborated on several assignments and projects, obtaining fantastic results. Graduate business school will likely be tough for students who work alone.
Have a support system to lean on when tough times roll in
One thing you are assured of as a student in business school is that tough times will roll in from time to time. I quickly discovered that it is not everyday that things work out in your favor. A tough mid-term, a challenging assignment, an unexpected grade, and unrealized expectations are all part of the package. When such periods come, it is important to have a support system in place so that you do not fall apart. For me, my support system has been my wife and three young daughters, whom I came with to the U.S. for my studies. I have arrived home discouraged and overwhelmed by coursework, but those hugs and smiles that welcome me at the door have made all the difference. Discover your support system early in your journey and lean on it heavily in challenging times.
In conclusion, being at Brandeis International Business School has been a wonderful experience overall. My critical thinking and interpersonal skills have been shifted to a whole new dimension. I am convinced I made the right choice by coming to Brandeis and look forward to opportunities for further academic and personal growth, key ingredients to a successful career.
