How did a girl from Florence end up far from home, studying in an Australian business school like SP Jain Global?
-Federica Paolini, Global MBA intake of 2025
Well, that’s my journey.
I grew up in Florence, Italy, surrounded by art, history, and a way of life that taught me to appreciate beauty in the small things. After my studies, I began working in Rome in a consulting company, building my professional path step by step. I enjoyed my work, but at some point I realised that I wanted something more: broader international exposure, the opportunity to experience different cultures, and the chance to grow in a truly global environment. That is when I started searching for a Global MBA, something that would allow me to live in different countries, learn from diverse perspectives, and challenge myself personally and professionally.
During my research, I was not looking for a “traditional” MBA. I wanted something unique, something very international, with strong extracurricular engagement and collective learning experiences. About a year and a half ago, these became the main filters guiding my daily search after work. I found SP Jain Global (and a few other schools), but do you know what happened? I applied only to SP Jain Global.
The Twin-city Global MBA model immediately convinced me. Studying across Singapore and Dubai felt exactly like the kind of global exposure I was looking for. I reached out for information and received immediate and constant support from student ambassadors.
Receiving the acceptance letter was a moment of pure happiness… followed by the big decision: should I really leave everything and go? I chose to take the leap. I still remember the days before departure, my cat literally sitting inside my suitcase as if he wanted to join the adventure. My journey to Singapore began with a bit of panic: my connecting flight through Istanbul was cancelled due to snow, and I had to book a last-minute ticket to arrive on time for orientation.
I landed in 28-degree heat wearing a winter sweater from Italy — a shocking but memorable welcome. It took days to adjust to the humidity, but the city’s vibrancy, greenery, and cultural diversity immediately amazed me. It was my first time in Asia, and it opened my eyes to how vast and fascinating the world truly is.
My first orientation day is still vivid: so many new faces and connections I couldn’t yet imagine would become so meaningful. Living and studying with classmates from around the world — especially my Indian peers who introduced me to incredible (and very spicy!) cuisine — taught me flexibility, openness, and cultural intelligence far beyond any classroom lesson.
After only one month, I joined the Sustainability Committee and soon became Head of Sustainability for my cohort. It was an exciting and demanding responsibility. Together with an amazing team, we organised impactful initiatives, including beach clean-ups, food donation drives, and sustainability awareness activities for the school community. These experiences taught me that leadership is not only about strategy and performance but also about responsibility and contribution.
Academically, the journey was intense from day one — I still remember the fast-paced, data-heavy simulation with Dr Grandhi during orientation week. Challenging at first, those simulations became some of the most valuable learning experiences, strengthening my analytical thinking, decision-making, and teamwork skills.
Life in Singapore flew by with lectures, projects, Global Learning activities, and long study sessions with my friends — our self-named “Team Library.” Leaving campus was emotional, but we knew the friendships we built would last far beyond the MBA.
Then came Dubai. We arrived at the end of June, convinced we had already survived Singapore’s humidity… only to discover what real heat feels like. Again, two weeks were needed to adapt before sleeping comfortably. The second orientation felt different: we were more mature, more aware that the next phase would bring us closer to professional opportunities and industry exposure.
One particularly satisfying moment came later in Dubai, when my team ranked first in the Blue Ocean Strategy simulation. Understanding how to interpret complex dashboards and make strategic decisions in real time felt like a true milestone in our growth.
A highlight was ranking first in the Blue Ocean Strategy simulation — a milestone that reflected our strategic growth. With intensive consulting projects and company visits to firms like Danube Properties and Sobha Realty, we applied classroom frameworks to real business challenges and engaged directly with executives, gaining invaluable practical insight.
One of my proudest academic moments was winning the pitch competition for the course Entrepreneurship for a Disruptive Launch with our sustainability-focused idea, PlatePledge, a solution designed to reduce food waste in hospitality operations. Seeing an idea evolve from concept to structured business proposal reinforced my passion for innovation and sustainability-driven entrepreneurship.
Global Learning activities also made the journey unforgettable. From Ski Dubai to Aquaventure, Global Village visits, and the desert safari, every activity helped us understand the region’s culture, environment, and industries while building stronger connections with classmates. Even small moments, like running together during the Dubai Run and ending the day in the Dubai Mall food court, celebrating as if we had burned thousands of calories, became part of the memories that defined this experience!! I will also never forget local cultural dinners where we sat on the floor enjoying traditional dishes, including the best hummus I had ever tasted.
Without any doubt, the most beautiful part of the journey has been the people! Watching my classmates dance passionately to Indian music during the farewell celebration reminded me how powerful cultural diversity truly is. Some of the people I met during this program have become lifelong friends…!
Looking ahead, my long-term vision is to build a career at the intersection of innovation, sustainability, and strategic transformation, contributing to projects that create both economic value and societal impact. The SP Jain Global learning experience has not only equipped me with the analytical tools and global exposure needed to pursue this ambition but has also transformed the way I see leadership: not as a position, but as a continuous responsibility to create opportunities, inspire collaboration, and leave a positive footprint wherever we work.
And when I think back to that girl from Florence reading SP Jain Global emails on the metro in Rome, I realise something: sometimes the most transformative journeys begin the moment we decide to say yes to uncertainty.
Ad maiora,
Federica
About the Author
Federica Paolini began her career in consulting in Rome before pursuing a Global MBA to expand her global exposure and leadership perspective. Passionate about sustainability, innovation, and strategic transformation, she aspires to build a career at the intersection of business strategy and societal impact, contributing to projects that create both economic value and positive change.
Recommended reads:
Breaking Barriers and Building Futures: The Leadership Journey of Aakanksha Bhargava, a GMBA Alumni
StratBuzz Sentral Issue 1: Where Strategy Comes Alive
Driving Change: A Conversation with the CEO of Delta Autocorp – Ankit Agarwal, GMBA & PGPM, 2008
