Graduates
What Would You Tell Your Younger Self Before Starting the MBA?
At the conclusion of their MBA journey, every graduate of the Alfred Ford School of Management completes our Graduates Survey, offering candid reflections and personal advice drawn from their own experiences. Below, you’ll discover inspiring highlights, valuable advice, and insightful perspectives that provide an authentic window into how AFSM shaped their leadership, careers, and lives. This unfiltered feedback comes from professionals worldwide who embraced conscious leadership and transformative growth during their studies.
of graduates answered “Yes” when asked if they would recommend Alfred Ford School of Management to others. This reflects strong confidence in the value and impact of the AFSM program.
Source: AFSM Graduate Survey, responses collected up to June 2025.
Harsha Bhamidipati
- India/Canada
- Generation 2021
- Contracts Specialist | Financial Sector
- Open Survey
Kenichi Nozu
- Japan/Belgium
- Generation 2025
- Company Director | Manufacturing & Industry
- Open Survey
Matthew Learning
- Canada
- Generation 2023
- Coach & Consultant at 11X Solutions
- Open Survey
Harsha Bhamidipati
Highlight: For Harsha, spirituality and leadership go hand in hand. As a Contracts Specialist in Canada with a deep desire to start her own business, she sought an MBA that combined practical business knowledge with ethical and spiritual depth. At the Alfred Ford School of Management, she found the perfect blend: conscious leadership, flexible learning, and a deeply supportive community. The program helped her switch companies, grow professionally, and rediscover purpose in her career path.
“AFSM doesn’t just teach business — it teaches you how to lead with values, purpose, and joy. It’s a rare program that shapes both the manager and the human being.”
Advice: “Don’t hesitate. This program will transform how you think, lead, and live. You’ll gain confidence, direction, and the skills to shape a company that puts people and purpose first.”
Interesting: Harsha rated the program 9/10 across nearly every category — from faculty and flexibility to career growth and content. She attributes her recent career advancement and vision for a values-based innovation and construction company to what she learned at AFSM. Her long-term goal? To create workplaces where people feel truly happy and fulfilled.
Why Harsha Chose AFSM: The only accredited MBA focused on Conscious Leadership | Online format, ideal for working professionals | Integration of ancient wisdom with modern management | Faculty and student community rooted in values and personal growth | Rich curriculum with real-world case studies and spiritual depth.
Highlight: Kenichi brings over two decades of leadership experience from Yonago, Japan, where he serves as a company director and one of the candidates for top management within his organization. After 20+ years of professional life, he recognised the need to reconnect with business theory at a higher level. The Japanese business landscape is becoming increasingly competitive, and he wanted a structured, strategic, and future-oriented MBA to strengthen his ability to guide his company through the next era.
He chose the Alfred Ford School of Management for its flexible structure, its emphasis on conscious and strategic decision-making, and its globally diverse cohort — a rare combination that supported his development while balancing the demands of an executive role. During the program, he advanced within his company, applying course concepts directly to real organisational challenges.
“ It is tough, but worth challenging.”
Advice: “Expect effort, discipline, and rigor — and embrace them. The reward is deeper expertise, stronger leadership capacity, and a broader strategic perspective.”
Interesting: Kenichi valued the professionalism and engagement of AFSM’s faculty, who supported him throughout the online program despite time-zone differences. He consistently applied conscious leadership principles to refine his management style, improving communication, collaboration, and decision-making across his team.
His long-term aim is clear: use the MBA’s knowledge and frameworks to help his company survive economic pressures, adapt strategically, and expand responsibly in a complex Japanese market.
Why Kenichi Chose AFSM: Desire to return to academic business theory after 20+ years of practical leadership | Strategic preparation for senior corporate leadership | Comprehensive curriculum covering key management areas | Conscious leadership approach suited to ethical and sustainable Japanese business culture | Flexible online delivery for a busy executive | Faculty who actively support and interact with students across continents.
Highlight: Matthew’s path to the Alfred Ford School of Management began with Back to Godhead Magazine. As a dedicated spiritual seeker and ambitious entrepreneur, he was looking for more than a typical MBA — he was searching for a transformative experience that blended conscious leadership, real-world strategy, and deep-rooted values. With a strong foundation in bhakti-yoga and a vision to lead many businesses with compassion, Matthew found in AFSM the perfect launchpad to help fulfill his divine mission.
“Conscious leadership must become the norm — not the alternative. AFSM is preparing a generation of leaders to live that shift.”
Advice: “Trust the calling. You were led here for a reason. Dive in fully — the combination of spiritual clarity, tactical tools, and peer support will elevate your path as a leader, mentor, and servant of society.”
Interesting: Inspired by his mentor, Carey Porcher — a visionary CEO who transformed his industry with compassion and innovation — Matthew now sees himself stepping into a similar role. In five years, he envisions being a “Peace Maker” in global commerce: an investor, strategist, and advisor who cultivates harmony and sacred space in boardrooms and beyond. His dream? To normalize ethics, empathy, and Krishna consciousness in mainstream business.
Why Matthew Chose AFSM: Discovered through Back to Godhead Magazine, aligned with his bhakti path | Fully online, flexible, and rich with practical case-based learning | Teaches conscious leadership as a path of service, not just success | Powerful peer community and values-driven curriculum.
Ljiljana Pavlovicova
- Serbia/Czech Republic
- Generation 2023
- MBA is a Management and Sales Consultant at UNICA Clinic
- Open Survey
Sean Jugmohan
- South Africa
- Generation 2025
- Academic | Head of Department | Higher Education
- Open Survey
Indranil Roy
- India/Canada
- Generation 2021
- Business Development Manager at CIBC, Board Member, Belgian-Canadian Business Chamber
- Open Survey
Ljiljana Pavlovicova
Highlight: With over 20 years of experience in healthcare and leadership roles, Ljiljana joined the AFSM MBA seeking something deeper than just a qualification. As a practicing devotee and value-based professional, she was drawn to the program’s unique Conscious Leadership focus. What she found exceeded expectations — a transformative experience that renewed her professional energy and filled crucial gaps in her leadership journey. Her perfect 10/10 satisfaction across all program areas speaks volumes.
Advice: “Don’t wait. If you’re feeling stagnant, this program is your turning point. Conscious Leadership will not only enhance your career — it will upgrade how you think, live, and lead.”
Interesting: Despite not holding a university degree, Ljiljana brought in decades of practical management experience. AFSM’s open, supportive learning environment helped her reconnect with learning, gain fresh insights, and build lasting confidence — proving that leadership isn’t about titles, but transformation.
Why Ljiljana Chose AFSM: A rare offering: MBA in Conscious Leadership | The desire to “upgrade” and re-ignite her career after a quiet professional phase | Supportive mentorship and flexible online format that respected her pace.
Sean Jugmohan
Highlight: Sean is a senior academic from South Africa with over 20 years of experience in higher education and institutional leadership. Holding a doctoral degree and serving as a Head of Department, he completed his MBA at the Alfred Ford School of Management at a mature stage of his career, driven by a clear intention: to strengthen how he leads, decides, and contributes. Introduced to AFSM through Back to Godhead magazine, he was immediately drawn to the school’s emphasis on conscious leadership as an integral part of daily professional life.
Through the program, Sean deepened his leadership confidence, sharpened his strategic thinking, and strengthened his ability to lead with ethics, awareness, and responsibility. He credits AFSM with enhancing his managerial competence while helping him integrate conscious decision-making into real academic and organizational contexts.
“The program strengthened my leadership and managerial abilities, especially in ethical decision-making, communication, and strategic thinking. I am more confident in how I lead people and navigate complex institutional environments.”
Advice: “It will be challenging, but remain committed until the end. The value comes not only from the knowledge, but from the discipline, reflection, and personal growth the program demands.”
Interesting: Sean rated his AFSM experience 9/10 for satisfaction and confirmed that the degree directly supported leadership advancement within his institution. Approaching formal retirement, he sees education as a responsibility rather than a finish line—an opportunity to continue contributing, mentoring, and giving back through conscious leadership.
Why Sean Chose AFSM: Focus on conscious and ethical leadership | Flexible online format suited to senior professionals | Practical application through real-world projects | Diverse and collaborative international learning community | Strong alignment between personal values and institutional leadership
Indranil Roy
Highlight: With over 21 years of experience in the Canadian banking sector, Indranil turned to the Alfred Ford School of Management to refine his leadership and managerial capabilities. The flexible, high-quality MBA program allowed him to study alongside work and family responsibilities — helping him achieve career growth while staying grounded in values. He describes the residency as a defining experience that sharpened his skills, fostered peer collaboration, and solidified the impact of conscious leadership in action.
“The program reshaped how I lead, think, and work. I became more strategic, focused, and conscious — not just as a banker, but as a leader.”
Advice: “Be disciplined. The value you get from this program is directly linked to how you manage your time. It’s a great return on both your investment and your effort.”
Interesting: Indranil managed to switch companies and gain greater responsibility even before completing the MBA. He attributes much of that transition to the program’s emphasis on adaptability, ethics, and decision-making under uncertainty.
Why Indranil Chose AFSM: Strong focus on conscious leadership — a rare find among global MBA programs | World-class faculty he recognized and respected | Format tailored for working professionals needing flexibility | Desire for growth that is not just professional, but also ethical and values-driven.
Ivana Mihajlovska
- Macedonia/Bulgaria/Belgium
- Generation 2024
- Consulting Professional | Early-Career Economist
- Open Survey
Farhad Olomi
- Afghanistan/The Netherlands
- Generation 2023
- Senior Director, Global Order-to-Cash | DHL
- Open Survey
Dirk Winterer
- Switzerland/Germany/Brazil
- Generation 2023
- Business Consultant & Project Manager
- Open Survey
Ivana Mihajlovska
Highlight: After earning her degree in economy and management, Ivana moved abroad to work and learn new languages. But her dream of pursuing a master’s never left her. When she discovered the Alfred Ford School of Management, she found a program that offered not just flexibility, but purpose. AFSM gave her the opportunity to grow professionally and personally — and to study at her own pace while working full-time.
“It’s everything I was looking for — flexibility, supportive staff, real-world projects, and a human approach. I call it the MBA of the future.”
Advice: “Start now. Don’t wait for the perfect time — it doesn’t exist. The knowledge and confidence you’ll gain are worth the effort. This program will challenge you to grow, and it will give you the tools to make a real impact.”
Interesting: Despite being early in her career, Ivana entered the program with a clear vision: to become a manager who leads with empathy, ethics, and strategy. AFSM’s conscious leadership model resonated deeply with her, and she believes it will shape how she inspires teams in the future.
Why Ivana Chose AFSM: Online learning that adapts to working professionals | Focus on Conscious Leadership and ethical values | A truly international, diverse student community | Encouraging mentors and responsive faculty.
Farhad Olomi
Highlight: Farhad’s journey began far from the boardrooms of Europe. Born in Afghanistan and shaped by the realities of a country at war, he developed an early instinct for conscious, thoughtful decision-making. After two decades in the Netherlands and a successful career at DHL — where he now serves as Senior Director Global Order-to-Cash — he sought an MBA program that would keep him grounded in purpose while sharpening his executive capabilities.
He chose the Alfred Ford School of Management because it pushed him to pause, reflect, and examine the real impact of his decisions on people, teams, and the wider environment. During the program, he earned two promotions — a testament to both his dedication and the practical value of conscious leadership.
“As someone who grew up in conflict, consciousness is not optional. AFSM challenged me to think twice before making decisions — to lead with clarity, responsibility, and humanity.”
Advice: “Read the program guidelines, don’t skip anything, and apply every concept to your real work. The more seriously you take the learning, the more transformation you’ll see.”
Interesting: Farhad consistently highlights the professionalism and availability of the professors, and the collaborative group work with classmates from around the world. Even while managing a demanding senior leadership role, he found the online structure flexible enough to fit his life — and powerful enough to reshape his leadership.
Graduating brought a palpable sense of relief and accomplishment. As he puts it: “Now I feel I can conquer the world.”
Why Farhad Chose AFSM: AAlignment with conscious leadership values shaped by his life experience | A curriculum that challenges leaders to think ethically and strategically | Highly professional and accessible faculty | Flexible online learning suited for senior-level executives | Opportunities to apply learning directly to work, supporting promotions and growth.
Dirk Winterer
Highlight: Dirk, a seasoned consultant based in Zurich with over 20 years of experience, joined the Alfred Ford School of Management to deepen his capacity for purpose-driven leadership. As the founder of a consulting firm and chairman of a spiritual organization, Dirk embodies the unique fusion of conscious leadership and business strategy. He chose AFSM for its holistic approach, spiritual grounding, and flexible format — ideal for busy professionals like him.
Advice: “Talk to the alumni. They’ll tell you how this program builds not just knowledge but character. It’s a step toward becoming the kind of leader the future demands — purposeful, ethical, and deeply grounded.”
Interesting Fact: Dirk’s MBA journey sparked professional growth, helped him transition companies, and empowered him to lead with confidence. He now aims for his consulting agency to capture 30% of the Swiss market — driving conscious change among top-level executives while shaping a sustainable business culture.
Why Dirk Chose AFSM? Deep alignment with values: conscious leadership, ethics, personal growth | Practical impact: gained confidence and tools to lead transformative initiatives | Global network: peers from around the world, sharing insights and support | Flexible online learning: fit around his work, leadership roles, and family.
