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.

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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

Harsha Bhamidipati

Ljiljana Pavlovicova

Ljiljana Pavlovicova

  • Serbia/Czech Republic
  • Generation 2023
  • MBA is a Management and Sales Consultant at UNICA Clinic
  • LinkedIn
  • Open Survey
Pawan Kumar Rajan

Pawan Kumar Rajan

  • India/Bahrain
  • Generation 2023
  • Manager – Electrical & Automation | Manufacturing & Industrial Operations
  • LinkedIn
  • Open Survey
Harsha Bhamidipati

Harsha Bhamidipati

India/Canada Generation 2021 Contracts Specialist | Financial Sector Linked
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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.

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Ljiljana Pavlovicova

Ljiljana Pavlovicova

Serbia/Czech Republic Generation 2023 MBA is a Management and Sales Consultant at UNICA Clinic Linked
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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 AFSMA 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.

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Pawan Kumar Rajan

Pawan Kumar Rajan

India/Bahrain Generation 2023 Manager – Electrical & Automation | Manufacturing & Industrial Operations Linked
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Highlight: Pawan, originally from Munger and now based in Bahrain, joined the Alfred Ford School of Management with more than 20 years of leadership experience in the manufacturing sector. Working in a highly demanding industrial environment, he wanted to elevate his strategic thinking, strengthen his leadership confidence, and gain the managerial breadth required for higher responsibility — and eventually his own consultancy or manufacturing venture.

The AFSM MBA delivered precisely that. Throughout the program, Pawan sharpened his ability to make conscious, strategic decisions, expanded his management capabilities, and cultivated resilience and adaptability essential for fast-moving industrial contexts. During the MBA, he advanced within his company, applying the program’s principles directly to his leadership role.

“It’s absolutely worth pursuing alongside your job or business. The conscious leadership focus is a gamechanger.”

Advice: Take the step. Balancing the program with full-time work is possible, and the transformation in leadership and clarity of thinking is well worth the commitment.

Interesting: Despite his long experience in automation and industrial operations, Pawan felt a growing need to deepen the human and ethical dimensions of leadership. He appreciated the diversity of the AFSM cohort and the flexibility of the online format, which allowed him to study without disrupting his professional responsibilities. The conscious leadership approach especially resonated with him, offering a fresh counterbalance to the often rigid and process-driven world of manufacturing.

He also valued the one-week Belgium residency at Radhadesh — a unique aspect of the program that added cultural depth and strengthened his sense of purpose.

Why Pawan Chose AFSM: A desire to elevate strategic decision-making and soft skills | Conscious leadership approach aligned with personal values | Flexible online structure suitable for demanding industry roles | Strong faculty support and real-world case learning | Global classroom for cross-cultural insight | A clear path toward advancing his career and building his own consultancy.

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Gaytree Appadu Townsend

Gaytree Appadu Townsend

  • Mauritius/Havaii/USA
  • Generation 2023
  • Supervisor, Environmental & Housekeeping Services | Healthcare
  • LinkedIn
  • Open Survey
Matthew Learning

Matthew Learning

Byll Marques Brandão

Byll Marques Brandão

  • Portugal / Norway
  • Generation 2025
  • Entrepreneur | Sustainability & Ethical Business
  • Open Survey
Gaytree Appadu Townsend

Gaytree Appadu Townsend

Mauritius/Havaii/USA Generation 2023 Supervisor, Environmental & Housekeeping Services | Healthcare Linked
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Highlight: Gaytree has spent more than 20 years serving in leadership roles within healthcare’s environmental and housekeeping services — positions where compassion, discipline, and responsibility shape the quality of patient care. Born in Pamplemousses and now living in Honolulu, she chose the Alfred Ford School of Management because she wanted leadership education rooted not only in skill, but in ethics, character, and conscious service.
The MBA helped her deepen her strategic thinking, sharpen her ethical decision-making, and strengthen her capacity to guide others with clarity and purpose. For her, conscious leadership was not a concept — it was a way to bring dignity and humanity back to the workplace.

“This MBA is good for personal growth rather than career growth. I am very grateful to the professors who have good academic knowledge.”

Advice: In the U.S. leadership landscape, especially at mid-senior levels, specialized master’s degrees often carry more weight. Her advice is practical: understand your goals before choosing the path — and if your focus is personal transformation, AFSM provides it in abundance.

Interesting: Gaytree entered the program with a deep philosophical intention: to understand how personal development and career development can be aligned, rather than split. After 17 years of supervising teams and studying human behaviour on the job, she wanted academic tools that would help her lead without personal bias, without attachment to organisational politics, and with a higher sense of service.
She consistently appreciated AFSM’s diverse community, supportive faculty, and the ethical foundation of the curriculum. While the program did not immediately shift her career trajectory, it expanded her clarity, sense of purpose, and understanding of what leadership truly means.

Why Gaytree Chose AFSM: A rare MBA rooted in conscious leadership and ethical service | Desire to blend personal and professional development | Comprehensive curriculum accessible online from anywhere | Supportive faculty and diverse global classmates | Real-world learning through practical projects | A platform for inner growth, value-based decision-making, and leadership maturity.

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Matthew Learning

Matthew Learning

Canada Generation 2023 Coach & Consultant at 11X Solutions Linked
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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.

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Byll Marques Brandão

Byll Marques Brandão

Portugal / Norway Generation 2025 Entrepreneur | Sustainability & Ethical Business
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Highlight: Byll is a Portuguese national based in Norway with over 20 years of professional experience across sectors and a long-standing personal commitment to ethical and conscious living. Practicing Bhakti Yoga since his teenage years, he chose the Alfred Ford School of Management for its rare integration of modern management education with ancient wisdom and moral clarity. For Byll, the MBA was not a credential alone, but a structured path toward reinvention, confidence, and purposeful leadership.

Completing the program marked a decisive turning point. Through AFSM’s conscious leadership framework, practical projects, and supportive international learning community, Byll strengthened his managerial competence, strategic thinking, and ability to lead with ethical awareness. The program directly supported a successful career transition, enabling him to switch companies and pursue new professional directions with clarity and confidence.

“The program exceeded my expectations in every dimension. It strengthened my leadership skills, ethical judgment, communication, and strategic thinking. I feel empowered to lead with confidence and adaptability in changing environments.”

Advice: “Make effective use of the wide range of academic resources AFSM offers. The more you engage, the more transformative the experience becomes.”

Interesting: Byll rated the AFSM program 10/10 across satisfaction, expectations, value for money, faculty quality, and real-world relevance. After graduation, he successfully changed professional direction and experienced tangible career growth. Looking ahead, he aims to launch a green, sustainability-focused business—combining entrepreneurship, environmental responsibility, and conscious leadership—supporting local economies through ethical e-commerce and eco-friendly solutions.

Why Byll Chose AFSM: Deep alignment with conscious and ethical leadership | Integration of ancient wisdom with modern management | Flexible online format supporting career transition | Strong faculty engagement and mentorship | Practical, real-world application of business concepts | Diverse international student community

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Ivana Mihajlovska

Ivana Mihajlovska

  • Macedonia/Bulgaria/Belgium
  • Generation 2024
  • Consulting Professional | Early-Career Economist
  • LinkedIn
  • Open Survey
William Jardim Dias

William Jardim Dias

  • Brazil/Belgium
  • Generation 2023
  • Application Engineer & Sales Support | Manufacturing Industry
  • LinkedIn
  • Open Survey
Bilal Shaar

Bilal Shaar

  • Lebanon/Saudi Arabia
  • Generation 2023
  • Sales Unit Manager | Private Sector Leader
  • LinkedIn
  • Open Survey
Ivana Mihajlovska

Ivana Mihajlovska

Macedonia/Bulgaria/Belgium Generation 2024 Consulting Professional | Early-Career Economist Linked
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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.

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William Jardim Dias

William Jardim Dias

Brazil/Belgium Generation 2023 Application Engineer & Sales Support | Manufacturing Industry Linked
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Highlight: William, originally from the coastal city of Guarujá in Brazil, has built his professional life in Belgium’s manufacturing sector over the past decade. With 11–15 years of industry experience, he joined the Alfred Ford School of Management determined to strengthen his leadership presence, grow his confidence, and prepare himself for future managerial roles.
The MBA became a turning point: he gained sharper strategic thinking, learned to communicate consciously, and developed the self-assurance needed to take on higher responsibilities. During the program, he advanced within his current company — a direct reflection of how effectively he applied course concepts to real-world projects.

“Go ahead — it’s a great program.”

Advice: “Trust the process. Push yourself. Use the learning to grow your confidence and broaden your impact. William’s 10/10 satisfaction score reflects how meaningfully the MBA integrated with his personal goals, career development, and drive for self-improvement.”

Interesting: William’s motivation for studying at AFSM was deeply personal: he wanted a school that matched his needs, supported his growth, and expanded his global network. The diverse student community became one of his favourite aspects of the program, helping him connect with peers from different industries, cultures, and backgrounds.
He now sees himself progressing steadily toward a management position — equipped with stronger leadership skills, strategic clarity, and the ability to collaborate more effectively.

Why William Chose AFSM: Holistic personal development | Strong emphasis on conscious leadership | Comprehensive curriculum across business functions | Flexible structure for working professionals | Global and collaborative student community | A pathway to future managerial growth and confidence.

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Bilal Shaar

Bilal Shaar

Lebanon/Saudi Arabia Generation 2023 Sales Unit Manager | Private Sector Leader Linked
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Highlight: Bilal, an experienced sales professional living in Saudi Arabia, came across the Alfred Ford School of Management while searching for top-tier, flexible MBA programs. The Conscious Leadership MBA stood out not only for its affordability but also for its focus on ethical leadership and practical business growth. The online structure allowed him to pursue personal development while maintaining a high-level position in the private sector.

“This program helped me strengthen my leadership and self-confidence while working full-time. It gave me tools to plan strategically for my future business goals.”

Advice: “Take advantage of the flexibility and commit to deepening your leadership skills. Ask for more — more mentorship, more electives, more practical resources. Your growth depends on how much you’re willing to apply what you learn.”
Interesting: Despite earning over €100,000 annually and holding a stable management role, Bilal saw AFSM as a chance to expand his impact. He’s now focused on starting his own company, and uses insights from the program to plan strategically and lead consciously.
Why Bilal Chose AFSM: Affordable and globally accessible MBA | Emphasis on Conscious Leadership and practical self-development | Flexible online format for busy professionals | Relevant modules in strategic planning and project management.

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