After three years of studies, Keyla Barahona finished DTU’s Executive MBA (EMBA) programme in 2023 as a Master of Management in Technology. The programme is normally a two-year programme, but she fitted in a period of maternity leave along the way.
Keyla Barahona, a chemical engineer, moved from Guatemala to Denmark in 2010, and then did an MSc from DTU, which she herself calls a huge privilege.
Why did you originally want to do an EMBA?
As an experienced engineer, you often end up with quite a rigid mindset because you specialize in a very small niche and this affects your way of thinking. I wanted to change and challenge that. I wanted to do an EMBA simply because I wanted to be more flexible as a leader.
What has this meant for your career?
I’ve developed a helicopter perspective in my understanding of organizational structures, which is extremely important in a senior management function. In the past, I sometimes found myself questioning the functions of other departments, but now I can see the whole picture and how different employees with different degrees and competences complement each other.
Have you benefitted from doing an EMBA at DTU in other ways?
I’ve learnt the importance of patience. As part of the programme, we did a special personality test, and it showed that I’m extremely good and quick at acquiring new knowledge. However, this also meant that I wasn’t particularly patient with colleagues and employees who were not as quick to familiarize themselves with new subject matter. By being made aware of this, I’ve become a much more patient version of myself in my relations with other people.
What does it take to do an EMBA?
You need the support of family and friends if you want to do an EMBA. I relied a lot on my family along the way, and having that backup helps a lot, because doing an EMBA is time-consuming. But it’s definitely worth it for your career.
