Intrigued by the business world, engineering consultant Antonios Tsamitros from Greece dreamt of a next-level work environment, with the opportunity to study and live abroad. In 2021, he studied at KU Leuven where he obtained his Master’s degree in International Business, and still lives in Brussels, where he works with Moody’s top-notch clients to help them make the most out of their credit and supply chain solutions. Mission accomplished!

“After I graduated as a mechanical engineer from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in 2016, I worked for four years as an engineering consultant, at a Greek boutique consulting firm where I was part of a small team of engineers. There I had the opportunity to work with people that had 30 to 40 years of experience. Two years later I joined a German multinational company in Thessaloniki, where I realized the value of working for a bigger organization.”

Bridge between engineering and business

“Those years, I really enjoyed the consulting part of my job. However, the business world always intrigued me and I wanted to explore it further. This is when I started exploring and decided to pursue my Master’s degree in International Business, in order to bridge the gap between engineering and business. When assessing potential universities, their location and the market opportunities after graduating were important factors. Of course I also compared tuition fees and rankings. KU Leuven is very innovative, the best university in Belgium and ranked in the top 50 in the world. I considered other countries as well, but Belgium is at the heart of Europe and combined with KU Leuven’s reputation, it was not a hard choice.”

“I arrived in September 2021. Getting accommodation was the most critical part of my preparations. I was fortunate enough to find a place in July, two months beforehand. With that off my mind, settling down was easier. It was my first time living abroad, but overall I had a nice experience in Brussels from the start. The university was well organised and the faculty was supportive. They even took us on a city tour. Of course I had to adapt myself, but the guidance helped a lot during the transition. For me it was also kind of the last period of life where I could live more or less carefree, or at least more carefree than when you return to the responsibilities of adult life.

Settling in a new environment and country, building a new network with students and professors requires effort. But if you keep an open mind, it works out and the university is there to support you.”

“Many courses had group assignments for which we had to collaborate with fellow students. Meeting and working with students from all over the world and speaking English all the time helped me get where I wanted to be.”

Good mixture “The programme offered nothing but pleasant surprises and a very positive experience. I accomplished my goal of learning about business economics, and quite quickly too. As it is a one-year programme the Master in International Business allows you to return to the workplace soon enough.”

“The curriculum offered a good mixture of knowledge. It was quite intense and you had to attend classes and study. With my technical background I was naturally good at courses with a lot of numbers, like accounting, macroeconomics and corporate finance. Still, I especially enjoyed the ones where I did not have a clue at the start, like marketing and business strategy. They offered so much practical value: we learned what to analyse when entering a market, how to do competitor analysis, SWOT analysis etc”

Building an international network

“Many courses had group assignments for which we had to collaborate with fellow students. Meeting and working with students from all over the world and speaking English all the time helped me get where I wanted to be. Living and studying in Brussels was an experience that helped me grow on a totally different level compared to working for a German company in Greece during COVID. It really added value.”

“In addition, I tried to attend as many guest lectures as possible to build my network. That worked well and resulted in an internship at Edenred Belgium. Through their digital platform for services and payments companies can offer extra employee benefits. I joined the product team to work on their EcoCheques solution for three months. I met new people and got a sense of what it is like to work in the Belgian market, another great addition to my CV.”

“Interestingly, my network also led me to my job at Moody’s some months later, before even finishing my master’s. As a high performer in the macroeconomics course, I was invited to tutor fellow students who could use some help. One of the students, whom I tutored in the summer of 2022, happened to work at Moody's. I applied, did the interviews and started in October. You have to be in the right place at the right time to pursue opportunities!”

“Moody’s provides solutions that help businesses and financial leaders to assess, monitor and mitigate risk. Our data, intelligence and analytical tools help them make better and faster decisions. Most of our clients are banks, insurance companies, asset management firms and corporations and governments. I first joined as a data specialist. That technical role gave me a good understanding of how we onboard our data. After ten months, I moved to my current role, which combines both technical and client service tasks. As a product consultant for two of our solutions, the credit catalyst and the supply chain catalyst, I help our clients with their implementations, customizing our tools to their needs, making sure they get the best value out of them.“

“The programme prepares you for what's coming: you learn how businesses work and what's happening in the market - basic knowledge that is indispensable for developing your thinking and also for asking the right questions.”

Ask the right questions

“Financial services is a business environment I really enjoy. My client facing role at Moody’s is very different from my past jobs in Greece. Now, I have the opportunity to work with high caliber, well established clients and my Masters contributed well to that journey. The programme prepares you for what's coming: you learn how businesses work and what's happening in the market - basic knowledge that is indispensable for developing your thinking and also for asking the right questions. If you ask good questions, you can learn a lot in a short period of time. Everyone can provide value, whether they are a student, a professor or a client. Just keep an open mind and people will share something useful.”

“The programme has also shifted my perspective. Before I looked at projects very much from a technical angle. Now I can zoom out and think about how what I am doing can improve business.”

“I also learned a lot inside the company. Working with these big companies that everyone knows is rewarding because such clients teach you a lot about the industry. Moody’s is a truly international company, especially our Brussels office which counts over 300 employees. I meet people from all over the world, from South America and Europe to Asia and Africa, as well as people from all different levels, from junior up to senior leadership positions, so learning never stops.”

Communication is key

“Such an environment requires constant attention to communication. You need to express yourself accurately in English. Whether you are with colleagues or with clients, you have to be at your best. So for anyone interested in joining a company like Moody's, remember that communication is crucial. The terminology I acquired during my master’s year has been a major asset to express myself clearly.“

“So for anyone considering studying at one of KU Leuven’s programmes, my first and only recommendation is to apply! Belgium offers a nice, stable environment where people are friendly. The university is great. KU Leuven celebrates its 600th anniversary this year, so it's well established to say the least. Of course, nothing comes easy: the intense curriculum requires study effort. But once you are here, network with your fellow students and professors as it will be rewarding without a doubt. “

“There are plenty of opportunities to meet people through the university. In an international environment like this you will meet friends for life. Brussels offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy yourself during the weekends and you can easily go on a day trip to Ghent, Bruges, or even to Paris, London and Amsterdam. You can cover a lot of ground by travelling a few hours by train from Brussels. It is a great location to explore Belgium and Europe, I really recommend it.”

Always in touch

“During my masters at KU Leuven, I had the privilege to meet professor Annabelle Sels. I feel fortunate to have had her as my mentor, especially during my dissertation about board diversity and its effects on organisational performance after a merger or acquisition. Since then, we have expanded the thesis into two conference papers. We have already presented the first one and are currently collaborating on the second one.”

“KU Leuven has helped me a lot, so my ambassadorship is a way to stay connected and to give back to the university. On that note, I am invited for the second year in a row to talk in our faculty’s Career Panels and Talks for the course “Career Development” of the Bachelor of Business Administration this March. So, see you all then!

Veerle De Grauwe