“Here you are constantly surrounded by strong and motivated people who inspire you to grow” — interview with student Gevorg Akopyan
Admission
— Gevorg, tell us a little about yourself.
— I work as a business analyst at Alfa-Bank in the SME lending risk department. I also completed my Bachelor’s degree at HSE in 2020 in Information and Communication Technologies and Communication Systems, but my career path took a different direction. Now I am finishing my Master’s in Digital Product Management.
— Why did you choose this particular Master’s program?
— I realized I wanted to grow in the field of product management and started looking at what was available on the market. I found many courses and short-term training programmes, but I decided I wanted something more fundamental. That’s why I looked into Master’s programmes at HSE. I didn’t consider other universities because I wanted to continue studying at my alma mater, in a familiar environment.
— What expectations did you have before starting your studies, and were they met?
— The main question I asked during the admission interview was about networking — how the programme is organized in terms of student interaction and experience exchange. I was assured that everyone communicates well, shares experience, and that the programme is built around teamwork. All promises turned out to be true: I met many amazing people and made close friends. My expectations were met 100%.
Studying in the program
— Which courses and projects were the most useful and interesting for you?
— I really enjoyed Maxim Epifanov’s Marketing and Launching Digital Products and Artyom Chistyakov’s Digital Product Development Based on Data and Metrics. I learned a lot of new and interesting things, and I was able to apply much of this knowledge in my work, which is great.
— Were there any challenges during your studies, and how did you overcome them?
— The main challenge, like for all students, is the exam period. But everything is manageable — teamwork really helps because you can share the workload.
— Does the programme help you develop skills necessary for career or business growth?
— Yes, one of the core courses is Soft Skills Development, which is useful not only for product managers but for all IT professionals. It helps you understand how to interact effectively with others in a corporate environment, communicate, give and receive feedback, hire candidates, and many other useful skills that are important for career growth.
— Have you participated in research, projects, competitions, case championships, etc.?
— Alongside my studies, I worked on personal projects and took part in accelerators. With one of these projects, we reached the finals of the MSU accelerator. Unfortunately, we didn’t win a prize, but I plan to continue working on personal projects because they help me gain valuable experience, experiment, learn by doing, and develop skills in related areas — all of which will be useful for my future career as a product manager.
— How useful is the practical component of the program for you?
— In the program, we work on real cases, address current industry challenges, and often receive feedback from experts in the field. This way, we don’t just study theory — we immediately apply the knowledge in practice, which helps us understand the material more deeply and reinforce it.
— What do you like most about studying at the HSE Graduate School of Business?
— I like the environment and the approach to teaching. You are constantly surrounded by strong, motivated people who inspire you to grow. The lecturers are industry practitioners with real-life experience. They don’t just give lectures — they share insights and cases from their work. I also value that the learning process is interactive — we discuss a lot, generate ideas, and debate, which makes studying lively and engaging.
Plans after graduation
— What are your plans after finishing your Master’s?
— After graduation, I plan to continue developing in the product field. I already have some experience and want to deepen it by taking on more responsibility. I’m also considering launching my own project, as the programme has given me a lot of knowledge and tools that I want to put into practice.
— How does the programme help you expand your network?
— Studying at the HSE GSB helps a lot in this regard. We constantly interact with classmates, each of whom has an interesting background. Most of the lecturers are experienced experts from top companies, and you can talk to them, ask for advice, and discuss any questions. Such contacts are extremely useful — both for job searching and for joint projects.
Advice for prospective students
— What advice would you give to future students of this program?
— I would recommend being as active and engaged in the learning process as possible. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, participate in discussions, and take the initiative in projects. Get to know other students and share your experience and knowledge. And, of course, don’t be afraid to try — mistakes are just part of the learning process.