Karim Habbal
"The network of diverse, inspiring students, faculty, and alumni has influenced my personal and professional life. From classmates who have turned into lifelong friends, to the wonderful coaches at the CMC who challenge students to pursue their best path, to the alumni who have shared lessons from their post-Fuqua experiences, I feel a sense of community that will influence me for years to come."
Weekend Executive MBA
Industry:
Prior Education:
North Carolina State University
BS Industrial & Systems Engineering
Reflections
I chose Fuqua for two main reasons: the faculty and the program format. Fuqua's faculty is world-class and consists of highly respected leaders from a breadth of business disciplines. I knew they would challenge me to accelerate my impact outside the classroom. The program format also stood out to me, for its emphasis on both teaming and leadership. Prospective students are introduced to “Team Fuqua” during the admissions process and are quickly immersed in its true meaning when classes begin. Fuqua’s culture of teaming is unique and challenges students to work towards a greater purpose than just their personal goals, which mirrors the expectations that most organizations have of their leaders. The program’s Leadership Series incorporates courses on integrative leadership and ethics into the curriculum. At Fuqua, the curriculum is focused on developing IQ (intelligence quotient), EQ (emotional quotient), and DQ (diversity quotient), which are all vital to successful leadership.
Before Fuqua
I was responsible for the Enterprise Data Marketplace team within the Enterprise Data & Analytics group at VMware, a cloud software company. I led a team of incredible data management professionals responsible for the strategy and execution of the company’s Metadata Management capabilities, enabling accelerated discovery of data across the organization.
After Fuqua
I now lead the Global Metadata Management team at Salesforce, a cloud business software company. I am responsible for the strategy and deployment of the company’s Metadata Management and Data Quality capabilities that empower Salesforce colleagues with the right data, at the right time, with the right controls.
Advice for Prospective Students with Partners
Prospective Fuqua students should know that their partners are not just a part of Team Fuqua—they are a key player on the team! Completing an Executive MBA program is a team sport, with your teammates in the program and those in your personal life. Prospective students will be embarking on one of the most challenging, but rewarding experiences of their life, and their partner will be instrumental to their success in the program. During the week and off-weekends, a lot of time will be spent reading, studying, or working on assignments. Residency weekends will be even busier for students, as they’ll be spending time in class, working on assignments, or networking with other students. A fruitful MBA experience demands some sacrifice in time away from friends and family. However, like many of life’s opportunities, the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. That said, being in an Executive MBA program does not mean you shouldn’t continue to be a great partner. You can and should dedicate time to continue enjoying your personal life throughout the program. Establishing boundaries between personal and professional commitments is extremely important for continued success in and out of the program.