Tahrima Tabassum
Course: Master of International Business, 2018
Nationality: Bangladeshi
Current role: Senior Assistant Vice President, Eastern Bank Limited (Bangladesh)
Please tell us about your role in your current organisation.
I am currently working in Eastern Bank Limited in Bangladesh under the structured finance department (SFD) which is part of the corporate banking division. The work of the SFD entails designing customised financial solutions for projects for optimum solutions. It involves analysing new project’s merits and demerits (compare tariff structures, market feasibility, major project cost verification, client credit reputation) for management decision making. I also have to conduct economic and industry feasibility to assess the country’s investment climate and analyse existing financials and format projections that justify the project’s feasibility to investors.
Why did you decide to pursue the Master of International Business at Monash?
The globalised nature of the world today made me realise that to sharpen my skills and be more competitive in the marketplace, I needed an international business degree to understand what makes or breaks a business. Asia is fast-changing and has become the most attractive location for global businesses to pursue their fate. MIB certainly gives an edge in understanding both the written and unwritten rules of the game.
Monash University is amongst the top 100 universities in the world with a global outlook that is highly sought after by employers globally. Its reputation of fostering creativity, tenacity and “can do “attitudes amongst its students is what allured me to pursue my journey at Monash.
How has your studies helped to prepare you for the working world?
It has helped me with the confidence and contextual intelligence to adapt to the ever-changing working conditions. Moreover, the transferable skills that I developed during my program can be put into use in any sector I choose to work in.
What type of opportunities did you participate in at Monash?
Unfortunately, I have not participated in any formal programs or placement while at Monash. However, the courses themselves were very interactive - they helped me develop leadership qualities such as steering the team in the right direction and delivering effective results during group presentations and assignments.
What did you enjoy most about your student life?
The best thing about my life in Monash would be coming across the intercultural mix of students which helped me learn so much particularly about South East Asia without actually having to travel to these countries. It was very interesting to know how multiple cultures can coexist, each practising their own unique lifestyle and belief system.
What are your career goals?
My career goal is to become an effective mentor for the many working women who are lagging behind due to the entrenched glass ceiling which is so predominant in Bangladesh. I also want to see a workplace where females are empowered to explore their full potential and fearlessly work without being bullied by her male colleagues.