MBA: future proofing your business mindset
By Koshy Samuel - Posted on 24 February 2026
Completing his MBA in early 2000s, Koshy Samuel has found the qualification has provided him with skills which are still yielding benefits today. Here, he outlines how the MBA has helped future-proof his mindset.
I completed my MBA between 2000–2002 in Dubai. During the programme, I visited the University of Strathclyde twice - for electives and the graduation ceremony. Both visits were truly life-changing experiences, especially the exposure to Glasgow’s vibrant environment, global perspectives, and the strong professional network and community built through Strathclyde.
Completing my MBA has been transformative, not only in shaping my strategic thinking but in preparing me to navigate a future that is being redefined by innovation.
The MBA equipped me with the strategic mindset, adaptability, and global perspective needed to navigate rapid changes driven by digital transformation, AI, and evolving business models. It strengthened my ability to embrace innovation, make data-driven decisions, and lead organisations confidently through uncertainty and continuous disruption.
The MBA has taught me to think strategically, lead with vision, and turn uncertainty into opportunity through innovation and data-driven decisions. It shaped my mindset to build future-ready organisations where technology, people, and purpose create lasting impact.
This programme strengthened my strategic leadership and global business perspective, enabling me to drive multi-million-dollar business growth, lead global business development, and build strong international partnerships across energy, marine, and technology sectors. It empowered me to make data-driven decisions, optimise operations, and deliver long-term value across multinational organisations in the Middle East and beyond.
My career has spanned global business leadership, strategic growth, and innovation across the marine, energy, and technology sectors, progressing from technical and operational roles to senior leadership driving business expansion and international partnerships. Over time, I have evolved into a business leader focused on transformation, value creation, and building future-ready solutions across multinational markets.
Reflecting on my career, I think leading global business growth and strategic expansion across the Middle East stands out as a defining moment, where I successfully built international partnerships and delivered sustainable business value across the marine, energy, and technology sectors. Transforming opportunities into scalable ventures and driving innovation-led growth across multinational markets has been a key milestone in my leadership journey.
For anyone thinking of doing an MBA or who is at the beginning of their MBA pathway, I advise you to treat your MBA not just as a qualification, but as a platform to build future-ready skills, global networks, and a mindset of continuous learning in a rapidly evolving world. Embrace technology, think strategically, collaborate widely, and focus on creating real value - because the future will reward those who can adapt, innovate, and lead with purpose.
An MBA today is as relevant as ever because it provides leaders with the mindset to navigate a world transformed by AI, Machine Learning, IoT, robotics, and tools like ChatGPT. What once took months to achieve manually can now be done in days, but true impact comes from understanding how to leverage these technologies strategically. The MBA provides the frameworks to reimagine work, design smarter systems, and lead organisations that are agile, innovative, and future-ready. It’s not just about managing - it’s about creating entirely new ways of working and value in an era defined by rapid technological change.
For me, personally, the MBA was absolutely not the end of learning; it was the launchpad for understanding how to combine business acumen with cutting-edge technology to create value, solve complex challenges, and build a future where work is faster, smarter, and more impactful than ever before.
I have no doubt that wherever the business world of the future takes us, the learning from an MBA will help navigate those new paths.
About Koshy Samuel
Koshy Samuel is a Business Development Director with Tecumex in Dubai, UAE. He did his MBA in Strathclyde's Dubai centre, graduating in 2002. He has over 40 years of multinational leadership, driving business growth, operational excellence, and transformative impact across the Middle East, Asia, and global markets.
