Profile

Humayun Arif
Space Initiatives Manager for Global Government Solutions Group, Cisco Systems

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By Katie Ford

Arif’s decision to earn an EMBA couldn’t have come at a better time. He says he and his team members are confident that their approach to communication satellite services, based on open IP standards, is on the threshold of a revolution.

“I think my extra qualifications of an EMBA will provide the much-needed impetus for taking on new responsibilities,” Arif says. “I’ll have a greater understanding of business operations and execution on strategic initiatives, as well as better-honed skills in statistics, finance and accounting.”

As Cisco’s space initiatives manager, Arif admits that taking on an EMBA course load while continuing to uphold his responsibilities at work is a daunting task, but not impossible. He says his supervisors are allowing him to take off every other Friday to attend Friday-Saturday classes. He also will have time off to attend “live-in weeks” at Kellogg, where students reside on campus to engage in further classroom discussion and network with their peers.

“Even with that allowance, there will be a commitment of late evening hours and weekends devoted to studies — a price that comes with the territory for the next two years,” he says.

No matter how demanding the curriculum, however, Arif remains undaunted.

“I consider myself truly fortunate to have the necessary support from my employer and family,” he says. “It’s never too late to learn. Take action now on the smallest of dreams that you may have and start the process of learning.”

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