Jan Kragh Michelsen
The combination of practical knowledge and academic learning brings a very positive result on the personal bottom line when doing the Blue MBA, says student Jan Kragh Michelsen of Cobham. By Louise Vogdrup-Schmidt
(source: ShippingWatch)
Jan Kragh Michelsen, Sales Development Director, Global Maritime, at Cobham Satcom, is a trained shipmaster, and with this history of practical training it was – in his own words – great to be “back in school” to work on an academic degree, namely the Blue MBA program at the Copenhagen Business School (CBS).
Jan Kragh Michelsen is part of the Blue MBA class that enrolled in September, and the class has met several times since then, most recently last week.
“I’ve been with Cobham for almost seven years and I have no commercial training, so the Blue MBA makes a lot of sense. It’s good to get some knowledge at a more academic level, compared to the fact that the commercial experience I have so far is based on ‘learning is doing’, ” Jan Kragh Michelsen tells ShippingWatch, adding:
“I’m adding an academic layer to my skills, and in that sense I feel that I’m getting 1+1 equals 2, but what I’m really getting is 1+1 equals 3.”
“The dreams will be our compass”
He expects to draw on the program in his daily job, which focuses on executing Cobham Satcom’s overall marine strategy.
“The entire strategic part of the program is one of the areas that I benefit from the most. Learning about shipping instead of marine. I’ve never been a broker or a shipper, and it’s good to get closer to the operational aspects of the shipping industry while also learning about the various mechanisms in the industry – where it can sometimes get quite nerdy, ” says Jan Kragh Michelsen.
Last week’s theme for the Blue MBA was a visit to Hamburg with a focus on ship design. At first glance ship design may not have much to do with the technology that Jan kragh Michelsen works with on a daily basis, but he stresses the importance of seeing several aspects of the industry in one big picture.
“The ship design part is relevant to me because we, at Cobham Satcom, also supply equipment to the shipyards. And it’s also good to update your knowledge in the field. A lot has happened since i finished my training, ” says Jan Kragh Michelsen, who is 38 years old.
“The best shipping homework is done on the plane”
CFOO from Cyprus checks in at CBS
16 nations come together in new Blue MBA class
New competencies can be a way out of the crisis
