Naved Reza - MBA 2005
Naved Reza's drive to succeed has taken him from the developing nation of Bangladesh to the corporate offices of a Fortune 75 company—with some interesting detours along the way.
Naved grew up in Bangladesh and moved to India at the age of 18 to study Electronics Engineering under a government scholarship. After graduating, he returned to Bangladesh with the intention of applying for a masters program in the US. Instead, he was selected for a Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho) Scholarship to study at the Nagaoka University of Technology Japan.
After completing a Master of Electronics Engineering at the age of 27, Naved spent several years in research and development before moving into the commercial sector, joining National Instruments (Japan) as an Application Engineer in 2000.
Over the next two years he was promoted three times: first to Group Leader of a team of 38 staff, then Business Development Manager for Asia Pacific and finally Channel Partner Manager, responsible for 10% of the company revenue. For an academic with no previous management experience, it was a rapid rise to the top.
"The experience at a senior level boosted my confidence and commercial acumen," says Naved. "But certain aspects of my role, such as the financial requirements, were a challenge for me. So I had a choice: I could continue learning on the job or I could get a formal management education."
He chose the latter and after 10 years in Japan, moved to Melbourne to begin his MBA.
"Joining MBS was one of the best decisions of my life. The MBA broadened my managerial skills, provided me with advanced tools/frameworks in strategic marketing, business strategy and finance, empowering me to become an integrative thinker and strategic problem solver, which are critical for business decision making."
Thanks to alumni connections, Naved secured his first post-MBA job even before he'd graduated. During the subject Managing New Ventures—where students undertake 'real-world' management projects supplied by alumni and their organisations—he worked on a project for start-up company Opdicom. He made an impression on CEO Lindsay Lyon (MMktg 1999), who offered him a job as Regional Sales Director.
"I am very grateful to Lindsay. His confidence in my skills and competencies opened up the door for me in the Australian business sector," Naved said.
And the doors keep opening. Now working for multinational firm Honeywell as an International Sales and Marketing Manager, Naved is hopeful of yet another international career move— this time to Phoenix, Arizona where Honeywell is headquartered.
"Working for a Fortune 75 company like Honeywell is very exciting and challenging as you are among peers who are the best and brightest in the industry. And now that I have my MBA I am ready to take on any new challenges in my professional career."
