Veronika Longvinova, Vice President of NGC

Name: Veronika Longvinova
CEMS home school: WU Vienna
CEMS host school: Prague School of Economics (VSE)
First NGC project: La Plataforma
Current job title & company: Senior Materials Manager at HILTI

Can you tell us a little bit about you?
I am born and raised in Saint-Petersburg, Russia. Up until the age of 17, I thought I would never move anywhere from my country. One day, however, I have received an opportunity to pursue a full Bachelor Degree in Finland and that is how my 10-year long European journey has started.

After embracing cold Finnish winters for three years, I have moved to the UK to do an internship at Bosch. I have experienced cute English countryside for two years, juggling between logistics and marketing topics, before deciding to do a Masters. WU Vienna and CEMS Master program seemed like an obvious choice so I have moved to Austria and stayed here ever since (with a small de route to Czechia for an exchange).

Currently, I am working in logistics at HILTI in its HQ in Liechtenstein which means that on a normal day I would cross the border with the EU twice: from home in Austria to work in Liechtenstein and back.

I love travelling, hiking in the mountains, obstacle races and reading. I also try to contribute my free time to some volunteering activities: I am doing translations for infamous TED videos and, of course, taking part in the NGC Board.

Can you tell a fun fact about yourself?
One winter I worked in Finnish Lapland as a Santa Claus elf!

How did you first get involved with NGC?
Back in 2017, I wanted to be a consultant at NGC so I applied.. and was not chosen. I asked the HR manager how I could improve my NGC application for the future. I guess that act sparked attention as in a few days I have received an email with the question: "Would you like to take over a consultant role as one of the consultants had to drop out?"

The project was about the Latin American financial sector for which I had neither skills nor any relevant experience. However, I was so excited to be onboard that I immediately accepted the offer. It appeared to be a challenging, yet rewarding experience. After the project, I applied to be a Project Manager and have led five projects for a full year.

What made you choose to join the NGC board?
My main motivation was always the team. We have an amazing atmosphere of professionalism, fun and encouragement. Every little victory is celebrated together. I also love that NGC is focusing on social enterprises - organisations that often need business advice but do not have the financial means to ask for support from big consulting companies. Lastly, it is mentorship for our consultants. I am feeling very happy when I see the achievements of our former consultants and Board members.

What does your role at NGC entail? And how is it working together with a team of volunteers?
After leading a team of PMs for a year, I am stepping into the role of Vice President at NGC. I am still trying to outline the description but I could summarize the role in this way: on one hand, I will be supporting the NGC Managing Director with all the strategic activities. On the other hand, I would like to implement some of the innovative ideas the Board has suggested over the last years. And thirdly, I would like to support the functional team (HR, Head of PMs, Marketing...) and take a role of a sparring partner for them. For me, it is important that no Board member feels lost or overwhelmed with their tasks.

What do you do for your full-time job?
In my usual job, I am tackling the beast called Global Supply Chain. In some way, I am a liaison between external suppliers and transport companies on one hand, and warehouses and market organisations on the other hand. I am also leading a few logistics projects. It is definitely a challenging role (especially now in the COVID times) but it also brings me so much knowledge and experience. Oh, and it is never boring which makes for me the biggest selling point.

Is it easy to manage your role at NGC at the same time? Do you have any tips on how to juggle these responsibilities?
Sometimes it is definitely not easy to manage both roles. What works for me is understanding my responsibilities and deadlines for the NGC activities, as well as using delegation and prioritisation. I also have certain flexibility so I could complete my tasks during the weekend or in the evening after my usual job. I am grateful that the NGC team is so supportive and understanding of each other’s situations. In the end, we all are a team of volunteers having full-time jobs so being flexible is our main advantage.

What have been some of the best moments at NGC?
I would have two! The first one was our small Christmas party with the consultants in 2020 - a great way to get to know the students and alumni. The second one is when I could meet one of my former clients - Kalmat Foundation - in person in Switzerland, show our final presentations and get the updates about the organisation. It was such a great feeling to see what positive changes were implemented at Kalmat Foundation after our projects together.

Has your role at NGC helped you in your career? And if so, how?
Absolutely! During my student life, I got asked a few questions about my experience at NGC during interviews, so it definitely adds a few bonus points to your CV. The experience as PM has made me more structured and also improved my "presentation game" - I have learnt how to present my thoughts in a clear and structured way, prioritise the tasks and distribute the workload. As a head of Project Management, I managed the team so I could improve my leadership skills.

Do you have any tips for students thinking about applying to NCG?
Don’t be afraid to apply! NGC is an amazing experience and we are always looking forward to expanding our team of consultants and Board members. Even if you feel you do not have relevant skills or experience, do not hesitate to send us your application! I will be happy to answer any question, feel free to reach out on my LinkedIn: https://at.linkedin.com/in/veronikalogvinova

Adam Levine, Head of Project Managers

Name: Adam Levine
CEMS home school: Ivey Business School
CEMS host school: Bocconi University
First NGC project: BEAD Technologies
Current job title & company: Project Manager- Corporate Strategy and Transformation- HSBC

Can you tell us a little bit about you?
I was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. From an early age, I have loved exploring different countries, cultures and new experiences. This passion influenced my decision to enroll in the CEMS Masters programme, where I met many engaging students, professors and colleagues. I had the privilege of participating in an exchange at Bocconi University and completing my CEMS internship working for Muthoot Group in Kochi, India. To date, I have travelled to over 50 countries, including work experiences in five and study terms in three of those countries. I am incredibly grateful for all these amazing experiences, and post-CoVid, I hope to continue exploring the world. In addition to travelling, some of my hobbies include playing various sports, including Tennis, Downhill Skiing, Basketball and Golf. I also enjoy photography, woodworking, camping and reading about international politics.

Can you tell a fun fact about yourself?
I am an active Scuba Diver! I have had my official Scuba certification (PADI) since I was 12 years old. I have Scuba dived worldwide, most notably in Belize, Honduras, Australia, Florida, Maldives and the Philippines. I love seeing animals in their natural habitat, and I have been lucky enough to Scuba near a variety of sharks, manta rays, stingrays, dolphins, sea turtles and most notably, Nemo (clownfish).

How did you first get involved with NGC?
I first got involved with NGC at the beginning of 2020 when I joined the board as a Project Manager.

What was your motivation behind joining NGC?
I had regretted not becoming an NGC consultant as a CEMS student, and I had set a goal for myself to contribute to NGC eventually. I always admired their mission of helping out businesses with a strong commitment to solving some of the world's most pressing and complex problems. After a few years in the workforce, I saw an opening for a Project Manager role, and I felt that I could add value through my experiences and skillsets to NGC consultants, the NGC board and client engagements.

What does your role at NGC entail?
My current role as the Head of Project Managers is to ensure that all client engagements are operating well. My role entails comprehensive support to all PMs by providing guidance for any project-related issues and improving the PM experience. My role also comprises forming relationships with external NGC "mentors" from large consultancies, providing PMs with an additional layer of support, and topical seminars for NGC consultants.

What do you do for your full-time job?
I am currently a Project Manager with HSBC in the Corporate Strategy and Transformation department in Toronto, Canada. My role consists of managing a variety of complex projects ranging from regulatory to operational to data analytics.

Is it easy to manage your role at NGC at the same time? Do you have any tips on how to juggle these responsibilities?
When taking on a comprehensive board role, in addition to your full-time job, it is expected to be a challenge. It is challenging given the various time differences between the board, PMs, clients and mentors. However, I am a firm believer in the Theodore Roosevelt quote, "Nothing worth having comes easy." Although making a meaningful commitment to the NGC board has been a lot of work, it has been incredibly rewarding, and I strongly believe it has enhanced the quality of my day-to-day job at HSBC.
My advice to managing multiple responsibilities would be preparation and transparency. Take some time out of your week to schedule, plan and build contingencies into what you want to get done. Keep your stakeholders informed on the goals you want to have accomplished in addition to any barriers you foresee encountering.

What has been one of your favourite moments at NGC?
One of my favourite moments working with NGC thus far was when I was a PM for BEAD Technologies. I worked closely with the project team and client to deliver a quality and insightful deliverable. The client was highly impressed by the recommendations and strategy we had proposed after the final presentation. A few months later, it was rewarding to see through LinkedIn that BEAD Technologies implemented our proposed strategy. It was a gratifying experience that all the hard work throughout the term was being used to make a positive difference in the trajectory of an innovative startup.

Has your role at NGC helped you in your career? And if so, how?
I would 100% say that my role at NGC has positively impacted my current day-to-day job at HSBC. It has improved the way I schedule meetings, prepare and set goals with relevant stakeholders and engage with project sponsors to ensure I am meeting (or exceeding) the objectives of various projects. Working with fellow CEMSies from multiple backgrounds has also helped my engagement with international teams across the HSBC business.

Do you have any tips for students thinking about applying to NCG?
If you are a student and want some insight before applying to NGC, I would highly recommend reaching out to NGC alumni and the current board. NGC has a vibrant alumni group that can give a detailed recount of their experiences at NGC. Send a message on LinkedIn, or feel free to reach out through the NGC website to get some further information regarding the NGC consulting experience.

Maria Shkvarunets, Project Manager

Name: Maria Shkvarunets
CEMS home school: University of Cologne
CEMS host school: Ivey Business School
First NGC project: REBO
Current job title & company: Customer Success Analyst at Everstream Analytics

Can you tell us a little bit about you?
I am originally from Moscow, Russia, but living in Cologne, Germany, for the past 5 years. I am currently working at one tech startup that was developed within DPDHL as a Customer Success Analyst and at the same time volunteering at NGC as a Project Manager. In my spare time, I am doing lots of sports (mostly running and martial arts), reading lots of business and political literature and chilling with friends, usually with a glass of good wine in my hand :)

Can you tell us a fun fact about yourself?
I used to be a professional athlete (in martial arts) and won a couple of World Championships back then :)

How did you first get involved with NGC?
I first joined NGC as a consultant in summer 2018 and was working on a project with a client from Indonesia, helping them refine their indirect sales strategy.

What made you choose to join the NGC board?
I always wanted to contribute to society by being involved in some kind of pro-bono projects where I could use my professional skills and experiences while positively impacting social organizations from different industries

What does your role at NGC entail?
As a Project Manager, I am responsible for planning and executing the entire project according to the initially agreed scope with the client, as well as for coordinating the team of student consultants, assigning to them certain tasks and checking the progress throughout the entire project. Working with other NGC Board members is extremely pleasant since everyone is very motivated to positively contribute to the well-being of the entire organization and to deliver the best possible value to the clients, so to the students.

What do you do for your full-time job?
I am currently working as a Customer Success Analyst at one SaaS startup and helping clients advance their Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM) practices by adopting our innovative platform into their day-to-day business operations

Is it easy to manage your role at NGC at the same time? Do you have any tips on how to juggle these responsibilities?
Sometimes it indeed gets quite challenging, especially a few weeks before the final deliverables to the client. I usually take some break from my other hobbies and activities during these periods and focus entirely on my job and the NGC project.

What has been one of the best moments at NGC?
The best moment for me is to see happy and satisfied faces as of the clients so of the consultants at the end of the final deliverables. It feels great to realise that the hard work finally paid off and all involved stakeholders gained some value from the project.

Has your role at NGC helped you in your career? And if so, how?
It definitely helps, even if indirectly. I am constantly learning about new business models and getting insights from new industries at the same time improving my project and people management skills, which definitely positively impacts my personal development.

Do you have any tips for students thinking about applying to NCG?
Do not hesitate to apply and please reach out to any of us for more insights about the upcoming projects! Let's together contribute to making this world a bit better ;)