Go together

In June, as part of the Financial Management course (taught at the International Business and Management program), an open lecture was held with the participation of Olga Nikolaevna Voronova, Head of the Marketing Department of JSC Lengiprotrans. Practical aspects of working with investors and creditors were discussed at the lecture. Great attention was paid to preparing for pitching - presenting investment projects in the format of short presentations. The recommendations made during this open lecture were then applied by the students as part of the defense of projects that took place in the format of a 5-minute pitching.

Comments of the participants

Markovskaya E.I., Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Finance

"The course “Financial Management”, which was developed by me, received a grant from the Educational Innovation Fund of HSE and is taught in the 3rd year of the  International Business and Management program and is practice-oriented. The second half of the course, which takes place in the 4th module and covers issues related to business valuation and analysis of strategic transactions (mergers and acquisitions), is built taking into account the requirements of the Russian qualifying exam in the direction of “Business Valuation”. Students practice all acquired theoretical knowledge in interactive formats that are close to real situations that we encounter in practice in business. Thus, the students defended their first project in the format of model negotiations, in which companies submitted their loan application to the bank, and the bank assessed the company’s creditworthiness according to its criteria. The second project involved defending before a strategic committee and business practitioners in a pitching format.

On the eve of project defenses, together with my colleague O.N. Voronova, Marketing Director of Lengiprotrans JSC, gave an open lecture at which they shared their experience of working with various investors and creditors. I spoke about my recent experience of over-the-counter placement of corporate bonds on an investment platform, as well as about the projects in which I am currently participating, related to organizing the financing of investment projects using programs offered by the Russian Industrial Development Fund. And Olga Nikolaevna Voronova similarly told students about , how to prepare for pitching, presenting a project in the form of short presentations.

Thus, the Financial Management course helps to develop in students both hard skills - the ability to evaluate management decisions using analytical tools, and soft skills - the ability to work in a team and interact with different team members. A well-known African proverb says: if you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together. I pay great attention to developing skills related to the ability to work in a team, since in the Russian business environment, due to its dynamic development, skills related to the ability to build relationships with partners are highly valued. Therefore, students complete two projects that are provided for in the discipline in different teams, changing the composition of the team". 

Olga Voronova, head of Marketing JSC Lengiprotrans

"For several years now, I have been attending business games organized at the Higher School of Economics (HSE) and each time I am pleased to note new young talents.

I hope that this experience will remain special for the students, and that their time at HSE will be filled with joy and learning.

The most important qualities for a successful performance at such a format of work are the ability to see the essence of the business and understand the needs of investors. With these two conditions met, all information in the presentation is structured in the most logical way.

In the future lives of these students there will be many more presentations, and the training and gaining experience will greatly facilitate their further academic life, and later on, their working life. These skills are essential for young professionals who want to succeed in today's competitive job market. The ability to effectively communicate ideas, present complex information clearly, and engage with audiences is highly valued by employers across industries.

Thus, business games at HSE not only develop students' professional skills but also contribute to the formation of important personal qualities such as confidence, communication skills, and teamwork. This makes HSE graduates sought-after specialists in the labor market". 

Kolawole Shola Ojo, lecturer, department of management, ACCA instructor

"I was really impressed with the students' capstone project of financial managemnet course. Their presentation, which was scrutinized and evaluated by a distinguished panel of experts, showcased a remarkable depth of analysis and insight. The students adeptly employed a comprehensive array of business valuation techniques to assess and value their chosen companies, demonstrating not only their mastery of theoretical concepts but also their ability to apply these concepts practically. Their dedication, teamwork, and analytical prowess have truly set a high standard for future cohorts". 

Nikita Vorotilin, 3rd year student of the BP "International Business and Management"

"On June 1, I was lucky enough to take part in Olga Voronova’s master class, and also try my hand at defending a project in a pitching format. This experience helped me, as a student, to experience the situation that could arise in my future job. Such a test allows you to look at your capabilities and knowledge from a new angle, and most importantly, at the ability to apply this knowledge in an environment close to real business practice". 

Irma Mustafina, 3rd year student of the BP "International Business and Management"

"This format of project defense is more dynamic and interesting than the usual one. There is an opportunity to get more diverse comments from different people: classmates, professor and the invited guest".