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Martin Luijt (EMBA F&A cohort 2018)
The Executive MBA in Food & Agribusiness is followed by ambitious and talented professionals. What motivates them? How do they manage work, private life and study? And why did they choose for this specific MBA? Learn all about it by reading their testimonials.
Name: Martin Luijt
Job title: Associate Director Development Banking at Rabobank Financial Insittutions Group
Previous degree: MSc in Policy Analysis & Organizations, Utrecht University
After graduation Martin has built up a stable career path in banking sector. In his current position at Rabobank he is responsible for the coverage of African and European Development Banks & Finance Institutions. During his daily work Martin has been facing the challenges of the connection between FIs and local Food & Agri businesses. His commitment towards sustainable and responsible funding strategies has been highly valued when he applied to the Executive MBA in Food and Agribusiness programme.
Why did you choose the Executive MBA in Food & Agribusiness?
As soon as I decided to embark on an MBA I searched for a school that could offer me more than a traditional MBA programme. I looked for an executive program that provides me a better understanding in Food & Agri chains and broaden my knowledge in the latest improvements of the industry. In addition to that an EMBA at WUR and TIAS is the perfect combination of a top 100 business school and the nr.1 agricultural university in the world.
What is your future goal?
I expect that this MBA will help me
1) further develop in setting the strategy for our department,
2) gain additional leadership skills,
3) better understand the difficulties and challenges in the F&A chain and 4) build up a network of F&A professionals outside the banking sector.
As a result I hope to further grow in my role, increase our activities with FIs in emerging markets and help them with financing the local F&A chain / corporates. It is my ambition to further develop and expand the team and potentially work outside the Netherlands.
How did people around you react when you shared/decided to embark on an MBA?
One of the first reactions was: “do you know what you’re up to?”, but most of the people I spoke to were both proud and happy for me.
What is your impression about your MBA peers?
This is maybe one of the best things about this EMBA. We work with such a diversified group. Students with different backgrounds, education, work experience give me different insights and angles when you work on assignments. You really get to know your fellow students which broadens your view on your work. Basically, the EMBA gives you the opportunity to have a look at your own organisation from the outside.
How will you manage to balance studying with work and personal life?
An MBA is something you don’t do on your own. When I’m away, following classes or studying at home, my wife takes care of the household. I’m very privileged that she supports me in this journey. When it comes to balancing, it is simply a question about how to spend your time. Am I going to watch TV or read a study book? It is not that I am more busy than I was a year ago. I am just spending my time differently.
The Executive MBA (EMBA) in Food & Agribusiness is developed for
mid-career professionals, with the ambition to grow further in an executive function in the Food & Agribusiness sector.
Interested in the EMBA in Food & Agribusiness, click here for the full overview on all content, or download the brochure.
For more information you can contact programme adviser Agnes Kiss.