Avighna RAMDOO

Could you please introduce yourself?

My name is Avighna Ramdoo, I’m at the end of my M2 Master’s degree in Change Management & Diversity (formerly Intercultural Management)

What motivated you to apply for this program?

I was motivated to apply by several factors. Firstly, the fact that this program was created by a Harvard professor gives it academic prestige. Secondly, I had received excellent feedback from friends who had already attended the course. But what really appealed to me was the opportunity to collaborate with students and professionals from different fields and cultures, in an innovative, international setting. The idea of taking on a concrete challenge and putting my skills into practice in such a stimulating environment particularly appealed to me.

Could you describe the program?

The program took the form of an intensive three-day hackathon. Everything had been perfectly prepared (accommodation, meals, travel), which enabled us to concentrate entirely on our project. The days were long, punctuated by workshops from morning to night, but the atmosphere was incredible: a mix of adrenalin, competition, collaboration, as well as friendship and fun. This atmosphere made the experience both demanding and extremely rewarding.

What was the main challenge or subject you worked on?

I was lucky enough to collaborate with Nokia and Dentons on an issue that really concerns Nokia: “How can Nokia centrally and efficiently disseminate complex sustainability regulations to promote understanding of them and compliance with them across all its business areas?”

We devised an innovative and pragmatic solution, which was then also presented internally at Nokia. The experience was made even more memorable by the fact that our project won the People’s Choice Award, a real recognition of the work accomplished by my team.

What did you learn from this experience, both academically and professionally?

I learned an enormous amount through this experience. On an academic level, I deepened my knowledge of sustainability and regulatory compliance issues, discovering their concrete impact on corporate strategy.

Professionally, I developed key skills such as teamwork in a multicultural context, creativity, time and priority management, and effective communication with high-level professionals.

What aspects of the program impressed or surprised you the most?

What impressed me most was the exceptional quality of the event and the enriching exchanges with experts and mentors from major international companies. I was surprised by the program’s ability to create an environment that was both competitive and caring, where everyone could express their ideas and learn from others. I was also impressed by the speed with which a team of people from totally different backgrounds was able to come together and produce a concrete solution in such a short space of time.