GMAC MET Fund Blog

i2i Challenge Winner: Yousef Tamimi, “SME Partnership MBA Program”

About me
I’m Yousef Tamimi from Jordan, happily married, and proud son of my great parents. In 2007, I finished my BSc in Electrical Engineering from Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST). Then, I obtained my MBA degree from German Jordanian University, Talal Abu-Ghazaleh School of Business In 2009. I’m now in the Experienced Commercial Leadership Program (ECLP), GE’s premier development program for high potential individuals seeking a career in sales and marketing.

The early beginning of my idea
Even as a boy, I always thought about how to build my own business, and how people from different industries and educational backgrounds managed theirs. I wondered about what problems they faced, and how they succeed in their lives.

When I was only 15, I signed my first contract to convert a book into a web-based interactive site. During my undergraduate and MBA study, I worked in several jobs to support my studies and acquire new skills. I’ve worked as a freelance flash-based applications developer, instructor for AutoCAD courses in an IT academy, and in a business that imported diagnostic tools and electronic devices for car-repair services. These diversified experiences, working with many small and medium enterprises (SME), and people from different backgrounds, gave me a broad understanding of the challenges they face and the opportunities they are given to develop themselves.

Furthermore, joining ABB as a marketing and sales engineer, along with my MBA studies, developed my understanding of effective management practices, and how to optimize business processes to achieve high results.
I have always asked myself, “How can small businesses develop themselves?”, and “How can I utilize my MBA to achieve my dream and become a business leader?”

How I came to participate
On 24 August, 2010, I received an email from mba.com, encouraging me to participate in the Ideas to Innovation (i2i) Challenge competition. I had just returned from my honeymoon, and moved to my new home. When I reviewed the GMAC MET Fund i2i Challenge website and read all the details and requirements to participate, I felt that it was a great opportunity to share some of my ideas…to develop management education so that it has sustainable value for all stakeholders, by moving from academic-oriented programs to a comprehensive development framework – students, local firms, and business schools work to create a self-sustained value creation model.

Developing my idea
My long work hours, new lifestyle after marriage, and all related responsibilities gave me tight time to translate floating thoughts into a consistent model to be able to participate in this contest.

My past experiences working with small businesses, my thinking about how my MBA can support my ambitions to be a business leader in my region, and my career in marketing and sales at a Fortune 500 company came together to build the blocks of the model. I perceived how entrepreneurs have the potential to support small businesses to generate high profits and help them overcome serious obstacles. This partnership will create a win-win situation, where SME and entrepreneurs can mutually achieve their goals. Entrepreneurs can develop SME in certain functions where it suffers the most. In return, SME will give entrepreneurs the opportunity to become a partner and a true business leader. This will result in long-term benefits for both parties and drive the business toward success on a solid basis.

My main concerns were:

• First, to have a self-sustained model, that can generate all needed funds, motivation, and resources within its structure.
• Second, to have a model that is integrated within a local economy to support the country’s development.
• Third, to have a model that is flexible enough to be implemented in every country, and that can be customized to a country’s needs and culture.
• Finally, to have a model that is controlled by a legal framework through contractual setup to protect the rights of each party, and results that are measureable and time bounded to obtain a tangible outcome.

Submitting my idea
I wrote the details of my idea on pieces of paper, whenever and wherever I had the chance to think about it. I remember writing about how I can measure the results while I was waiting for my car to be fixed at the garage! I was afraid to miss the deadline, therefore I took the initiative when my wife encouraged me to sit and write my idea just one day before I had to submit it. The 1500-word restriction was very tough to meet, because I had a lot of information and details to elaborate about and no time to develop the supporting materials, such as algorithms, graphs, facts, and numbers. Thus, the three1500-word answers for the i2i Challenge questions were my only way to communicate my idea effectively.

My dream for the future
I’m strongly confident that my idea will make a deep change in management education models, if adequate resources, supporting organizations, and recognized academic and business leaders, who believe in it, are available. On a personal level, I look forward to continuing my education in parallel to my great career in GE, and in securing a PhD in strategic management at a top business school. I’m full of fresh ideas that I can share and develop, see implemented, and change the world.

My thanks and best wishes
I thank the GMAC MET Fund for giving me this great opportunity to share my idea with the world, and for allowing this competition to be open to all. I wish all the winners success, and I hope to see their ideas come true and change management education for a brighter future.