“I feel at home at RUDN”, — Selbi Khadzhieva, student of RUDN Institute of World Economy and Business

Why did you decide to study in Russia?

I studied according to Russian educational standards at the joint Turkmen-Russian school named after A.S. Pushkin in Ashgabat. We studied in the context of two cultures — Russian and Turkmen — based on the pedagogical technology “Dialogue of two cultures”. From grade 2 I studied the Turkmen language, from grade 5 — the history of Turkmenistan. And there were also educational activities on the nationally and spiritually significant dates of the Russian and Turkmen people.

In the 11th grade, I successfully passed the exams, including the Unified State Examination, and got a free place at the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia in “Economics”, to major in “World Economy”. Internationality attracted me. Here I feel at home.

What does your future profession mean to you?

It is the realization of skills and continuous learning. To be an economist means to bring something useful and new to society.

In addition, basic knowledge of economics helps to understand high technologies, innovations and high-quality services. They optimize everyday processes and help bring them to automatism. For example, to structure the budget, you will need Excel (or Power BI), and we got very good knowledge in this field.

What motivated you to apply for The Global Investment Banking Valuation Olympiad?

I wanted to participate in a global international project, learn from the experience of other students and look at the quality of work of university students abroad. All assignments and presentations were in English, it was necessary not only to break through in completing assignments, but also to present it correctly in English. It was a challenge for me.

At the final stage of the Olympiad, your team analyzed the M&A model of EVRAZ. What is this model, and what is it for?

The M&A model (mergers and acquisitions, mergers and acquisitions) is the process of joining companies to increase capital and expand business. Transactions based on this model are concluded for the sake of fundamentally new opportunities for the growth of the company, as well as strengthening the core business and increasing the profitability of the company.

Based on our analysis of our M&A model, we concluded that a takeover of Severstal by EVRAZ would not be appropriate. A merger would be preferable as EVRAZ’s market capitalization is lower than that of Severstal. This is due to the price of shares on the stock exchange. To analyze merger-acquisition models, you need to understand the main objectives of the transaction and the search criteria for a potential transaction object.

What do you think helped you get into the top 10 teams in the world at the Olympiad?

Team motivation. We wanted to be in the top ten so we could fly to London and compete against the best teams in the world. Delegation of tasks also played an important role. Each of us tried our best and brought quality results to the work.

What difficulties did you face during the Olympiad? What have you learned?

The main difficulty was the novelty of the project. The team and I had not come across such cases. We had to assess the value of the company, conduct in-depth financial analysis and study many indicators in order to come to the correct calculations and conclusions. It was necessary not only to solve the case, but also to analyze it correctly. We learned systematic and progressive approach.

How to find / create like-minded people to “move mountains” together?

The motivation and purpose of each of the team members is important. The most important factor is soft skills that we acquire while studying at the university. Like-minded people should be looked for in your area. My entire team consisted of classmates. We were all interested in this project, so there were no problems with the efficiency of the team.

How do you deal with anxiety before performances?

A work plan helps. I most often use a simple method: I take a piece of paper and write out points from A to Z. This is how I see the task in a more simplified way, and most importantly, I am not beating about the bush. With a plan, you know exactly what you are going to talk about. It is also important to be interactive to hold attention. This helps the overall mood of the performance. And you can also record the rehearsals of the performance — I correct myself, and the brain automatically perceives the situation as live.

If you look back, how have you changed during your studies at RUDN University?

I learned to take responsibility, build the right communications, overcome difficulties, learn a lot of things at once. This is where I grew up.

What quality do you value most in RUDN University?

RUDN University is a whole “pool” of the most valuable qualities for me. This is friendship, unity, continuous learning, work on oneself, support, and most importantly — feeling of comfort.

If RUDN were a person, what would you give as a birthday present?

It would be a national gift dear to my heart. I am a Turkmen, so I would give a canvas carpet with national ornaments and a figurine of the Akhal-Teke horse.