Michael Eberechukwu Obasi, CEO / Founder of Embassy Educational Consultancy, UK / Nigeria

Having built a successful business in the UK, Michael has now expanded into Nigeria and also found time to be a published author and motivational speaker.

"I am the last from a family of eight. My family are very passionate about education and this is evident from the way they promote educational activities in Nigeria.

In October 2004, I came to UK to study Business Management and joined ABE in March 2005 as a student member. After joining ABE my life changed for the better.

ABE has helped me to fulfil my dream of obtaining a sound academic career from UK higher education institutions and has also helped me to own my own business which is known as Embassy Educational Consultancy.　Presently, I am a motivational speaker, author, entrepreneur, educational consultant with over six years' experience in lecturing in international business, international marketing and management in the UK. I am the author of "Push and Pull Factor Book" which explores marketing strategies used by UK higher education institutions in attracting international students.

After a successful 10 year career in the United Kingdom, I returned to Nigeria in December 2014 where I got married to my beautiful wife Mrs Marvellous Ezinne Obasi. I also decided to benefit from Nigeria’s emerging market by establishing Embassy Educational Consultancy in Nigeria. In addition, I have started a Doctorate Degree programme (PhD) in Business Management with the prestigious Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Nigeria.~

I am the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Embassy Educational Consultancy which is one of the leading educational consultancies in the United Kingdom. It was established with the aim of offering academic advice and support to international students presently studying in the UK and those hoping to study abroad. The company is still small but with the aim of growing into a big business. The expansion into Nigeria is aimed at creating awareness with the intention of developing and establishing its branches in vital regions within the country.

The company’s main focus is to educate prospective students about UK higher education institutions, help them complete the institution’s application and ensure that they meet the criteria needed to obtain a UK student visa.  When the student finally arrives in the UK, the company helps to integrate them with UK way of learning. We plan to expand activities to include higher education in the United States, Canada, Australia and Finland.

My role as the founder and CEO of Embassy Educational Consultancy is to oversee the activities of the business by helping it to expand its operations. I am committed to developing it to become a household name across the world. I plan to achieve this by continuously learning new ways of doing things and being dynamic in the way I conduct my activities within an ever changing business environment.

I enjoy the fact that I am able to make a change in society by educating people about a better way of doing things and the right career path to follow. I also enjoy the fact that I am able to provide employment particularly to unemployed young people in Nigeria. My job provides me with the opportunity of practising what I studied in the UK especially the experience and sound education I obtained from ABE.

My career started at South Chelsea College, London, where I sat the ABE exams as a student member. I was highly impressed and motivated by the ABE syllabus. Having worked through the Levels, in the year 2007 I obtained my Advanced Diploma which enabled me to gain admission to the prestigious University of Wales where I graduated with a second class upper (2.1) in Business Management in October 2008.

After my graduation, I lectured briefly at London Academy for Higher Education which is now London Academy Business School. In 2009 I obtained a further Postgraduate Diploma in Strategic Management and then a Master of Business Administration from University of Sunderland. Later in 2013, I obtained a Master of Arts in Marketing and Innovation from Anglia Ruskin University together with an ABP Postgraduate Diploma from London School of Marketing.

Studying with ABE helped me to become the person that I am today. Without ABE, obtaining a degree in the UK would have been very difficult. ABE gave me the right foundation in life in terms of studying business management and owning a business. The advantages of ABE to me are too numerous to mention and I will always remain grateful to ABE for helping me to become a better person and also for the role it played in reshaping my future for the better.

For the present and prospective ABE students, my advice is to take the numerous advantages presented by ABE in building their career. Also take the course very seriously, study very well and attend classes in order to be able to understand the ABE content better. ABE is the best professional body I have ever come across and students should see it as the guaranteed gateway to obtaining UK degrees and qualifications."

Entrepreneurship in 10 steps, by Gareth Robinson

ABE CEO, Gareth Robinson, has many years’ experience as a Chief Executive and a Managing Director. Some time ago he shared his thoughts on the steps you need to take to start and grow a highly successful enterprise in his blog "Ten steps to help you become a great business leader". 

Here are his highly valued thoughts in an infographic.

How learning is changing my life - by Maria Koukou, digital marketer

My degree in computing topped up with analytics qualifications played a significant part in developing my career in digital marketing. To keep up with the latest trends in the industry, I seek courses that are well aligned with my educational background and working experience. 

Courses lead to professional qualifications and build strong skills. They provide a marker that you have achieved something and give you a different perspective on the way to do things. 

So far, constant learning has had a big impact on me:

• I manage myself and others around me more effectively
• I learned how to listen and be listened to 
• I am more aware of what I want to achieve
• I have become more methodical
• I have a better understanding of my environment 
• I can resolve issues better
• I am not afraid to make mistakes
• I know the importance of constructive feedback

The most important lesson I have learned is that learning is about doing and being, not just about knowing. Now, I can see the patterns in how I think and behave and how this affects my life. I have the confidence to decide which of those behaviours I want to keep and which ones are holding me back. 

Learning takes me out of my comfort zone showing me new paths of forward thinking and acting. I stopped letting my past defining my future and I constantly attain new goals. I now look at how I make choices and decisions and how I go about influencing the people who can bring my aspirations to life. 

You try it now: learn something new today and you’ll be surprised to see how confident, inventive and successful you can be.

Where is your business idea taking you?

If you are thinking of starting a new business, could it be the next disruptive force in the marketplace? Read this article by ABE’s digital marketing manager, Maria Koukou, for some great examples of how new business ideas can disrupt the established marketplace.

Business models are subject to rapid displacement, disruption, and, in extreme cases, outright destruction according to McKinsey Global Institute. Since 2000, more than half of the companies in the Fortune 500 have either gone bankrupt, been acquired or ceased to exist due to disruption.

But what is disruption? Clayton Christensen, Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School, first introduced the Theory of Disruptive Innovation to describe companies which shake up industries by discovering new segments of end users until the established competitors are displaced.

And how do companies thrive in the age of disruption?

A key response to disruption is to constantly innovate business models.

Professor Serguei Netessine from Singapore, revealed that only 5% of companies practice business model innovation and those that do not focus enough on their business models are more likely faced with disruption. For example, companies should be more aware about their customers’ behaviours and needs, otherwise someone else is going to directly address pain points matching the gap between customers’ wishes and what is being delivered to them.

Spotify offers the value of on-demand and interest based music that disrupts radio and Amazon wouldn’t have launched the Amazon Web Services if it didn’t believe that companies did not want to own their infrastructure. Airbnb uses the shared economy model finding a home for everyone around the world while on holiday, reframing the idea around accommodation; it took Airbnb four years to build an inventory of 900,000 rooms when Hilton Hotels after 93 years has reached 600,000 rooms globally.

Now.. how disruptive can your business idea be?

Suggested resources:

Capgemini Consulting

McKinsey Global Institute

Clayton Christensen

Gartner

ABE’s Business Start-up and Entrepreneurship qualifications can give you the know how to turn your innovative flare into business success. Click here to find out more.

Ten steps to help you become a great business leader

ABE CEO, Gareth Robinson, has many years’ experience as a Chief Executive and a Managing Director.  Here, he shares his thoughts on some of the steps you need to take to start and grow a highly successful enterprise.

1. Do some soul-searching
Spend some time reflecting on your beliefs, your passions, your intentions for your new venture, and what your ideal company would look like.

2. Pick the right type of business and do your research
Before starting a new venture consider not only the business itself, but the characteristics of the industry you're selecting. Evaluate the financials carefully - how much you stand to earn, and how other businesses in the sector are faring - before you make up your mind.

3. Figure out how much money you'll need
Make sure you do not invest more than you can personally afford.  Decide how much money you need to survive no matter what goes wrong? Also, don’t let your business fail through under investment.  You need to assess the capital you should have right from the start.

4. Hire the right people
"Business is like sports: the best team usually wins” so don’t think you have to do everything yourself.  Hire people you can rely on, whose skills will complement your own and bring a greater pool of talent to the business.

5. Create a winning culture
"Culture is a living organism that requires constant monitoring and shaping."  Make sure the culture of your organisation encourages innovation and is flexible enough to adapt to changing times.

6. Learn empathy
The ability to empathise with others doesn't just make you a better person, it also makes you better at business.

7. Find the metrics that matter most
Spend some time thinking through what success really looks like, and which numbers you need to move to really be successful.

8. Use incentives
Incentives are powerful ways to encourage the behaviour you want from all stakeholders, from employees to customers to suppliers.

9. Experiment in stages
Every industry, and every business, faces constant change, and you will need to keep changing if you want sustained success. DON’T BE AFRAID TO MAKE MISTAKES.

10. Keep your eye on the future
Running a successful company is a day-to-day challenge. It can be easy to lose sight of the long term, so make sure you have the time and mental space to think about where your business - and you - are heading.

A well-designed business qualification will give you the practical skills and know-how to start and run a business and get ahead in your career.  Lots of ABE graduates are now running their own businesses.  If you are one of them, share your thoughts.

Profile: How studying ABE helped learner, Jessica Reed, start her own business!

Hi Jessica. Tell us a bit about yourself:
I’m originally from Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire (UK) but moved to Shrewsbury to live with my dad nearly two years ago. Before studying with ABE I completed a Level 3 Business Admin course, also at Shrewsbury College.

Why did you choose to study ABE?
An ex-member of the college staff inspired me to stretch and challenge my business skills following on from my Business Admin course.

You’re studying at Shrewsbury College – what was your experience there like?
I’ve really enjoyed it. All the staff are very supportive and overall with the business course I found it to be a very immersive experience.

Tell us a bit about Churros City
Churros City is a small business that sells Churros, which is a Spanish dessert delicacy. We sell it at events, markets and food festivals.
My dad made an impulse purchase a few years ago and brought the majority of the equipment to make churros in an auction on eBay. When I joined the ABE course I dug around in the garage and realised that I had the start of a business.

Where did the idea for the name come from?
Churros City was just a bad pun that my dad came up with, ‘Satisfy your Churros City’, but it looks great as a logo and people seem to remember it.

Who else do you work with?
I work with my dad, his partner and a family friend.

Where are you based?
Churros City is based in Shrewsbury but we travel to various festivals and markets.

What sort of events have you catered for?
The biggest event we had done so far is The Green Gathering festival in Chepstow. We have also been at Beaumaris Food Festival, Oswestry Market, the Oswestry Christmas Fair and various fun days.

Where do you see the company going?
It’s only early days as I set Churros City up half way through 2014. This year I am looking to do more festivals and slowly grow the business. The business fits in a trailer so anything is possible. We are taking bookings if anyone out there is looking for something a bit different!

What skills have you gained from studying with ABE?
ABE has improved my skills massively. It’s taught me about many different business skills, which have helped enormously with my confidence when I am faced with challenges within the business.

How did studying ABE help you when starting Churros City?
ABE has specifically helped me get my business plan together, financial planning and develop a strategic marketing plan. On top of this my tutor Amelia has offered a lot of support from the beginning, which has been an amazing help. The other students on the course are also very supportive, sharing ideas and feedback as well as offering to be taste testers!

What is the best thing about studying with ABE?
The best thing about this ABE course is that it has helped with Churros City and that Churros City helps me with this ABE course.

What are your long-term career plans for the future?
I think it’s too early to say, but at the moment I am thoroughly enjoying both my study and my business. We will see where they take me!


You can find out more about Jessica's business from www.churroscity.co.uk


This interview first appeared in the May issue of ABE Members' magazine, Student Focus.