Handan Ozbay Balioglu

Why did you choose to go back to school for an MBA? And why did you choose RSM?

As a food engineer with 15 years’ experience across quality, food safety and operational excellence, I've always enjoyed challenging the status quo and helping teams perform at their best. Over time, I realised that I want to lead larger operations and contribute to business decisions at a broader level. An MBA felt like the perfect way to sharpen my strategic thinking, strengthen my finance and supply chain knowledge, and prepare for my next step.

As an expat in the Netherlands, I knew that an MBA also offered a great opportunity to expand my network and connect more deeply with the local business community. RSM was the sweet spot for me: a world-class MBA that was both accessible and compatible with my career and personal life. What really won me over was its holistic approach. I wasn't looking for a school that would only make me a better business professional; I wanted one that would help me become a better leader and a better version of myself.

RSM's strong focus on personal leadership development immediately resonated with me. As someone who believes that sustainable business results start with self-awareness and great people leadership, I felt right at home. Add an international cohort, diverse perspectives and strong ties to the Dutch business ecosystem, and it felt like the perfect launchpad for my next chapter.
 

How is the Executive MBA preparing you to do business in an uncertain world?

The Executive MBA is teaching me that uncertainty is not something to fight against; it's something to learn how to dance with. That's why I chose electives like Strategic Negotiations, Managing Corporate Turnarounds, Finance for Decision Making and Strategic Supply Chain Management. They are giving me practical tools and frameworks, and the confidence to stay calm, make decisions with incomplete information and navigate complexity. 

But the most unexpected lesson came from our study trip to Cape Town, focused on Leading Business in Complexity. It challenged me to see the world through different lenses, confront difficult historical realities, reflect on my own identity and think about the role we play in shaping the future. 

If I had to summarise my MBA journey in one sentence, it would be this: to stand strong in uncertainty, keep your mind cool and your heart warm. My electives help me develop the cool mind: the ability to stay analytical, structured and resourceful when navigating difficult decisions. Cape Town helped me develop the warm heart: staying open, empathetic, authentic and connected to something bigger than myself, even when the path ahead is unclear. 

For me, that's what future leadership looks like. 
 

How would you describe your RSM EMBA experience so far?

In a few words: transformational, challenging, rewarding and sometimes beautifully uncomfortable. I have always seen myself as ambitious, driven and focused on achieving results. But I also value my cheerful energy, curiosity and free spirit. The RSM EMBA has never asked me to choose between those sides of myself. Instead, it has challenged me to bring them together and discover how they can strengthen my leadership. 

From a business perspective, I have made significant progress in building my management toolkit and broadening my understanding of strategy, finance, supply chains and organisational leadership, which is directly relevant to moving into a broader operational leadership role. 

What has surprised me most, however, is the personal journey. The EMBA is not only about learning how to manage a business but also about developing self-awareness to lead myself first. 

A defining moment was the Life Journey assignment we completed just before the Cape Town study trip. It forced me to look directly at the experiences, beliefs and stories that shaped my identity. Then Cape Town expanded my perspective on leadership, humanity and my role in the world in ways I had not anticipated. 

Looking ahead, I feel excited about what is still to come. One question that has stayed with me throughout this journey is a simple but powerful one: "Who am I?" The RSM EMBA has given me the courage, awareness and curiosity to keep exploring it.
 

What has been the most inspiring or challenging assignment or course during the EMBA so far? How did it challenge you?

Two experiences stand out. The first was the Life Journey assignment. At first, it sounded like one of the easier assessments, but it became one of the most challenging and rewarding. Looking back at the highs and lows of my life, revisiting both successful and difficult moments, and connecting them to the values, beliefs and identity I carry today required a level of honesty I hadn't expected. The process was emotionally intense. The greatest outcome was not the grade but the opportunity to redefine and better understand myself. That level of self-awareness is something I will carry far beyond the MBA. 

The second was our Strategic Management group assignment. We focused on a real strategic challenge that my company, Oatly, faces and applied frameworks and tools to develop a practical roadmap. What made the project particularly exciting was its relevance. This was not a theoretical case study; it addressed a real business need. More importantly, the work continues to influence how I think about strategy and shape my own career journey. 

These two assignments challenged me in different ways. One asked me, "Who are you?" The other asked, "What impact can you create?" For me, that combination captures the essence of the RSM EMBA experience.
 

How have you applied new knowledge and skills from both inside and outside of the classroom in your current role?

Learning to approach improvement initiatives in a more structured and strategic way is one of the biggest benefits. Project management and continuous improvement were already familiar territory. What has changed is my ability to connect improvement projects much more deliberately to business strategy and financial outcomes. I now spend more time ensuring that improvement roadmaps are not only operationally sound but also clearly linked to value creation. 

The frameworks and tools from the EMBA have helped me build stronger business cases, translate operational improvements into financial impact, and create greater ownership among project leaders. As a result, conversations have shifted from "What are we improving?" to "Why does it matter, what value will it create, and how will we measure success?" 

The leadership development elements have also influenced how I work with people. I have become more conscious of when to coach, when to challenge, and when to step back and allow others to take ownership. That balance has made me a more effective leader and has strengthened the impact of the teams I work with. The greatest learning has not been a completely new tool or framework but how to use my knowledge with greater purpose, connecting operational excellence, financial performance and people leadership into one coherent approach. That's where the EMBA has made the biggest difference.
 

What impact does the Personal Leadership Development (PLD) component of the programme have on you?

The PLD component has been the soul of the EMBA experience for me. Throughout my career, I have invested a lot of energy in helping others grow. I didn't expect how much PLD would encourage me to turn that same curiosity inward. 

One quote from Brené Brown reflects what I experience in PLD: "What we know matters, but who we are matters more." The programme taught me that leadership is not about becoming the leader you think you should be. It is about having the courage to understand who you already are and leading from that place with authenticity. 

Through the Life Journey assignment, coaching conversations, reflection exercises and Cape Town experience, I learned that you cannot truly flourish in an environment where you cannot be yourself. PLD gave me the confidence to embrace my own voice, trust my instincts and stop trying to fit into someone else's definition of leadership. 

This has made me a more intentional leader. I listen more deeply, coach more consciously, and focus on creating the conditions for others to thrive. Rather than feeling the need to have all the answers, I am more comfortable asking meaningful questions, creating psychological safety and helping people discover their own potential. 
 

How are you planning to create impact through business or in your organisation? 

I want to create impact by expanding my sphere of influence and helping people unlock more of their own potential. Throughout my career, I have seen that sustainable business results rarely come from processes alone. They come from people who feel empowered, trusted and connected to a shared purpose. 

My ambition is to create environments where people feel safe to be themselves, challenge ideas, learn and grow. I see myself as a bridge builder, connecting different functions, perspectives, cultures and ways of thinking that might not naturally meet. 

At a personal level, my purpose is simple: to help people recognise their potential and find the courage to turn that potential into performance. I find tremendous energy in helping others grow beyond what they thought was possible. At the same time, I believe impact must be measurable. Great intentions alone do not create value. 

The EMBA has strengthened my ability to connect people development with business outcomes. If I can help build organisations where people thrive, collaboration flourishes and ambitious business goals are achieved with energy and purpose, then I know I am creating the kind of impact that matters most to me. Ultimately, I believe the best results happen when serious business objectives and genuine human growth move in the same direction. My goal is to help make that happen.
 

What has been the highlight of the EMBA experience for you?

The people. Every person I met at RSM brought an entirely different universe into the room. Different cultures, different industries, different life stories, different dreams.

What surprised me most is that behind all the impressive titles and achievements, I found something deeply human. Moments of honesty. Vulnerability. Curiosity. A willingness to learn and grow together. Those moments stayed with me far more than any slide deck or framework. I started the EMBA hoping to expand my business perspective but my perspective on people expanded too.

Looking forward, the greatest gift of this journey will be the relationships I have built. Not simply a professional network, but genuine connections with people whose paths I believe will continue to intersect with mine for years to come. People who challenged me, inspired me, supported me and helped me see parts of myself that I might not have discovered alone. Because, in the end, the most meaningful parts of any journey are who you become along the way and who you get to share that journey with.
 

How have you utilised the alumni network so far?

Honestly, I haven't tapped into the alumni network as much as I would like to yet. Between a full-time job, an EMBA and a very energetic seven-year-old at home, my calendar occasionally looks like a strategic turnaround case study in itself! That said, I see the RSM alumni community as one of the most valuable parts of this journey, and I'm looking for opportunities to create more space for it. For now, I'm focusing on surviving, thriving and graduating. The networking chapter is definitely still being written.

Has your MBA journey changed your outlook on your career? If so, how?

Yes, it has. Before starting the EMBA, I had ambition and a general sense of direction. Today, that direction feels much clearer and more intentional. A big part of that clarity came through the coaching and leadership development elements of the programme. 

Conversations with my leadership coach helped me move beyond simply asking "What's next?" and start asking "What kind of impact do I want to create, and where can I be at my best?" One of the most important insights has been recognising that I am energised by leading people, driving transformation and influencing systems at a broader scale. As a result, I have become more deliberate about prioritising my career development within my current organisation and preparing myself for a larger operational leadership role. 

The EMBA has not completely changed my career aspirations. Rather, it has sharpened them. It gave me the language, the confidence and the self-awareness to translate ambition into a realistic path forward. I may not have every detail mapped out yet, but I have a much clearer understanding of who I am as a leader, what motivates me and where I can create the greatest value. That sense of alignment is incredibly energising.
 

How is an EMBA from RSM setting you apart from your colleagues and peers?

The RSM EMBA has expanded my perspective and strengthened my ability to connect people, strategy and business performance. Through the combination of academic insights, leadership development and an incredibly diverse cohort, I have become a more well-rounded leader. I am better equipped to see the bigger picture, navigate complexity and create value across functions and disciplines.

Most importantly, the programme has increased my confidence in bringing together strong business thinking and a people-centred leadership approach. That combination will continue to serve me throughout my career and help me create meaningful impact wherever I lead.