Ben Van Der Burg
OneMBA Class of 2008, RSM
WebAds, The Netherlands
Product Director
Note: Ben won a silver medal in the 1990 World Allround Speed Skating Championship in Innsbruck, Austria.
Career Goal
My goal is to become the guru of digital marketing. I am currently responsible for developing new forms of targeted advertising for mobile phones and digital TV. I believe that creating innovative advertising opportunities for digital products will help consumers save on their media costs – and that’s my passion.
Why an MBA?
I don’t have a typical business background! After an injury ended my career as a speed skater, I started my own television production company producing travel and sports shows around the world. I eventually decided that I was more interested in the Internet than TV, so I joined a high-tech company to bring new digital products to market. Since my university education was in the Arts, I was preparing business proposals based on gut instinct. I wanted to earn an MBA to provide me with the theoretical background to verify my business instincts.
Why OneMBA?
The Netherlands is very small country, and I wanted to learn more about the world. Plus, my company is expanding into other countries. I considered other global MBA programs in France and Spain. But, when I talked with the director of the OneMBA Program at RSM, I found the program I was looking for.
OneMBA’s once-a-month class schedule was very attractive. But more important, OneMBA teaches more than standard MBA skills. Of course, we learn analysis, but we also learn about cultural values around the world and how it affects the way we do business. This learning is promoted by working with teammates who are located all over the world and by visiting them to explore local business issues first hand. I’ve found all the people in my OneMBA class to be passionate – which I think is a key to success.