Name: Khadijeh Rahmani
Course of study and graduation year: Full-Time MBA / 2020
Current role: Founder and Managing Director
Business or organisation name: AIO App Limited
- Tell us about your journey so far?
Having always worked besides my higher education studies and driven by my compassion, I am honoured in sharing my knowledge and experience gained by working over 10 years at various multinational companies in different countries worldwide and studying Bachelor in Business Management and two Master’s Degrees at well-recognised places including Abu Dhabi University, University of Birmingham, and Aston University. At Aston University, I was recognised and nominated as the MBA Student of the Year 2020 for The AMBA & BGA Excellence Awards.
Before I started my entrepreneurial journey and set up my business, AIO App in August 2020, I worked in different industries including education, service industry, IT, construction, and food & beverage in different capacities from senior administrator, project coordinator, business development, to project manager.
As a Managing Director at AIO App and as part of my achievements so far, I secured grants and funds for some projects, was a semi-finalist at The Pitch, the biggest UK’s pitching competition, nominated for the Women in Tech Awards for the Start-up Founder Award category, became a finalist of Birmingham Awards for Start-up of the Year category, etc.
As part of my bigger career goal, I established my management consultancy firm in February 2021 in which in a short time I have expanded my team and the business has been growing quite well.
From my journey so far, I am proud to say that my progressions are a result of my growing personal strengths, work ethics, being a solution-oriented, and looking at things as opportunities and not as threats. And no doubt my supportive family.
- Why did you decide to do an MBA?
Prior joining MBA programme, my studies inBusiness Management, Marketing, and International Business, equipped me with wealth of knowledge and skills, resulted in making rapid career progression. But then, my ultimate career goal has always been to start my entrepreneurial journey and I believed an MBA was a great way to explore my desired horizon. I knew earning an MBA signifies my desire to move up the ladder and arms me with practical leadership and advisory skills to set up my own business and really be able to make a difference by the time I complete the programme.
- Why did you decide to study at Aston Business School?
When I searched for a university to study MBA, I was looking for a well-regarded business school preferably in Birmingham, the city I was very much familiar with and more importantly I knew Birmingham would be a strong hub for starting a business from scratch. I was also keen to enrol into a university which offers students entrepreneurial support. MBA programme offered by Aston Business School ticked all my boxes, in addition that it became more affordable when I was awarded with the Global Ambassador Scholarship.
- What was the highlight of your MBA experience?
I would say the experience itself was the best part; the real-world experienceI gained through practicums, field experience courses, projects, and more.These enabled me to advance my leadership capabilities and qualities. It was also a privilege that I met MBA like-minded colleagues and mentors, who we are now collaborating and partnering on different professional platforms.
- How has the Aston MBA helped your career?
Aston MBA highly strengthen my entrepreneurial skills and knowledge and boosted my confident in starting my business, even during COVID-19 pandemic which brought lots of uncertainties to almost everyone and every business. Through Aston MBA including my MBA research project, incredible networks I made, and Aston faculty, I was able to create jobs for myself. This is my learning from MBA project supervisor, who taught me that MBA graduates can create jobs for themselves. In addition to my primarily role as the Managing Director at AIO App, I have been providing consultancy services and expanding my team in which among them there are Aston MBA alumni, too.
- How has the Aston MBA helped your business?
Aston MBA and its community which included my peers, career consultants, faculty, and alumni helped me in developing and evaluating my business plan, marketing campaigns, financial projections, and pitching–all of which shaped a strong foundation for the business. The programme also enhanced my capabilities and confident in running my own business so much that when the Co-founder at my business left the business at the early stage, I never doubted that I cannot scale my business on my own. Any of these would have not happened without the life experiences gained throughout Aston MBA.
- What is next on the career horizon for you?
I desire to expand AIO App across the UK and then gradually internationalise it and by offering innovative and revolutionary solutions around QR code system such as scanning one code and getting a few functions completed-All in One. I am also building my Holding Company, which is my top desired career goal; a parent company which will have various child companies operating at various sectors, both companies for profit and non-profit.
- What advice would you give to someone looking to start or run their own business?
A golden time is the time when you have not officially started your business, yet. Read, search, and research about your business ideas at utmost level. Ask yourself how passion you are about starting your business. You cannot always go very strategic or systematic way, so be flexible. Be resilient; there will be times you feel everything in your business is failing, that is the time you can make it a great success by remaining positive and focused to analyse the obstacles. Last but not the least, never RUN OVER others to achieve your goals, instead remain humble and good to people. Develop strong work ethics and positive working environment. Have fun and always keep in your calendar no-working time! Your wellbeing should be your top priority.