Meet Manassé, graduate of International Business Management

Read how Manassé’s experiences as an international student shaped his vision - to become a business owner. Find out how the pieces fell into place for Manassé in determining his successful career.

And let his story inspire you.

Manassé, tell us about your business, Momentum Consulting.

We started the business in 2022. The original concept was to support companies with the development of business and financial plans. Since then, we’ve diversified. Clients began to ask for more and so we’ve accommodated this. Now we also help companies with marketing plans and digital content creation, building websites and general business consultancy.

Where did this idea to start your business develop from?

During my studies I had to work to support myself. First of all, I began working in construction and I took an interest in the finances of the project I was working on: how important the allocation of resources are to make a project profitable. Later I worked in the weekends for a small financial institution that helped consumers arrange loans. This introduced me to credit analytics and when I was in my second year at KdG I met a fellow student who shared the same interest. I was already keen to start offering credit advice to people – my own little venture - but the business didn’t take off because my friend was more risk averse! That spark though, that idea… was the blueprint for my business.

To take you back further, my interest in business was already growing when I was at high school. I developed a natural interest in economics and what makes businesses tick. Finance is an instrument of change. So let’s use it! I’m fascinated by how we can create opportunities through the effective management and investment of finance.

Hence why you chose this subject at university?

Exactly. I realized at school that I had an affinity with this subject, so I chose to study economics and economic policy at university. But I first attended a research university and that was a challenge. The course was too theoretical for me, and there were extended periods between assessments. I wasn’t enjoying it, so in my second year I began to explore a new route.

So next stop KdG?

Yes. I know myself and I always have to be true to myself. I needed to be hands on, and I found this with KdG’s international business programme. Also, I couldn’t just quit. If I’d quit university without having planned to start a new course, I wouldn’t have gone back to studying. So, I chose KdG: practise over theory; regular feedback and exams. And the international perspective that I really connected with.

And what were the key moments in your studies?

This is where it gets interesting and where the international aspect really kicked in. We got the opportunity in the second year to choose a study trip abroad. There were several options, including London which is where my friends wanted to go. But I had a different calling, and that was Singapore. I’d never been to Asia before, so I thought: I’ll learn more there. It was a very strong gut instinct. I felt I had to go there.

I was only in Singapore for two weeks! But it opened my eyes to the wider world. And I’ll always remember the one lesson that changed my life. It was given by an Australian lecturer, and it was about the story of modern Singapore. Of how this state went from nothing to being a first world success story in just 50 years. If you don’t already know it, look it up! It was a lesson in leadership and courage and of the bold and wise investment of finance into infrastructure, education, and anti-corruption.

This was a story about the power of economics being used effectively. It made a permanent impression on me and helped to cement my determination not just to pursue a career in Finance but to make my own mark.

And your experience there took you back to Asia?

Yes, because of this new outlook and my interest in how finance can make a positive change, I decided to do my exchange programme in Vietnam. I chose this option because Vietnam was and is a developing country which I thought would offer new insights. I knew Europe and Africa, but this was a new region with different economic dynamics, where I knew I’d learn and benefit from fresh perspectives. And I did!

This experience was unforgettable, and I sincerely hope that KdG continues to offer students like me the chance to spend time abroad in new environments. All this inspired me to do what I do now: to develop a real passion for the world of finance and economics and see the subject not just in a two-dimensional way, but as a way of making a positive change. 

How are you making a positive change?

We help to unlock individuals’ and businesses’ potential. Through coaching and consultancy and now with more specialized support in the world of digital marketing, we’re able to guide companies towards sustainable growth. Not everyone who starts a business, or wants to start a business, has the expertise as well as the passion. People need that support and empowerment.

In what ways did your time at KdG prepare you for the work you do now?

As already mentioned, this is where I had the most inspiration to pursue my finance career and to develop my entrepreneurial ambition. In addition to the skills that I got to practice, I would say the international aspect was key: wider perspectives and seeing the potential within the world of business on a global scale. Personal circumstances and an increased self-awareness combined with this international experience and practical knowledge. And that gave me my direction.

What advice would you give to new KdG students?

• Always be honest with yourself and trust your instinct.
• Find what interests you the most and what you’re good at.
• Put the same level of energy into everything you do. Be committed to what you believe in and are passionate about. And treat everyone, no matter who they are, with the same level of energy and respect.

What’s next for you, Manassé?

We’re currently a team of 5 and I see that doubling in the next two years as by then we will be approaching our €1 million turnover target. Longer term, I have a goal to help businesses in developing areas such as in Africa, which truly need a launch pad for sustainable growth. But before I get there, I’m patiently building up credentials here at home and gaining essential experience guiding businesses.

The story of Singapore remains though! Having the expertise and vision to invest in the right areas. That still drives me to help make a positive difference.