Student Profile

Esra Ugurlu

Why did you decide to take Disruptive Strategy?

As someone who is still in the relatively early stages of her career, I wanted to educate myself more about strategy management. Considering the quality and the prestige of Harvard, it was the first place I looked for course offerings. Disruptive Strategy was a wonderful fit for me given that I am currently working in Turkey, and an online course was convenient. Professor Christensen is the expert in the field, and I would not be able to have a better educational experience anywhere else.

My certificate gives me a competitive advantage and the opportunity to contribute to the success of my company in a unique way. Moreover, a Harvard certificate opens new doors wherever I choose to work in the world, whether it be the USA or Turkey.

What did you find most insightful about the course?

Professor Christensen's theories are broken down into such simple pieces and concepts that they are easy to grasp and apply to the real world. The case studies chosen are right to the point and create wonderful examples for the theories taught. The most productive feature of this course is the ability provided to learn through the cohort. It is very insightful to read classmates' comments and assignments, which enables me to look into the same question from a different angle.

How do you plan to apply what you've learned in Disruptive Strategy to your career?

I work as a Business Development Manager, so the nature of my job is to be constantly on the lookout for new strategies that will improve our business and profits. The concepts I learned in the course will help me to identify and analyze strategies in a healthier way. I feel more equipped to examine the new ideas and decide which will create the best value and most profit for the business.