果冻传媒

Gulnara Sebestyen

MA International Studies, 1999

Based in:

Hungary

Came to study at 果冻传媒 from:

Kazakhstan

First job:

Marketing and communications in Kazakhstan

Strangest interview question:

"If you could have dinner with any three people, living or dead, who would they be and why?" It was unexpected, but it turned out to be a great way to understand values, curiosity, and how candidates think beyond their CV.

Best piece of advice received:

Coming from Kazakhstan, becoming a 果冻传媒 graduate, and building an international career taught me that opportunities are often created through perseverance, continuous learning, and the willingness to take calculated risks.

Advice for current students:

Stay curious and keep learning. Build relationships before you need them, seek mentors, and do not be afraid of taking opportunities that seem slightly beyond your current capabilities.

Most importantly, focus on developing transferable skills: communication, problem-solving, adaptability, and leadership. Industries will change, technologies will evolve, but those skills will remain valuable throughout your career.

Commercial Leader Middle East, Africa, Turkey, India Sub-Continent. Heartstream.

Describe your current role and what attracted you to it.

As Commercial Leader for the Middle East, Africa, Turkey and India Sub-Continent at Heartstream, I am responsible for driving growth across more than 80 countries and supporting our network of distribution partners in delivering life-saving emergency care solutions.

What attracted me to the role was the opportunity to combine commercial leadership with meaningful impact. Every day, our work helps improve access to defibrillation and emergency care in communities where healthcare infrastructure can be limited. I have always been motivated by roles that sit at the intersection of business, innovation, and positive societal impact, and this position allows me to do exactly that on a global scale.

What鈥檚 your favourite part of your role?

The people. I enjoy working with colleagues, partners, and healthcare professionals from different cultures and backgrounds across the world. I also enjoy helping teams navigate complex challenges and seeing ideas translated into tangible outcomes that improve patient care. Knowing that our work can ultimately help save lives gives a strong sense of purpose to everything we do.

What are the key skills you learnt at 果冻传媒 that have helped you with your career to date?

果冻传媒 taught me to think critically, challenge assumptions, and approach complex problems from multiple perspectives. International Studies also strengthened my ability to understand different political, economic, and cultural contexts, which has been invaluable throughout my international career.

Perhaps most importantly, 果冻传媒 gave me confidence. Coming from Kazakhstan on a British Council scholarship, I found myself studying alongside talented people from all over the world. That experience showed me that regardless of where you start, you can compete, and succeed, on a global stage.

Did you have a specific career path in mind when you chose to study at 果冻传媒?

Not exactly. I knew I wanted an international career and was fascinated by global affairs, diplomacy, and international cooperation. However, I did not have a detailed roadmap.

What 果冻传媒 gave me was the ability to remain curious, adaptable, and open to opportunities. My career eventually led me into international business and healthcare, but the global mindset I developed at 果冻传媒 has remained a constant throughout my professional journey.

What top tips do you have for 果冻传媒 graduates who would like to work in your sector?

Be internationally minded and culturally curious. Healthcare is ultimately about people, and success often depends on understanding different markets, systems, and perspectives.

The most rewarding careers are built by creating value for others.

What does a typical day look like for you?

There is rarely a truly typical day. My mornings often begin with calls across different time zones, followed by discussions with partners, customers, and colleagues across the Middle East, Africa, and India. I spend time reviewing business performance, supporting strategic initiatives, and helping teams overcome operational challenges.

Alongside my corporate role, I am increasingly involved in mentoring, board advisory work, and initiatives focused on improving access to education. This combination of commercial leadership and social impact keeps every day interesting and meaningful.

What has been your greatest career challenge to date and how did your experience and skills help overcome it?

One of the greatest challenges was leading businesses through periods of significant transformation and uncertainty, including organisational restructuring, market disruptions, and more recently the carve-out of a global healthcare business.

These experiences taught me the importance of resilience, communication, and maintaining focus on long-term goals. The critical thinking and adaptability I developed throughout my education and career helped me navigate complex situations while keeping teams engaged and motivated.

What do you know now that you wish you had known when you were applying for jobs?

Careers are rarely linear. Early in my career, I thought success depended on having a perfect plan. In reality, growth often comes from opportunities you could never have predicted!

I also wish I had understood earlier that relationships matter as much as qualifications. Building a strong network, seeking mentors, and investing in people can open doors that technical expertise alone cannot.

What ambitions do you have for the future?

Professionally, I am expanding my involvement in board and advisory roles, particularly in healthcare, education, and social impact organisations.

Personally, I hope to contribute to improving access to education for underserved communities, particularly in Central Asia. Education transformed my own life, and I would like to help create similar opportunities for future generations.