Ivan Obradovic

Tell us a bit about what you are currently doing.

I am the Founding Partner – Investments of VA Capital.

The firm is founded in Skopje, Macedonia and has investments across the following asset classes:
-    Global property;
-    US listed financial sector stocks; and
-    Tier 1 crypto.

We also provide financial and strategy consulting services to a selective group of exclusive international clients. Our objective is to stay agile and nimble, be efficient and high performing. We solve our client’s complex problems by applying the research and intelligence gained through our investment activities.

As Founding Partner – Investments, I am responsible for the key investment decisions and their execution. I also have ultimate responsibility to clients, and for the firm's branding, operational and administrative matters.

What made you want to embark on INSEAD’s Executive Master in Finance (EMFin) programme?

Studying at INSEAD has been a 10-year dream in the making. Ever since I was a Manager-grade professional, it has been one of my ambitions.

I believe INSEAD has no competition as the ‘business school for the world’. In my view the significant differentiators at INSEAD are firstly its global and international perspective, contrasted to a heavily weighted US-centric view, and secondly the uniqueness of its EMFin programme – a specialised finance programme tailored for senior level executives.

I feel the EMFIN is exactly what I require to elevate my practical knowledge of global capital markets, surround myself with energetic and like-minded peer support and enhance my confidence to launch VA Capital.
 

How has your actual INSEAD experience measured up?

I really, really love it.

My biggest takeaway is how explicitly tailored the EMFIN programme structure is, from the professors, to the support staff, campus, fellow classmates, lectures, readings, content, case studies, and group sessions, etc. Going through the experience I saw that significant and material effort, time, energy, and consideration had been invested by INSEAD, its faculty and support staff to ensure an unparalleled experience for students.

The programme feels like it has been constantly refined since inception and, in my view, gotten to a stage of near perfection.

I believe our professors are some of the most intelligent and experienced professionals on the planet. Their teaching of the curriculum is based on literally thousands of research hours. For example, Professor and Programme Director Massimo Massa, has authored and co-authored many papers and articles. He teaches with conviction and belief, based on the truths found through his numerous works.

My fellow classmates are hand-picked, very well-polished, and absolutely the right fit for this programme. 

Finally, the Singapore campus is beautiful and its staff very helpful and friendly. The city is extremely clean, organised and efficient. The lush green is a nice change from the desert surrounding Dubai!

What are your thoughts on EMFin’s programme structure?

I find the programme structure to be very effective for learning, development and networking.

There are six sets of two-week modules spread across an 18-month period. Five of the six modules are in Singapore, and one module is in Fontainebleau, France. Reading materials are made available to students several weeks prior to the commencement of each module. This enables students to prepare themselves and hit the ground running.

Module 1 and 2 are intensive. Each week comprises of six full days of classroom sessions, breakout sessions to dissect and debate case studies, submissions of individual and group assignments. We start each day with a team presenting a recap of the previous day’s lectures. Exam day wraps up Module 1 and 2.

The social activities are an amazing time to bond with classmates and faculty. For example, the programme opened with a welcome event and dinner. There were several outings and organised social events during the modules. And we had celebratory drinks after the exam sessions.

As classmates we stay in constant communication in-between the modules. We text, do calls, organise get-togethers and share life updates… one of our classmates got married shortly after Module 1!
 

How has the EMFin programme helped you with your work, and how do you see it contributing towards reaching your future goals?

There are many learnings from the programme that I have already applied to my work. The programme taught very practical investment and trading strategies for equity securities, some less-complex examples being trading around dividend dates and hedging price risk using derivatives. 

Another area of teaching was regarding the psychology of family-owned private businesses and the cognitive biases inhibiting them from maximising their net wealth. This has helped me have very valuable and objective interactions with potential clients that are high-net-worth families in Europe and the Middle East. 

As for the long-term, the impact of the programme on my future is a journey yet to be discovered and unlocked. I believe the broadening of my horizons will in time result in material value creation for VA Capital and our clients.
 

What was the application process for EMFin like?

I thoroughly enjoyed the application process. I believe it contributed to my change in career path and ultimately launching VA Capital. It commenced with an expression of interest from my side, which was responded to with information packs on INSEAD and the EMFIN programme so that I could familiarise myself in detail.

The second step was interaction with the programme recruitment team. I must say the recruitment team was phenomenal, extremely supportive, never pressuring or pushy, and were very responsive – throughout multiple channels of communication.

The third action was the online application. The application involved a compilation of information gathering, and responses to essays and queries. I took my time with the application, having largely completed it in early January 2024, revisiting it during the course of several months of personal reflection, and finally submitting it in May 2024.

The fourth action was a recorded interview during which several ad hoc questions were asked, requiring a response within a designated time limit.

The fifth action was an interview by a programme Alumnus.  

I was so thrilled to receive my acceptance in late June 2024. This was a significant milestone for me and my family, something that carries weight inter-generationally. 
 

Tell us about the scholarships you’ve received at INSEAD.

I am really thankful to be the recipient of two scholarships – the EMFin Scholarship for Diversity, and the EMFin Scholarship for Achievement.

The support takes a burden off my shoulders and makes me feel so welcome to the EMFIN programme.

I also believe the INSEAD brand adds significant rapport to students seeking financial aid through student loans, government grants or employer sponsorship.

Have there been any lightbulb moments for you while doing the EMFin programme?

I consider myself a very smart person with deep international practical experience in financial services. I also have multiple post-graduate qualifications. I thought I know it all, I had seen it all, but that’s until I sat in my first two weeks of class at INSEAD.

The biggest lightbulb moment? There were many: stay humble, life is about forever learning, I am not the smartest person in the room. Welcome to INSEAD!
 

Any advice for others considering taking up the EMFin programme?

It is extremely important to fully dedicate yourself to the experience. This is a material investment that you are making in yourself. Come ready, and isolate distractions such as your phone, emails and private matters – they can wait. Use the time and space to learn, exercise respect for yourself and demonstrate respect to your peers. The value of attending INSEAD and EMFin goes way beyond getting the next ‘better’ career move. 

Broaden your frame of mind because you don't go to INSEAD to just study finance. You go to INSEAD to change your life, to fulfil your potential, and to do good in the world.