Entrepreneur and investor Dino Mariutti is applying the skills of his online MBA to his executive role at a European electric motorcycle startup.
But his love for all things mechanical is more than just a hobby for Dino. An innovative entrepreneur, he has founded several startups, including a head-up display system that alerts you to incoming phone calls in front of your moving vehicle.
He currently uses his expertise and passion for the fast-paced industry to lead the EU operations of Damon Motorcycles, a Canadian-born electric motorcycle startup.
We spoke to Dino to hear how his online MBA journey strengthened his business vision.
Why already successful entrepreneurs need an MBA
With a background in mechanical engineering and computer science, Dino has a keen eye for all things technical.
“I knew in my early 20s that this business path was for me,” he says, adding that growing up in the family business instilled in him an ambitious mindset.
He has founded and advised several start-up companies, but always faced obstacles due to his lack of formal business expertise.
As a computer science major, he quickly realized that his programming expertise limited his progress.
“When you hire people for a startup, they don’t necessarily know the depth of the business,” he says.
He pursued an MBA degree because he knew that having the business tools to apply the knowledge he already had could make a huge difference in his career.
He said that instead of being afraid of failure, he wanted to embrace it and learn what factors lead to mistakes in business.
Looking for an MBA program, he pursued an MBA in Global Management from University College London (UCL). Being able to study for his MBA degree on his own time and pace was a big draw for Dino's busy lifestyle and career.
The UCL MBA program can be studied online in as little as 24 months.
Tackle new skills with an online MBA
Dino wanted to tackle complex business problems head-on and UCL's Online MBA provided the perfect platform to do this.
Although the program is studied virtually, the MBA offers action-oriented courses. For Dino, standout courses included New Venture Creation, which takes students through the various steps of entrepreneurship.
I also worked hard on data analysis courses to hone my technical skills in core business areas. Meanwhile, another elective course allowed him to deepen his understanding of corporate sustainability.
“The MBA allowed me to explore a depth of business that I wouldn't necessarily get in the real world. It encouraged me to explore multiple career paths rather than focusing on one business role or area. ” he says.
It was also helpful to learn from my MBA classmates who worked at Fortune 500 companies.
Through a capstone project, students can work on a paper of their choice. Dino's topic focused on the future of motorcycles within the company.
“I wouldn't have known much about it.” [motorcycle] An industry without papers. ”
Promoting EU operations for innovative two-wheeler startups
With experience as a regional director for manufacturing company TM Engineering and as an investor in several start-up companies, Dino's business acumen went unnoticed.
The Damon Motorcycles founder first asked Dino if he was interested in investing in the startup and became one of the first investors.
He was then invited to become a member of the Board of Directors and subsequently promoted to Head of EU Operations. His role includes setting up the business in Europe, strategizing how to import motorcycles, establishing sales and distribution networks, and responding to policies and regulations.
“An MBA helps increase your ability to handle large workloads,” he says.
With no plans of slowing down anytime soon, Dino is also in the process of starting another company. Despite receiving multiple exciting offers, he chooses to pursue his own entrepreneurial passion.
“Some of the most valuable learnings are [from my MBA] “It’s a case study in incorporating tools and elements from class to avoid past mistakes,” he says.
As someone who was already a successful entrepreneur and investor before earning his MBA, he says the online MBA program was critical to formalizing his business knowledge.
“When it comes to managing your business' finances, if you don't analyze your data or do enough research to make it more streamlined or efficient, you're not building a strong knowledge base. [in this area] It can cost the company a lot of money,” he added.
It's not just his MBA classes that have helped him navigate his career, but he also relies on the wisdom of the UCL MBA network, with whom he keeps in regular contact.
“It's nice to have a support network available whenever you need it. Their advice can solve a variety of business problems,” he concludes.
