MBA Insider: A Day In The Life January 15, 2008, 5:36PM EST

Finding Markets for Steel

A Rotterdam MBA describes her workday at the London offices of multinational steel company ArcelorMittal

Sheela Pawar de Groot
ArcelorMittal
Erasmus University (Rotterdam)
MBA class of 2006

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I currently work in a brand new department at ArcelorMittal (MT), the world's largest steel company, so my job responsibilities are constantly being defined as needs arise. Currently I develop analytical market entry briefs on socioeconomic and political situations in developing countries, seeking opportunities for us to do business. Our products range from steel tubes used to make radiators in your house to highly advanced steel solutions like Arsolar, a steel roofing that acts as an advanced solar panel for energy generation. We have activities in upstream business (mining) and downstream (distribution) and continue to grow daily both organically and through acquisitions.

After graduating from Erasmus University's Rotterdam School of Management, I joined the ArcelorMittal MBA development program, in which I was required to rotate twice within the organization within the first five years. I am now on my second rotation, working as a manager for international affairs. Previously I worked in strategic marketing in Rotterdam, where I concentrated on international trade issues and export marketing. Through both of my roles at ArcelorMittal I have had extensive opportunities to travel globally to better understand our production processes, to build lasting relationships with key stakeholders, and to experience the markets in which we operate. This is one of the biggest perks of the job! I now work in London, where most of the senior management is located. ArcelorMittal is headquartered in Luxembourg.

Here's a typical day:

7:15 a.m. I wake up, get ready for work, and eat breakfast. I live in West London and it takes about 40 minutes to get to work.

8:55 a.m Arrive at the office. Our office is in Mayfair, central London, which is a perfect location to commute to from anywhere in London. I take the bus or tube to and from work to Oxford Street and then walk the remaining distance. It's nice to walk for 15 minutes through the streets of London—you can feel the energy of the city all around you.

9 a.m. Read through my e-mails. We work in a global business operating in more than 60 different countries across almost half a dozen time zones. I receive a lot of e-mails during the evening from Asia and the Americas.

10:30 a.m. Develop an analytical brief (including political, economic, and social indicators) for the CEO. He meets often with high-ranking political and business figures in markets where we operate (or would like to start operating) and needs to be fully informed of the situation on the ground in that country. Often we look to develop new investments in markets that are underdeveloped. The analytical briefs that I put together look at the country as a whole: its level of development, the political environment, policy agendas, competitive behavior, and opportunities for us not only to invest in the country, but also to provide a positive impact on the communities where we operate. By taking the development needs of the country into account and highlighting them for our company's top delegates, we can use this information to negotiate more effectively with governments and NGOs in order ensure successful acquisitions.

12:30 p.m. Head down to the Pret à Manger with a colleague to grab some lunch and head back to the office.

1:00 p.m. Continue with the analytical brief—gathering input from other departments to fully grasp all information available. We are a very large company, and information flow is slow at times. That's why this fact-finding and working with other departments is essential.

2:00 p.m. Team conference call. We have dedicated international affairs teams in Canada, the U.S., Brussels, and London.