When you meet Paul Huberts, what stands out immediately is how naturally he connects different worlds. Born in Vienna, raised in Budapest, and having studied in Miami, Madrid, and Singapore before settling in Lisbon, his life has been a constant exercise in adapting to new cultures and perspectives. Today, as Business Operations Manager at RemoFirst, he draws on that global background to bridge operations and product strategy, helping companies scale remote teams across borders.
Paul describes himself in three words: analytical, adaptable, and collaborative, and each of them seems to have been shaped by his international journey. His analytical mindset allows him to tackle complex operational challenges with data driven decisions, while adaptability comes from years of moving across countries and learning new languages. Collaboration, meanwhile, is at the heart of how he operates: aligning stakeholders, balancing priorities, and driving results across regions and functions.
It was this combination of qualities that led him to Singapore and the SMU Master of Science in Management (MIM). Having completed his BBA, Paul was ready to go beyond a broad business foundation and dive deeper into technical and strategic expertise. “I wanted strong Asian exposure paired with global relevance,” he recalls. “Singapore, as a crossroads of business innovation, was the perfect hub, and SMU offered exactly the academic rigor and international perspective I was seeking.”
The programme delivered on multiple fronts. It sharpened his analytical toolkit, particularly in business analytics and data driven decision making, skills that he now applies daily in his role at RemoFirst. It also broadened his approach to strategy, pushing him to think beyond a Western framework and to incorporate global dynamics. Just as importantly, the MIM emphasized leadership and teamwork, preparing him to manage diverse groups, align stakeholders, and communicate effectively across cultures.
But what Paul values most from his SMU experience are the softer skills. Stakeholder management and negotiation have become indispensable in his professional toolkit. “In my role, I often sit at the intersection of multiple priorities: clients, employees, partners, and internal teams,” he explains. “The MIM taught me how to balance these perspectives and create outcomes where everyone feels engaged.” Negotiation, too, is a near daily practice, whether securing better terms with delivery partners or aligning resources internally. The structured approach he learned at SMU, focusing on preparation, understanding motivations, and seeking value creating solutions, has enabled him to negotiate agreements that strengthen both relationships and business outcomes.
His time at SMU also opened doors. With the support of career services, Paul interned at Padang & Co, gaining firsthand exposure to Singapore’s vibrant startup ecosystem. The alumni network extended those opportunities even further, helping him build connections that later proved valuable when he transitioned back to Europe. “The MIM didn’t hand me opportunities directly,” he reflects, “but it gave me the access and platform to start creating them for myself. Those relationships continue to matter in my career today.”
Even though Paul is now focused on business operations, he still carries with him the entrepreneurial lessons of the MIM. Courses on pricing, finance, and operations, combined with the experience of pitching ideas and working in diverse teams, gave him a toolkit that applies not just to launching a venture but to building scalable systems and products in any context.
For future students aspiring to global careers, Paul’s advice is simple but powerful: immerse yourself in diverse projects, seek out experiences beyond the classroom that take you into new regions, and be intentional about building relationships. “If you approach the MIM year with a global mindset,” he says, “you’ll graduate with not only the skills but also the network to pursue opportunities across borders.”
Looking back, it is clear that the SMU MIM did not just close gaps in Paul’s education, it gave him a lens to view business through multiple cultural perspectives and the confidence to navigate them seamlessly. In Lisbon today, as he works with companies across continents, the lessons of Singapore remain at the heart of how he connects strategy, operations, and people in a truly global career.
