About Good Mark’s Study Guides
The idea for the Good Mark’s Study Guides came about when I was studying for my MBA at INSEAD. I had two problems; we covered a lot of material in a very short period of time and I realized that many years into the future, I would never be able to remember everything we learned.
The solution was to create summaries.
I created summaries for each of my subjects and used them to prepare for exams. I also use these summaries to refer back to what I studied at INSEAD.
The next step was to perfect the summaries with the help of my INSEAD professors and fellow MBA students, and to publish them as the Good Mark’s Study Guides.
It turned out that what worked for me, also works for other students. One INSEAD MBA student from the class of December 2009 wrote to me:
I discovered through the alumni site that you were the Mark of “Good Mark’s Study Guides”. I personally bought a few (finance, accounting and macro), some for reference and some for exam preparation (I actually studied the macro exam only with your guide – with good results and lots of time saved). I think it is a great product!
Now, several years later, we have study guides for a range of subjects, not all business or MBA related. The study guides are aimed at university students and offer summaries of the key theories, models, formulas, and definitions covered in first year courses.
The Study Guides for Students are available in downloadable PDF format.
We have also introduced another product, called Concept Cards for Professionals. The concept cards are available in a range of business related subjects. They are aimed at business professionals who have not studied these subjects before, but who would like to understand the key concepts. The focus is not on theory, but on intuitive explanations which will help you understand the concepts and apply them to your everyday business decisions.
The Concept Cards for Professionals are available as mobile apps for Apple and Android devices and in downloadable PDF format.
About Mark
I am originally from The Netherlands and after completing my high school education at the Kennemer Lyceum in The Netherlands, I moved to London to start university.
My first degree was a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from University College London. After completing this degree, I moved to the London School of Economics and Political Science to study for a Master of Science degree in Accounting & Finance.
I have had a diverse career so far; after completing my studies in London, I started my career at a boutique investment bank in London. I spent two years working in the Corporate Finance and M&A departments. After the bursting of the technology and Internet bubble, I decided to take some time off to travel in Asia. While in Singapore, I realized that there was hardly any suitable backpacker accommodation and, together with a university friend, decided to start the Betel Box Backpacker Hostel. Check it out here: www.betelbox.com
After leaving the Betel Box, I joined INSEAD to study for my MBA. After graduation, I joined the Bertelsmann Entrepreneurs Program. The Bertelsmann Entrepreneurs Program is a management development program at Bertelsmann AG sponsored and supported by the Bertelsmann AG Executive Board. I have completed the program and am currently the International Business Development Director for Arvato Services in China, based in Shanghai.
In my spare time, I continue to develop the Good Mark’s Study Guides. I work with professors and lecturers at different universities all around the world to create the content for the Good Mark’s Study Guides. I also work with freelance developers all over the world to develop new products and applications.