Before I started the Full-time MBA, I was working with Jones Lang LaSalle. This is a professional services firm that specialises in real estate consultancy, advisory and investment management.
For the first 2 years, I worked as a project management consultant. In this role I delivered real estate consultancy and due diligence assignments for clients such as Barclays, Google, WPP and Morgan Stanley. I then transitioned from the delivery to the business team, where I managed the Business Development Manager and Profit & Loss Analyst.
My undergraduate degree was in engineering, but my professional experience has always been more on the business side, so my rationale to study an MBA was down to two factors.
- Studying the MBA would give me a holistic academic background to business which would complement by undergraduate degree and working experience to date.
- Having worked with clients across a variety of sectors such as, banking & financial services, technology and media, I have seen what it could be like to work within one of these industries. By studying the MBA, I would like to try and pivot to either of these industries or something new. I felt an MBA would help serve as a platform as well as help build on my transferrable skills.
Since studying my undergraduate degree I always knew I would go on to do a postgraduate degree. I was keen on studying an MBA in Europe and with the number of prestigious business schools on offer, the UK was the right choice for me. Alliance Manchester Business School ticked a lot of boxes, including being a top-ranked business school and also the flexibility that it offers; students can choose to study the programme in 12, 15 or 18 months.
If I were to advise anyone thinking of studying an MBA, I would say I don’t believe there is a one size fits all answer. A lot of it is down to your personal circumstances as it is a big commitment to make. From a personal perspective the MBA has been a significant time and financial investment, it is important that you always make the right decision and don’t jump into it. I would also recommend thinking about why you believe an MBA makes sense in your career plan and how it will help you in both the short and long term.
I have been part of the MBA Class of 2023 for almost 5 months. Just before Christmas we finished our first of the consultancy projects, this was the Not-for-Profit project and we are now deep into our Mergers and Acquisitions simulation project. Alongside the academics, we are also working on securing summer internships with the help from the Careers team and we are about to start pitching for our next project which will be the Commercial Business Project. It is safe to say there is never a dull moment on the MBA programme.
The academics of the programme, project work, career planning and a part-time job make up for most of my week, so juggling everything can be overwhelming at times, but the MBA isn’t all work and no play.
I can always find something to disconnect or indulge in on a social level around Manchester. Some of my highlights so far have been; Hikes in the Peak District, attending a live performance from one of my favourite music artists – Ben Howard, and catching the finale of the 2021 F1 championship at the pub with a few classmates. I am likely to be spotted wandering the city on weekends, trying to explore new alleyways, corner streets and cafes in my quest to find the find best mocha or hot chocolate in town. The best part about having a close cohort with over 30 nationalities is that I’ve had the privilege to make acquaintances with incredible people from all walks of life. I have fond memories of having thoughtful and honest conversations with some over coffee, dinner or even just walking home at the end of the day.
As an International student, there is always that sense of novelty attached to moving to a new city and country. As things settle down its natural to get into a more familiar routine of having some days which are great and some days which aren’t so much, but so long as you have, as has been in my case, more of the former than the latter – it’s a good experience.
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