Juggling work, life and family? An Executive MBA might be the solution. HRD profiles one student who has successfully completed this vital postgraduate qualification
For 13 years straight, Michelle worked at a leading financial institution in the same position. As her young family grew, she became concerned about her ongoing employability in a continuously evolving workforce. She realised that in order to expand her opportunities and develop her knowledge, she needed a postgraduate qualification. Here Michelle explains why she studied her Executive MBA with RMIT through Open Universities Australia (OUA), and the difference it immediately made to her confidence and career.
Q: Tell me a bit about your career so far.
Michelle: I work in insurance as a product portfolio manager and have been at the same financial institution for 17 years. I worked for 13 years in the one role, but as soon as I informed my employer that I was studying my MBA, doors opened for me. I applied for one role within the organisation at first, but since then I’ve been invited to apply for various roles. In the last four years I’ve enjoyed the variety of five different senior positions.
Q: So what motivated you to start studying an MBA?
M: I loved my organisation and had become quite senior within the company. But after 13 years in the same role, I didn’t know how to instigate change. I had my children, I was working full-time, and needed to make sure I could work for the next 20 years. I wanted a diverse skill set and to develop recognised skills in finance. However, gaining more confidence was one of the biggest motivators for studying. RMIT’s Executive MBA opened doors from the moment I started studying. As soon as I had a few units under my belt, my employer recognised that I was taking control of my professional development. Now I feel secure, and I have more tools in my toolkit.
Q: Why did you choose to study through Open Universities Australia?
M: I was aware of the corporate partnership between my company and Open Universities Australia. Because I work full-time, my only option was to study online. I needed a flexible study solution that could fit in with my lifestyle, and I didn’t want a Mickey Mouse degree. OUA has a strong reputation and helped me take that first step.
Q: How did you manage study with full-time work in a senior position and a busy family life?
M: During the day, I’d work really hard and then come home and spend some time with the children, and then study until 11pm every night, including weekends. Instead of watching movies or being on social media, I’d study. I remember we went on a cruise and I was up on the deck studying! I really did enjoy the learning – it wasn’t just about getting that piece of paper. Through studying, I built up my level of confidence and was proud of my capability to pick things up quickly.
Q: What was your study experience like?
M: I had a fabulous lecturer and she was instrumental in getting me through. I contacted her with questions every week and completed all the examples. She rang to reassure me and gave me a huge amount of confidence.
Q: What has been the best aspect of the MBA?
M: I think the great thing about RMIT’s Executive MBA is that there’s a bit of everything. I’m interested in so many different things and ended up loving the finance and economics subjects. I loved the strategic aspect as well … and marketing and communications! I’ve been able to use every aspect of the MBA across my roles.
Now I understand the bigger picture, and how what I’m doing contributes to the business goals. The MBA has helped me think from an organisational perspective. I really appreciated that I could delve into areas of interest to me, and use my own business problems to put together a marketing plan for my area. I was able to apply my learning to my actual work.
Q: What is your ultimate career goal?
M: I’m currently in a reasonably senior role. I enjoy becoming an expert across everything that I’m involved in. I’m determined to keep my skills broad as my next role could be in a completely different area of the business. The Executive MBA helped me to confidently become a generalist. You go from zero knowledge of a subject to being immersed in it, and in just a matter of months you have a deep understanding across a wide range of business practices.
Q: What advice would you give to other busy professionals thinking about online study?
M: I think it’s about putting in the time. Being a slight perfectionist, I was immediately worried about my outcomes – worried about getting a HD for all my subjects and completing my degree. It can be daunting and does take a lot of time – it took me four years! But I had to sit down every day and stick to my routine. I made a commitment to myself to put the time in. It’s not about forcing yourself; just focus on one step at a time. My biggest piece of advice is to understand that you will get to the end, but take it day by day.
STUDY A WORLD-CLASS MBA ONLINE
RMIT’s Executive MBA is provided exclusively online through Open Universities Australia. It boasts a five-star rating by the Graduate Management Association of Australia and EPAS accreditation, a prestigious global endorsement awarded to only three other MBA programs in Australia. By completing this degree, you’ll be able to:
• utilise a broad range of contemporary business knowledge, underpinned by continuous learning, in a manner that is culturally, socially and politically appropriate
• apply design thinking to complex problems and opportunities
• identify, communicate and advocate effective solutions
• lead people and organisations in an ethical, sustainable manner to design solutions that add value
• apply and integrate professional theory with practice in authentic Work Integrated Learning contexts, professional contexts and industry settings
• apply research principles and methods to design innovative options and solutions for, and make reasoned judgments about, problems and issues in contemporary business practice
Open Universities Australia (OUA) proudly partners with 10 leading universities to offer over 150 online degrees in the one place. Fit study in with your lifestyle and gain exactly the same qualification as on-campus students. Start today at open.edu.au.
