Graduate Case Studies - Ieuan Friend - MBA - Cranfield
Name: Ieuan Friend
Age: 27
Degree and university: BSc (Hons) Computer Science, 2.1, Durham University
MBA, Cranfield University
Did you come into postgraduate study straight from graduating? MBA is a postgraduate business degree that generally requires a minimum of 5 years work experience, so I didn't start my MBA until I was 27. Prior to starting the MBA, I worked in an IT software development firm, where I had been the Managing Director for the past two years.
Why did you decide to continue your studies? The MBA is the premier management qualification, and will enable me to change careers into a different industry without throwing away my years of accumulated experience. I chose an MBA over other Masters courses because of the breadth of knowledge learnt and its practical applications.
How did you fund your postgrad study? Through a combination of self-funding and family support. I also received a scholarship from Cranfield which helped a lot.
How does it differ from studying for your degree? There is a lot of self-study required in addition to the taught lectures. Nearly every lecture involves some pre-preparation in the form of a case study and many of the assignments are group assignments. It is simply not possible to do all the work by yourself and I have to trust others to work on my behalf. There is literally no spare time during the course, and I grab every minute I can to work on assignments and lecture preparation. We are placed in learning teams in which we discuss case studies together and the teams act as an excellent support group to get you through the course. The concept of learning teams enhances our team working skills and our ability to deal with the inevitable politics and conflicts.
How do you think postgrad study will help your career? The MBA as a qualification is highly respected by employers, and will enable me to switch industries without starting again at the bottom of the career ladder. Also the breadth of business knowledge and soft skills that I have learnt have given me a significant confidence boost, and will help me approach business problems from a completely new perspective. I expect to recoup the investment in myself very quickly from a career perspective.
Add to
Send to a friend
Post a comment
Comments
No comments....
Graduate Employers
| ESCP Europe Business School | Founded in 1819 and now one of the world’s oldest business s... | more |
| Nottingham University Business Sch... | Postgraduate study at Nottingham University Business School offers... | more |
| Durham Business School | Durham Business School offers a broad portfolio of Masters Degree ... | more |
| College of Law | The College of Law is the UK’s leading provider of legal edu... | more |
| Brunel University | Brunel is a world-class university based in Uxbridge, West London.... | more |
| Exeter University | We are a leading UK university with 14,000 students at our campuse... | more |
| Nottingham Trent University | NTU offers a wide course portfolio, whether you want to study for ... | more |
| Cass Business School | Part of City University, Cass is a business school with a truly in... | more |
| London Metropolitan University | London Metropolitan University is one of the foremost providers of... | more |
| Wales Aberystwyth | Founded in 1872, Aberystwyth was the first university institution ... | more |
Graduate Case Studies
|
Charlotte - Translator and Interpreter - FreelanceWhether you are a translator or an interpreter, you are a crucial communication link that conveys a message and enables people to understand it. Therefore, you feel very useful. Producing a high quality job brings a great feeling of self-achievement, which is even more rewarding if your name appears on the piece. ... more |
|
Samantha Hogg - CDT Brand Consultancy (Durham MA Marketing) oHaving completed a degree in History at Durham, I decided to pursue a career in Marketing. The Durham MA Marketing programme was just right for someone looking for a qualification in management without a detailed knowledge of business and economics. ... more |
|
Persa Pantermaraki - Ministry of Development, Greece (Durham MSc International Banking and Finance)The Durham MSc helped me develop the tools to think critically, which is indispensable in any professional environment and part of my everyday life. ... more |
|
Christopher Walton - Graduate Programme Commercial Banking, Barclays Bank plc (Durham MSc Economics and Finance)I chose Durham because of the reputation of the school and the university and my own experiences of life at Durham (I graduated from Durham with a first class degree in Economics). It was also recommended by my professors and ... ... more |
Graduate Advice
|
Postgrad: Higher Pay or just Higher Debts? ... more |
|
Your guide to who has jobs, who wants interns and who needs trainees.... more |
|
If you’re still working hard for your first degree, probably the... more |
|
Cash-strapped students may be surprised to learn their tuition fees aren’t... more |
Comments