DARE TO INVEST IN YOUR CAREER?

Three Inspiring Stories from Australian Insitute of Business students

With massive layoffs across the tech sector and significant uncertainty over a possible recession, prioritising professional growth and making your own opportunities is more important than ever. Continuous learning and professional development not only allow individuals to remain relevant and competitive in the job market, but employers are also more likely to invest in individuals who show dedication to their craft and a willingness to learn.

For many professionals, an MBA is an attractive option to help them gain the skills and knowledge needed to advance their careers and an effective avenue to showcase their passion. But often, the question that's asked is whether an MBA is really worth it.

The answer, according to the experiences of MBA students from the Australian Institute of Business (AIB), who have switched, scaled, and grown their careers, is a resounding "yes".

With a long-standing reputation for excellence in business education, AIB offers a range of programmes designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in today's fast-paced business environment. Jo Thomas, CEO of AIB, told CEO Magazine:

"Imagine a programme that not only teaches you the theory but also equips you with the practical skills to apply it in the real world. That's what the AIB programme is all about. By providing assessments that are based on your actual workplace, students can immediately apply their newfound knowledge to their job or business. So it's not just about learning; it's about seeing tangible results.

"As an institution, we have the absolute privilege to witness students transform their careers every day, and we're so thrilled to see the impact of the programme reflected in our most recent Alumni Insights Report."

76% HAVE CHANGED JOB FUNCTION

74% HAVE ALREADY ACHIEVED THEIR GOAL OF CAREER PROGRESSION

67% OF ASPIRING BUSINESS OWNERS STARTED OR ACQUIRED A BUSINESS

93%

HAVE BEEN ABLE TO APPLY THEIR MBA TO THEIR JOB OR BUSINESS

We take a deeper dive into how AIB’s practical approach to MBA education is elevating careers through the stories of AIB alumni Nadya, Charles and Craig, who represent AIB’s growing global community of over 16,000 students and alumni.

Switching Careers & Thriving

The Great Resignation brought about significant changes in the job market. In 2021, The Australian Financial Review reported that over 6 million Australians had considered a career change in the past 12 months. In light of this, pursuing an MBA can provide individuals with a holistic business perspective, allowing them to identify their strengths and future career paths.

Nadya Hamdami was in Operations Management before pivoting her career to become a Learning & Development Specialist. At the time, she had a poor experience with her own onboarding and found the resources available to train staff inadequate, which then led to a poor customer experience and low-quality service. In an attempt to advocate for training and development, Nadya went to upper management and received a lot of pushback, sparking her desire to pivot her career completely.

While studying her MBA, Nadya deliberately chose electives that aligned with her career intentions and made the most of AIB's authentic assessments, which allowed her to demonstrate how the theory could be applied to practice.

"I strategically chose my electives Change Management, Organisational Learning and Development and Project Management as they complemented each other for the career path I wanted to follow."

Upon graduating, Nadya was conscious that she would be competing against candidates with established credentials when applying for roles. However, by showcasing her learnings from the Organisational Learning and Development subject, her experience codeveloping an e-learning programme in her previous operations role, and her business acumen, she landed an interview.

"Naturally, with my varied roles, they questioned my desire for the role. All I could do was tell my story – because of all the roles I have done across industries and countries, I have consistently seen the same problem – how talent wasn't developed in organisations, training wasn't valued and how organisations were losing employees because they didn't feel valued. And they chose me over candidates with more formal experience."

Nadya's career journey serves as an excellent example of how an MBA can help individuals identify their strengths and pursue career paths that align with their passions. Having found her calling as a Learning & Development Specialist at HenderCare, she is currently spearheading an innovative onboarding programme for employees, supporting the organisation's objectives of enhancing staff retention, elevating the quality of training, and improving productivity.

"I have written the proposal for the programme, a cost analysis of the organisation's current turnover expenditure, as well as a thorough evaluation of the programme's project costs for the company. I wouldn't have been able to do that if I hadn't practised during my MBA."

Nadya's ongoing contributions to her new role highlight the tangible benefits of investing in one's education and skillset to create meaningful, impactful change in the workplace.

Boosting the Professional Trajectory

According to a global LinkedIn survey, 61% of employees feel stuck in their current roles, while 51% believe they have limited opportunities for career advancement within their current organisations.

Determined to grow his career, Charles Daharry, now the National Manager of Transportation Carrier Management for Lowe's Canada, understood that it was not enough to simply learn the theories and principles of business taught in his MBA. He knew that to truly excel in his career, he needed to apply his knowledge, and for Charles, this shone through in two distinct ways.

Firstly, through the lessons of the first AIB subject, Leadership, where he re-evaluated his leadership style and guiding values, which resulted in better understanding and engagement with his team.

“Previously, from being an officer in the Canadian Forces, my communication was efficient, and my leadership quite transactional.’’

“After the Leadership course, one of the first things I did was sit down with my leaders and every stakeholder of the team and come up with a team vision statement based on our team values.’’

Charles also found that collaborating more effectively with colleagues across departments helped him identify how his newfound knowledge could be relevant to the company's business objectives.

During one of his Marketing Management classes, Charles was tasked with developing a marketing persona. He reached out to a colleague in the marketing department for initial insights to gain a deeper understanding of the department's needs and challenges and what could be done to solve those problems.

Charles was then able to develop an accurate and meaningful marketing persona that he presented to the Vice President of Marketing. She was impressed with the accuracy of Charles' persona and his ability to apply his MBA learning to a real-world problem.

This led to an offer within the marketing team and whilst flattered, shortly after Charles was asked by his manager to create a completely new role for himself at a higher level within the Supply Chain Department, an offer he decided to pursue. These incredible developments were a direct result of his dedication to applying his learnings to the organisation's needs.

Career Mastery – The power of rounding your skills and knowledge.

An MBA provides opportunities for individuals to step outside their comfort zone and confront new subjects beyond their usual job role to develop a more comprehensive understanding of business complexities and broaden their business acumen. This growth zone is where the real transformation happens as we acquire new skills, confidence and legitimacy at work.

Craig Chadwick's experience as an AIB student serves as an excellent illustration of how stepping outside one's comfort zone can broaden one's strategic perspective. Despite already having an impressive career and holding an executive-level position before pursuing his MBA, Craig recognised the importance of investing in self-development.

By taking on subjects outside of his current areas of expertise, Craig was able to bring a more holistic perspective to his decision-making process in his CEO role by incorporating marketing, operations, finance, and supply chain considerations.

"I am now analytical, questioning and responsive rather than reactive and lacking confidence in my decision-making paradigms. I like to think that I now push people (and myself) out of their comfort zone and challenge them to think more deeply about challenges and opportunities, and by doing so encourage a positive disruption and effect long-lasting positive change."

By rounding out his skillset and finding more confidence in his abilities, he became better at comprehending the nuanced needs of others, gaining insight into and a deeper understanding of their potential pain points and strategic agendas.

"I use this information to not only influence how I effectively and efficiently build and manage relationships to achieve mutually agreeable goals and outcomes, but also to build possibilities for the future."

The career-enhancing tips to takeaway:

What we can learn from Nadya:

● If you're passionate about something, pursue it! Even if it means pivoting your career.

● Choosing the right path in your education can be crucial in developing the skills you need for your desired career path.

What we can learn from Charles:

● By reflecting on your values and developing a leadership style that aligns with them, you can increase team engagement and productivity, resulting in happier and more productive staff.

● Scaling your networks by collaborating with colleagues outside your usual job scope can broaden your perspectives, improve your business acumen, and help you see the bigger picture.

What we can learn from Craig:

● Regardless of how successful your career is, there is always room for continuous learning and development.

● You can incorporate a holistic perspective into your decision-making process by taking on studies or upskilling outside your expertise.

These students' stories demonstrate the power of an MBA to transform your career path. Whether you're looking to switch industries, climb the corporate ladder, or diversify your business acumen, an MBA can provide you with the skills and knowledge needed to achieve your goals.

Of course, pursuing an MBA is a significant investment of time and money, but as Jo says, "for those who are willing to put in the effort, the rewards are truly remarkable. So, don't hold back - take inspiration from those who've gone before you and remember that the investment is worth it."

*Source: 2021 AIB Alumni Insights Report

SCHOOL PROFILE: AIB is the largest online MBA provider in Australia, with almost 40 years of excellence in tertiary education and a global network of more than 16,000 students, alumni, academics and industry experts from 95 countries. AIB’s programmes are internationally recognised and fully accredited in Australia. AIB’s Fast-Track MBA is designed to support working professionals achieve career outcomes faster and has achieved Tier One Global Status, ranking 8th in Australia and 28th globally by CEO Magazine 2022.