As a senior position holder in her professional life, Monique Skill knew that any education she pursued would need to equip her with the necessary tools to problem solve and overcome modern business challenges.
In the end, the Governance Advisor at Diabetes Queensland chose to study a Master of Business Administration at AIM Business School for its blend of theory and practice.
Diabetes Queensland is the peak body for people with diabetes in Queensland, providing a voice for people living with or at risk of diabetes.
For several years, Ms Skill has been part of a team driven to provide information and support for 40,000 members and 238,000 Queenslanders registered with the National Diabetes Services Scheme.
“I looked at other university studies which were very academic, but at this stage in my career I need to be able to apply what I was learning in the work place,” she said.
In order to achieve that ‘real-world’ feeling, AIM Business School’s approach to education was to draw on the proven experience of their facilitators, though academically qualified, also had extensive business experience as practicing consultants.
“The facilitators mostly come from business areas themselves and they are experts in their field,” Ms Skill said.
“They really know what they are talking about – you really get the benefit from how they can easily interpret the theory for you and then discuss the ways to apply it.”
Flexibility has been a key attraction for many students who study an MBA with AIM Business School, and Ms Skill was no exception.
“I found that the interactive virtual campus was really easy to navigate – we [the students] were all in the space together and it was really good to exchange ideas and communicate with each other,” she said.
“It allowed us to do it at work or at home and while we were comfortable, and it was a really good way to catch up with the facilitators and other students in the cohort.
“There is really no barrier when studying with AIM Business School as well as working and even travelling.
“It’s easy, approachable and caters to people’s needs.”
Ms Skill said she also found value in the school’s mindfulness program, which is a scientific approach to promoting better mental health in the workplace and training minds to be calmer, more objective and better suited to take on business challenges.
“The concept of being mindful at work in terms of being ‘in the moment’ as well as … seeing things objectively – it was very useful and had many benefits like dealing with people and dealing with situations,” Ms Skill said.
“Having finished a Master of Business Administration with AIM Business School, I am now a lot more confident at looking at problems at a higher level than I have been.”
