When Brett Maas began his MBA, he wanted to develop the skills and knowledge to take on senior managerial positions with confidence.
So far so good. Although he’s only halfway through the Australian Catholic University (ACU)’s Master of Business Administration (Executive) program, he’s putting the experience he’s gained to good use in his day job.
“The knowledge I am gaining from the program has made a massive difference to the way I think and operate at work. I have been able to bring my new perspectives, structure and knowledge to bear on my current role,” Brett said.
Brett said he chose the ACU program after conducting comprehensive research.
Although he had fairly strong technical skills, Brett was looking for a program that would develop his “soft skills” and teach him how to apply them in a working environment. ACU’s intensive mode delivery allowed him flexibility with his work schedule and it had a strong focus on developing leadership skills.
“The course has been pretty intense and fitting it in around a very demanding job and home life has been challenging but the professors and fellow students have been very supportive, especially when work conflicts with the program,” Brett said.
“Whilst a little over half way through the program I have learnt a lot from my peers and the professors. Working with like-minded peers from a cross section of industry backgrounds has provided great discussion, argument, and a lot of fun as part of the learning experience. I find that the course focuses on teaching us about ‘real business’ using theories that have been tried and tested.”
He said the lectures and group assignments allowed him to learn about critical business issues from different angles.
“The ability to bounce this off my peers and tap into the shared knowledge from them and the professors has been invaluable,” he said.
Brett’s tip for making the most of your MBA
Open your mind and enjoy the journey. I have had a pretty long journey to get to this program originally from Zimbabwe, studying in the UK and now Australia. I have found that this course puts learned theory into practice and gives you the confidence to take on the next stepping-stone in your career. I would strongly recommend the ACU program for anyone considering doing a MBA.
