SBS Blog > Inspiration the key to part-time MBA path by Laura Boyd

Inspiration the key to part-time MBA path

By Laura Boyd - Posted on 18 May 2017

An inspirational manager set Laura Boyd on an MBA journey with a desire to make a difference in the business world. Here, the part-time student talks about the MBA programme so far.

I chose to do an MBA as I was inspired by a previous manager and her career path. She worked her way through the ranks in my last company and broke through every glass ceiling there was. I was impressed by her business knowledge and the way she led the company by putting employees first. I knew that I wanted to be in a position to improve businesses through the way they treated their staff and an MBA could help me achieve this.

This same manager also made me want to give something back. I started up the first Women's Network for the company I then worked in, which offered women the chance to improve on CV and interview skills, obtain assertiveness training and network with female students from disadvantaged high schools in order to share career goals and opportunities for progression within employment.

Prior to setting up the Women's Network, only 5% of women made up the management team; one year into the network, this had risen to 16%. In April 2016 the company won The Talent Pipeline Award for the Women's Network at the annual Scottish Diversity Awards, which recognise organisations that have demonstrated leadership in creating equal and inclusive workplaces for women.

But I want to do more.

I opted to do an MBA at Strathclyde because I knew that to make the impact I want to in business, I would need to study my MBA through one of the best business schools; one with triple accreditation. I chose to study part time as I wanted to put the theory of what I learnt from the MBA into practice in the workplace.

I very much enjoyed the Managing People in Organisations module - I enjoyed learning how organisations can be made up of different cultures and could see this within my organisation. The use of case studies also showed how cultures could be changed and the positive effects this had on organisations. I was then able to use this knowledge to understand my own organisation better and see where improvements could be made.

The most impactful teaching there has been so far has definitely been Oliver Crane in The Learning Manager. He spoke about not always having to pigeon hole yourself into one career and that it is okay to want to create yourself as a brand, be open-minded to opportunities and to keep learning and reading.

The academic staff at the Business School are extremely supportive and always willing to help when they can. I also love that MBA students have fantastic facilities available to them.

I would definitely recommend the MBA programme, it has already opened doors to new experiences and opportunities for me and I believe the MBA will set me up for the career that I want.