After years of considering an MBA, it was a panel of current students and alumni at a UQ MBA information evening that finally convinced me to take the leap.
There were 3 things I heard that night that turned my MBA maybe into a yes:
- The ability to get stuck in and complete it full time
- The value of being part of the UQ MBA network
- The opportunity to do a short-term exchange at Harvard.
When I came home, pulled the brochure out of my new UQ Business School tote bag and provided my husband with an enthusiastic retelling of the night’s proceedings, we both knew: the decision had been made.
The sprint vs the marathon
One of the unique things about the UQ MBA is its flexibility. Different modes of delivery mean your peers will all be at different stages of their MBA journey. If, like me, you go all-in, you’ll begin with your full-time counterparts. These are your people.
The part-timers will think you’re a little mad by choosing to study in 'intensive mode', but they will also love having you on side for group work because you know how to hustle.
Unlike some universities, where you progress through the MBA with the same group, at UQ, you meet and work with a diverse range of people across different subjects, which is something I have loved and valued highly.
The UQ network effect
Ask any UQ MBA alum what the best part of their degree is, and almost all of them will say the same thing: the network.
I heard this a lot before enrolling, but it wasn’t until I experienced it first hand that I truly understood its impact.
From monthly social drinks (always well attended by alumni and current students alike) to networking events and professional development opportunities, the UQ MBA community is strong, supportive and full of accomplished professionals from all industries.
The diversity of my cohort has given me invaluable perspectives from fields I had little exposure to before, from mining and government to defense and wealth management.
I’ve shared classrooms with CEOs, lawyers, engineers, surgeons, pilots, Olympians and entrepreneurs – some of whom I met 15,716 km away.
The Harvard experience: From Brisbane to Boston
Now, the part you’re probably most curious about: my summer semester at Harvard.
When I found out I could do an exchange at Harvard – something I learned at that all-important information evening – my goal became making that happen.
There was a lot of administrative work involved (it is Harvard, after all), but the moment I set foot on that iconic campus, every form and every fee felt worth it.
I completed my leadership unit (a like-for-like UQ swap) at Harvard over 3 weeks in July. I was joined by 6 other UQ MBA students – only 2 of whom I had met before – while another 6 were studying an innovation course across campus.
The course itself was, as you’d expect, exceptionally high quality. Our professor had been teaching at the Harvard Business School for 16 years, and it showed. Interestingly, 30% of our grade was on class participation, which encouraged a lot of discussion, including a spicy debate about whether leaders are born or made. Ultimately, we all came away understanding there is no one-size-fits-all approach to leadership, but there are many frameworks to apply to different situations.
I’ve already been able to lean on some of these frameworks in my current role as General Manager at Brisbane marketing agency, TwentyTwo Digital. (And yes, the MBA absolutely helped me land this new role).
But what made the experience truly unforgettable was everything wrapped around it: cycling to South Boston in search of “the best” lobster rolls; admiring many Monets, Van Goghs and Picassos at the Harvard Art Museum; watching the Red Sox pull off a miracle walk-off win; and many margaritas at Felipe’s (if you know, you know).
I don’t use these words lightly: it was life changing.
2 thoughts for future MBAs
Before deciding to do my MBA at UQ, I did my homework. I spoke to several students and alumni, and I received 2 specific pieces of advice that have stuck with me:
- Do your MBA where you want your network to be
- Don’t be too wedded to a specific timeline.
Both of these have proven true. The connections I’ve made have already been invaluable. And while I originally planned to complete my MBA in a year, the chance to study at Harvard and fulfil some additional, long-delayed travel dreams while not working full time were opportunities I couldn’t pass up – even if it meant graduating a little later than expected.
So, if you’re considering the UQ MBA, I’d encourage you to ask yourself: what doors do I want to open, and where?
And if you’re still an MBA maybe, hopefully reading this pushes you a little closer to that yes.
Learn more about the UQ MBA program
Author: Ashton Tuckerman
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Ashton is a UQ MBA student and general manager at TwentyTwo Digital. She is also a mentor, writer and public speaker.
