Sophia Arkinstall is on a mission. The MBA graduate is determined to make smart cities a reality, taking the concept beyond infrastructure to look at how they’ll enable us to live healthier, happier lives into the future.
After graduating with an undergraduate degree in business and health sciences in 2010, I started a role at city planning firm Springfield City Group. I had no idea I was about to develop a new passion – for the future of our communities.
Quite unexpectedly, I had a whole new career direction that made a lot of sense for me. I felt excited to make an impact and perhaps even create a legacy.
But to realise this dream, I knew I had a lot to learn. I thought a Master of Business Administration (MBA) made sense because it’d give me the business knowledge to kick-start this new adventure, but it’s done so much more for me.
Finding my voice: the transformative power of an MBA
I‘m an introvert by nature. Before the MBA, I lacked confidence when it came to public speaking and putting myself out there. I knew that if I was going to have an impact, I had to make my voice heard. The UQ MBA helped me develop the confidence to value my contributions and speak up.
The learning experience itself was challenging but rewarding. I learnt invaluable practical business strategies, tools and frameworks as well as new ways of thinking. It also taught me more about myself, which helped me better understand what drives me and my strengths and weaknesses.
"As a practical learner, the MBA gave me plenty of opportunities to develop my skills in solving real problems that I could then quickly apply at work. The program also helped me understand and develop my own unique leadership style, how to communicate with my team and how to inspire others."
Participating in assignments and class discussions with a similarly motivated and ambitious cohort did wonders for my confidence, too. Working closely with such a diverse group of people exposes you to new perspectives. You learn so much from their experiences that you can’t learn in any other environment.
The MBA network and staff nurture positive thinking. We encourage one another to dream big and spur each other on. Now that I’ve graduated, I find the MBA alumni cohort is full of connections that I can tap into to help advance my career and professional development. When I have an issue or need to brainstorm, the MBA network is the first place I go to get advice or feedback.
"I now feel prepared to take on complex challenges, knowing I can apply the latest tools and insights to make a valuable contribution. This newfound confidence has carried through to how I hold myself in the boardroom, how I present in front of clients and, more deeply, how I feel about tackling new tasks and taking on new opportunities."
Opportunities to align passion with purpose
Throughout the MBA, I started zeroing in on my ‘passions’. While studying, I completed an exchange to ESSEC Business School in Paris, travelled to Tel-Aviv, Israel, to learn more about innovation, and completed an internship in Silicon Valley, San Francisco.
In addition to unique cultural experiences that expanded my worldview, I was able to visit major tech companies, including Tesla, Meta (Facebook), LinkedIn and Google, while working with colleagues from around the world.
I started 'Future City Legacy', a vlog series about the various international cities I visited and what made them unique in terms of community, sustainability, technology and innovation culture. In doing so, I developed a mix of complementary skills that helped me stand out and grow. My podcast and newsletter, Amplify Plus MBA, and my Smart City Video Series haven’t just been platforms to voice my experiences, but are channels that facilitate dialogues, foster connections and build community.
Recently, an MBA alum introduced me to UN Women Australia. It was through this connection that I attended the 2023 Asia Pacific Cities Summit. This involvement deepened my commitment to gender equality, which aligns with my enthusiasm for cities to achieve the overarching UN Sustainability Goals.
Leveraging the MBA for personal and professional advancement
The MBA has allowed me to ascend in my role at Springfield City Group, shifting from operational projects to spearheading our 'smart city' strategy. I'm now responsible for leading the company's environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy and driving initiatives that align with achieving net zero targets to position the company as a leader in sustainability. This involves moving beyond project-level work to influence broader strategic decisions that impact the company’s future.
Australia is a fantastic place to live, and our cities have so much potential. I’m excited to be part of that future. I see the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games as a monumental opportunity to drive change towards a future where urban environments are inclusive, sustainable, and technologically advanced, while rooted in community values.
The MBA has been my compass, guiding me toward this vision while equipping me with the tools to make it a reality. It has sculpted my path, instilled in me the principles of leadership, and given me a renewed sense of purpose and direction.
Ready to discover the transformative power of the UQ MBA for yourself?
