On-campus event helps lead students to brighter future
Two Glasgow-based GCU students have been reflecting on the impact a recent cross-campus event has had on their future career path.
Takudzwa Sithole and Zaid Anas Ahmed both started on the Global Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme in January this year and recently got involved in a two-day leadership event alongside their peers from GCU London.
A total of 15 students from the course came together in Glasgow on the 20th and 21st of March for a series of industry talks from MBA graduates Mary McLuskey and Steven Paterson, as well as Dr Richard Tiplady, who completed his Professional Doctorate at GCU.
There was also the chance for the Global MBA students from London and Glasgow to pick up some words of wisdom on employability from recent graduates.
The two-day event concluded with a tour of the award-winning Advanced Clothing Solutions with GCU Alum and Honorary Graduate Dr Anthony Burns.
The trip was made possible thanks to the generosity of alumni and friends who have donated to the GCU Foundation’s Common Good Fund.
We caught up with Takudzwa and Zaid to hear all about their experience:
Just to start us off, how did you come to study on the Global MBA course at GCU?
Zaid: “I’m from Karachi, Pakistan. I’ve actually been eyeing this course for a very long time. I have been working in the industry with Nestle in their Sales Department and I wanted to do my Masters to help take my career to the next level.
“It was suggested to me that a Global MBA is very different to a regular MBA because there is more of a focus on case studies and practical experiences. I started looking for different places to study and I ended up with two or three options from different universities in different countries. I felt GCU was the right place for me to build my knowledge and send me on the right direction for my future career. I particularly liked the fact this gave me access to gain an insight into the UK market.
Takudzwa: “I’m from Zimbabwe and I was working with a remittance company where we focus on international currency trading. I was working as a manager and decided to apply for Global MBA because I wanted to broaden my knowledge of global aspects. I also wanted to develop my career as a manager.
“I obviously chose Glasgow because of the weather…but I also liked the fact that there are so many different cultures here at GCU. I wanted to explore that and have the opportunity to network.”
You are obviously only a few months into your degree here at GCU, but how has the experience been so far?
Takudzwa: “It’s different to what I previously did at university with the amount of research required, but I have really enjoyed my stay here. The way they teach, the way we interact with each other, the group discussions – everything has benefitted me.”
Zaid: “Our coursework focuses massively on case studies and group projects – it means that every class is very engaging. We are looking at financial management, responsible leadership, strategic management. I chose crisis management as my elective and I think everyone on the course benefits from the fact that all of our lecturers and tutors are from within the industry.
“It is very beneficial to know where the industry is going and the next steps we need to take to be successful. It has helped me have a different approach when I look at news headlines every day and realise the impact certain stories have globally – you need to know interest rates, how the economy is looking and even the different policies the governments around the world are implementing.”
What was your thoughts when you first heard about the Global MBA cross-campus Leadership Event?
Zaid: “Before coming to Glasgow I had promised myself that I would make the most of the experience and network as much as possible. The entrepreneurs and different leaders scheduled to present at this were very impressive and I knew I had to get involved. It was also nice to see so many of the London students attending.”
Takudzwa: “I first heard about it through our lecturer Afroditi, who sent an email to us. I read through it and thought it sounded amazing – I wanted to make sure I could be there.
“It was the perfect opportunity for us to network and also to meet the students from London. It was good to speak to them and hear how they are coping with the different environment down there.
“The most appealing part was having that chance to learn from the people within the industry. It was inspirational and really motivated me in ways I couldn’t imagine. I think there is always doubt in our heads as we try to make it in business, but we were constantly reassured by all the speakers that failure is part of the process. It was important to learn that I can make mistakes and still succeed in the long-run.”
Were there any particular highlights that really stood out from your perspective over the two days?
Zaid: “I particularly enjoyed the leadership session with Mary McLuskey. I couldn’t stop thinking about how helpful it was after the event because there was such a focus on the importance of communication and teamwork. We were split into groups and I was blindfolded and had to listen to the individual voices of my team-mates to solve a puzzle. I had to rely on them to tell me where to put the different pieces but everyone getting involved meant we were able to complete the task quickly and accurately.
“I also really liked having the opportunity to network with the graduates. I think this really reassured me because I had previously been of the opinion that I might not be able to get a job within the UK upon graduation. They basically told me that I just have to be prepared and adapt my CV for each job I apply for. I probably hadn’t been thinking about this previously and hadn’t really given much thought to aligning my CV to the different companies’ values and missions, so this was very helpful.”
Takudzwa: “My highlight was the first day with Dr Richard Tiplady. I really enjoyed the different games related to Leadership from the Mountains. One in particular focused on ropes with one person as a leader guiding the team. We had to make sure the rope was tied and if the rope became loose we might not make it. We failed to do it but it helped us learn the importance of teamwork.
“I also enjoyed getting the chance to hear from the graduates because I felt very lost within the UK job market. Getting a part-time job had been very difficult for me alongside my studies, but I managed to get a role two days later after hearing about their experience and putting their advice into practice around developing my CV.”
Tell me about your visit to ACS Clothing on the final day?
Zaid: “We got a very detailed tour lasting about 90 minutes. The whole tour was focused on the company’s sustainable operations. We really asked a lot of questions about how they managed to keep the whole business model profitable, so it was very interesting to hear about how they weren’t wasting water or electricity. They have so many different brands within their portfolio and it is great to hear how a company can continue to grow while being sustainable.”
Takudzwa: “I was really impressed because I particularly enjoy logistics and supply chains. It was exciting for me to gain an insight into that area, especially given the fact they try to be cost-efficient and thinking outside the box in terms of their innovation. I would say it was a very good way to finish the trip."
I also heard there was a spontaneous trip to Edinburgh…
Takudzwa: “Yes! From ACS we actually ended up taking the bus to Edinburgh with the London students so we could have that time with them before they left. It was very beautiful and very different to Glasgow. We got the chance to visit the castle and really experience the culture of the city.”
Zaid: “It was a very different vibe and I liked the fact that everyone there seemed very chilled out. It’s a cool place.”
How grateful are you for this experience at this point in your career?
Takudzwa: “Things like this don’t come easy – it really was the opportunity of a lifetime. It’s already helped me massively with getting a job but the impact will last throughout my career – I’m absolutely sure of that.”
Zaid: “I’ve actually already said to Afroditi that I would now love to swap with the London students and visit their campus. I’ve been to London before and it is absolutely crazy compared to Glasgow.
“The big piece of advice I got over the two days was not to over-think the plan, just start building it and continue developing it further along the way. You never know when everything is going to be perfectly in place, but it is about making sure you are in the ideal position to continue your development.”
Find out more about GCU's Global MBA Programme here
By Ross Clark
Got an SHLS or GSBS story? Email me at Ross.Clark@gcu.ac.uk or message me on Twitter