Why do an mba?
the question I get asked often, followed by,
"I’m thinking of doing one, can you give me the lowdown?"
As someone who has worked in digital, brand and business for 30 years, it was important to me to refresh my hard - and soft - skills. Unlike a tutor, all my skills had been learnt 'on the job'. The MBA promised me high performance measures in creating and evaluating financial statements, crafting marketing strategies based on key performance indicators and market research; gathering, processing, and analysing data in order to drive best business decisions.
"An MBA teaches you the hard and soft skills you need in business."
- Vai Schierholtz, Director of Marketing for MBA, Harvard Business School.
The notion of imposter syndrome has always concerned me, as my first degree was in fashion design, followed by an HND in PR & Journalism which led me straight into advertising. Although I felt my soft skills were well-established competencies because of my client career, it was a great opportunity to work with diverse clever teams, listen to academics, analyse leadership, deep dive into management theories, learn the best project management processes and refresh my strategic and innovative thinking.
My friend and colleague Jessica Parrish, whom I met when she headed F&B for Selfridges, and I was at Yo! Sushi, also encouraged me to think about an MBA. Jessica confirmed it's a great confidence booster but does cost a lot of money. Following her MBA she went on to be the acting COO of Time Out Market and set up her own salon hair brand 'Shedid & Parrish' in 2021 which is so inspirational. Specialising in totally natural vegan, scent-free products for curly haired people, which is inclusive of all ages, genders and ethnicities. Her products are now being used by stars of the stage & screen as well as being used in Kevin Fortune’s styling academy, one of the best reputed hair colleges in London. She is as amazing as ever.
The application forms were extensive, the finding of original degree proof arduous and I needed a professional referee. Sometimes we have great employers, who are supportive, empathetic and progressive, and Robin Roland OBE came up trumps. I will always be grateful. I'm also thankful to my current employer, who gave me guaranteed employment throughout my study, a rare assurance in our changing world.
The classes were live, in person, and the University of Sussex, next door to Brighton & Hove FC, boasts sprawling campuses, gigantic libraries and beautiful break-out areas. More like an ad agency than a school, the first day induction introduced me to a new group of global cohorts with business backgrounds including agriculture, mining, manufacturing, IT and start-ups. The age range was wide, 30-60, and the cohort was 70% male and 80% international. I also discovered technology is still the only sticky wicket in institutions who don't support Apple technology.
The feeling of sitting in an actual classroom was the weirdest, deciding whether to go front or back, solo or table, near the window, etc. We were all asked to pair up in an ice breaker project, which allowed everyone the important task of pitching their person. The first homework project involved collaboration with six new co-workers and was a rapid education piece in itself. I discovered that the younger men were the most comfortable working with me, which was fun, and our preference groups were focussed on professional input.
I rediscovered how to work well as a team, enjoying the process of collaboration, and learn from classmates as well as lecturers. I also made some great new friends, ranging from policemen to bankers to factory owners. We honed our personal skillsets, gave presentations, went into amazing detail in dissertations and focused on strategy, theories and acclaimed case studies.
I looked into my past, re-writing the brand story for YO! Sushi and why it's lost its value. I studied leadership in technology and really enjoyed unpicking the torrid tale of Theranos and Elizabeth Holmes. Some of our lecturers were multi-award-winning masters who’d written multiple science books and could cite theories from the ‘sixties, complete legends. I managed to do an exam and pass my financial module in the same 24 hours as working for Boxpark in London. I learnt how to do Harvard Style referencing and remembered the joys of reading and researching.
Investing in one’s own education via an MBA is a personal privilege and a professional passion, which I highly recommend to all my colleagues, especially women.
The words I use to sum up an MBA with are considered, constructive and empowering. Meeting new diverse colleagues in the safety of a controlled environment is fantastic. Learning new ways of thinking and using reframing as a discipline is amazing. The science of academically breaking down a subject, discussing it in great detail with critical thinking applied, crucial. Realising everything actually is ‘interesting’ and every mistake a learning opportunity. That the more you research and look into history, the more relevant and future-proof you become. I learnt that reflection is preferable to reacting, especially in a social media driven world. How to apply strategy which is the most important feature of any brand or business. I can now bring my MBA to my everyday employment. It imbibes the way I work and think regarding theory and analysis. I have a brand new business toolkit and highly recommend an MBA to anyone who wants to reset, retrain and be more relevant, especially in marketing. There aren’t any negatives, as critical conversation precedes positive promotional prose.
I hope I’ve given you a taster as to the why.
Georgia
To find out more about MBAs, the modules and the theories, discuss case studies or just have a convivial chat, contact georgia@ghbrand.co.uk