Before starting my MBA, I was working as an engineer designing orthopaedic medical devices at Enztec. This was my first full-time position after graduating with a Bachelor of Engineering at UC. I had been dabbling with a few different start up ideas on the side, as I was always interested in doing more than just a 9-5 career; including setting up a small consultancy to help other start up companies get off the ground, developing a range of spinal implants and instruments out of 3D printed titanium, and working with Christchurch surgeons on different research projects.
While studying engineering at UC, I had always considered doing an MEM (Masters of Engineering Management), as I was keen to broaden my engineering experience outside of just the technical skills. However, I decided not to at this time as I believed that gaining real-world experience would be more valuable. After a couple of years of working, I felt as though my skills and experience were becoming too niche and I wanted to develop other skill sets for my future career and decided to do an MBA. After doing some research into my options regarding where I should study my MBA, across New Zealand and Australia, I found UC to be highly recognised internationally.
Due to the diverse nature of the MBA courses, there were so many highlights and great experiences. Some of the main highlights for me included building relationships with so any like-minded individuals in Christchurch and getting to work on research projects with them, working on a broad range of assignments for companies throughout Canterbury, and pursuing one of my business concepts for my final consulting project. As a graduate of the MBA, it is reassuring to know that I have a strong network of people that I can both support and connect with in the future.
