Leveraging a career in leadership with The Essex MBA

My higher education journey began when I completed my Bachelor’s in Management Studies, I subsequently pursued a 3 month Integrated Digital Marketing course at the Freelancers Academy.

Shortly after completing the course, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the job market, making it difficult to secure employment. In July 2021, I began my professional journey as an HR Intern and subsequently built a career in the HR domain. Over the next four years, I worked across various organisations, eventually taking on responsibilities as an HR Manager. In August 2025, I decided to step away from my role to prepare for my MBA and advance my career in management.

Over the years, I’ve gained broad experience across multiple areas of HR by working with a range of organisations. As my career progressed, I recognised that the next step toward a leadership role was to pursue an MBA. After speaking with my student counsellor, I was encouraged to apply to the University of Essex to study The Essex MBA. This recommendation, combined with the student testimonials, the strong reputation of Essex Business School, and the depth of the programme’s curriculum, made Essex an ideal choice for me.

The transition of moving from my home country to the UK initially stirred up feelings of anxiety. However, I had a smooth transition thanks to the Essex student support services who were always available to help with any queries, from flight bookings to accommodation.

My favourite module of The Essex MBA is Strategy. I’ve always been fascinated by how strong strategic thinking underpins effective leadership, cohesive teams and long term business success, and this module allowed me to explore that interest in far greater depth than before. It pushed me to analyse how organisations position themselves, how leaders make complex decisions, and how strategic choices shape culture, innovation and performance. Through case studies, discussion and practical application, I developed a more confident understanding of what it means to think and act strategically, and how a well crafted strategy can genuinely transform both people and organisations.

The standout element I have enjoyed the most on my MBA journey so far is connecting with my classmates. We all have different backgrounds, have come from different parts of the world, and I get to learn from their experiences and thought processes.  My favourite aspect of life at Essex is the social life, I love that there is something for everyone to do.

The connection, variety, community I’ve experienced at Essex – this is the kind of foundation that makes my overall MBA journey richer and more memorable.