When we start secondary school, move out of home or decide to live abroad, we are transitioning to something new. When I went to university as an 18-year-old, I decided to get away from everything that I found comfortable. I decided to leave my home town in Kent, UK to go to rainy Manchester, a 5-hour drive, well away from my friends and family. At the time, I believed I was embarking into the world of higher education to gain a degree to launch my career. However, upon reflection it was also an important part of my personal journey. I learnt more about my own self-identity, how to be independent and what it took to build relationships from scratch. After I entered the workforce, I found it too easy to get into a routine and before long, 6 years had gone by. Had I developed in those years? Maybe a little in splutters and spurts. Had I progressed with my youthful dreams of becoming a business leader and having a positive impact on the world? Somewhat, but slowly.

In the second-half of 2015 I began applying for the MBA Full Time Intensive program at the University of Western Australia (UWA), my intention being to develop my business skills and knowledge; to gain that qualification that would enable me to transition to a role with greater managerial and commercial responsibilities. Now, half-way through the Full Time Intensive program at the UWA Business School, I have developed those necessary managerial skills in areas such as accounting and organisational change and yes, I believe I will be able to get a more fulfilling role with greater responsibilities. However, there is something even more valuable that the UWA MBA Full Time Intensive offers, and which I am really just starting to recognise and appreciate.

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