Jason Barron

How did you come to be in your current role?

I got my start initially in WA and had the opportunity to move to Sydney to do a strategic and operational role. Previously in my other roles, it’s been in the distribution side of the business, so that’s the sales and service, and my current role gives me an option to be on the other side where we’re manufacturing the products and looking at that sort of strategy.

I think at some time in you in your career journey you do a bit of looking inwards, just to see if there are any gaps in your skill sets, and that was something that I’d identified. I think a lot of successful mentors and peers that I’ve had, before they’ve went up in a role, have actually went sideways and explored other parts of the business.

So, whether that’s product or finance sales – just get that exposure and experience with different elements of the business. I think they’re a good backing for you when you take that next step up.

What were the best aspects of studying online with AIB?

I really enjoyed studying online with AIB because I was able to access the materials and learn at a pace that I was comfortable with. I started my MBA in Sydney and I finished it in Perth. I didn’t need to come into a campus and I was able to study at my own pace.

What were your main challenges throughout the MBA journey and how did you overcome them?

Some of the challenges with studying the MBA are obviously finding that time to study when you’re busy working and what not, but I think just finding the time – putting that aside – that can certainly help.

When it comes to the material and the application, I found that other students were going through the same things, and the online forums were incredibly helpful to be able to bounce ideas off each other. And then certainly using mentors and peers at work to help bring that information together, I think, helped address some of those concerns.

How has the MBA helped with your confidence?

Now that I’ve completed the MBA I feel a lot more confident in my current role, and I’m also looking to apply what I’ve learnt to my work to gain experience for my next role in my career – not only just the theories and the framework, but just the rigour in having to do that sort of study and planning and the like, I think has been invaluable.

Explore more AIB student stories.