Nicole Steers

Why did you decide to study an MBA?

I guess for me, I had done a lot of post-grad studies in clinical fields, cancer particularly. And I just felt in the roles I was getting into, and particularly as I was getting into executive roles, that I just really needed to add a suite of qualifications to my experience. And I just felt there were certain areas I was a little bit out of my depth and an MBA just seemed the perfect option to fill those gaps. So, I just felt it was going to be really worthwhile, and it was.

What are the greatest personal and professional benefits you’ve experienced from the MBA so far?

The MBA for me was integral in getting the job that I’ve just gone into in November; it was a pre-requisite for this job. And being business development, it was very different from a clinical executive role that I’d had in the past. I’d been a director of nursing, I’d been a director of clinical services; very, very different. I absolutely couldn’t have done this job without my MBA.

How are you applying the skills that you learnt from the MBA to your role?

I use the skills all the time. You wouldn’t believe how many times I refer back to my notes, my assignments, the books. It’s extraordinary. And for me particularly, I guess entrepreneurship, which was one of my elective subjects, I use all the time because I’m in a business development role. I use leadership, I use strategic HR, and I particularly use finance. So I just feel that I’m constantly referring back and utilizing those skills all the time.

What were the best aspects of being able to study online?

For me, I couldn’t have possibly done it any other way. Studying online for me allowed me to study when I wanted to and when I needed to. Everything was available – the webinars, the information, the study notes, access to lecturers, you could just post online and get an answer the next day, the forums. It just gave you that incredible flexibility when you’re in a really busy executive role, which is what this is very much geared to. I couldn’t have possibly tried to fit lectures in with my work commitments. So for me, it was perfect.

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