Stella Cooper

As a passionate human resources professional, Stella had spent the past 15 years focussing on developing employees and leaders.  And it was time to focus on her self-development and tick off a lifelong bucket list item, completing her MBA.

With an ambition to start, no matter how late, in early 2019 Stella started her MBA. Completing her studies in 2021, Stella was always a highly engaged member of the AIB MBA program, including volunteering her career mentoring expertise to help the careers of other students and most recently helping with the latest AIB Graduate Gala in Vancouver, where we took the opportunity to find out more about her experience.

Why did you choose AIB over a Canadian MBA provider?

There were three main reasons why I chose AIB. First, was the reviews. I was reading positive reviews. I wanted a program online and the third one was very important to me, I did not want to do any team projects. I had done a little certificate with teams, and I said to myself, I want everything on my shoulders. If I was successful that would be on me, if I’m not, it will be on me as well.

Do you have an example of applied learning?

My very last paper, my project paper was on social purpose and it’s a topic I’m very interested in and it is a topic my company is also very involved with. So, just diving into that topic was very helpful for me to understand what my company was doing in terms of following some of the best practices around social purpose. What it means to have a north star, what your company wants to achieve and it’s important for employees to know they are working for a company that has a different reason for being than just business and money. So that was fascinating to me, to just dive into that topic.

How has AIB evolved since you started?

Well, I started the MBA when we still had online exams, which was stressful at the time. Just the progression of AIB listening to the students and willingly willing to adjust to the program, adjust to the material as well and looking on an ongoing basis to the material, how relevant is it. I think that is very important for businesspeople, to ensure that they have the most relevant material to work on.

Reflecting back on your journey, is there anything you would have done differently?

I wouldn’t do anything different except doing it earlier. To others I will say do it and do it now. Don’t wait. The longer do you wait, the harder it is, and I will say just jump in it. Because the feeling at the end of it is really, really cool. It’s a really proud feeling at the end of it all.

Final thoughts?

I just felt that AIB was a community for me, for two years it was my community. I engage highly with this community. So, it is really up to you to make that decision in terms of engagement. And I am so proud to say I have an MBA from the Australian Institute of Business.

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