An MBA, now?

Undertaking a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at any point in your career can take plenty of planning to ensure it fits into, and benefits, your workplace and lifestyle. 

For those concerned that full-time employment might limit the pursuit of higher education, a practical MBA with flexible delivery options could be the perfect solution.

Being able to apply learnings to everyday workplace problems and issues is one reason why being gainfully employed can benefit people who enrol in an MBA. 

“An MBA is a way of bringing the learning to life by trying to link it to some real-world examples,” Ridley Insights Director Shaun Ridley FAIM said. 

According to Dr Ridley, while an employee with an MBA degree used to be the exception, it is now a more common part of someone’s resume.

“This is especially amongst people in specialist or technical roles who want to move or transition into a more general management role,” he said. 

When is the right time to undertake an MBA? 

New Choice Homes Scheduling, Estimating and Procurement Manager Ben Cosoleto FAIM, who completed his MBA with AIM WA in 2023, said prospective MBA students should consider how the program best fits their lifestyle.

“Take into account personal, professional and financial factors,” he said. 

“For me, I had to consider whether The Practical MBA aligned with my career goals such as advancing into a management or executive role and wanting to gain a deeper understanding of business operations.

“I had been in management roles for more than a decade, however, I wanted a qualification representing my experience." 

“My decision to undertake an MBA was to reinforce my understanding of management and leadership while developing new capabilities and positioning myself for future executive roles.” 

Fellow MBA graduate and Steel Blue Chief Marketing Officer Jocelyn Da Silva shared that her motivation to pursue the MBA program at AIM WA was driven by the opportunity to advance her career.

“I was at a point where I was ready to move up in my career to the executive level,” she said. 

“At the same time, I wanted to make sure I also had an MBA, which would be an asset and help me get an elevated role.

“There is never really the ideal time to complete an MBA; it’s more about making an active decision to commit to it while understanding that it’s a bit of a lifestyle change."

The Practical MBA

Being able to connect classroom lessons to the office the next day is the ethos behind The Practical MBA. 

Dr Ridley explained how an MBA within the traditional higher education sector aligns closely with continuous learning.

“An MBA has the advantage of having recognition, status and a full qualification resulting from it, but it is really about the person being open to the prospect of learning something new and striving to develop their skills,” he said.

“Students of The Practical MBA program at AIM WA like the fact it is not just turning up on a Monday night for a theory lesson – it is getting the theory, and then thinking about how they can apply it in their workplace the next day.” 

 

Mr Cosoleto said the benefit of undertaking The Practical MBA was that it was specifically designed to enhance the immediate application of business skills. 

“It is focused on hands-on learning through case studies, in-class discussions and organisation-specific assignments, making it highly relevant to addressing current workplace challenges,” he said.

“Students can directly apply learned concepts to their workplace, enhancing understanding, and improving their problem-solving and strategic decision-making skills.”

Mr Cosoleto added that this pathway was ideal for fully employed students due to the flexible study options such as evening classes.

“This type of MBA also facilitates valuable networking opportunities with other professionals across various industries, further advancing students’ careers and broadening their professional perspectives,” he said.

The benefits of an MBA for employees and employers  

Dr Ridley shared how the current tight labour market was a primary factor motivating employees to pursue an MBA.

“It is clever employers who are recognising a positive impact of supporting professional development – such as an MBA – and the impact this can have on employee retention and engagement,” he said. 

Mr Cosoleto said any value an employee could add to themselves would also provide value to their organisation. 

“From an MBA perspective, it gave me a different way of thinking, allowing me to analyse problems more effectively and make better decisions,” he said. 

“The Practical MBA also provides room for personal growth and self-reflection – an essential aspect of leadership and people management.

“In an employment environment, where attracting and retaining talent is paramount, organisations must ensure their people are effectively led and managed.

“Developing leaders is critical in this regard, and ensures the organisation has strategic alignment and execution throughout its various layers.” 

Ms Da Silva said that when an organisation invests in and supports its employees' MBA ambitions, it demonstrates a strong commitment to higher education.

“It shows that the organisation values its people and supports them in enhancing their skill sets to become the best versions of themselves,” she said.

“This has knock-on effects – for example, it might inspire other people in the organisation to undertake an MBA, and it brings a different level of thinking as well.”