MBA Graduate Profiles

Faye Mackenzie - Graduate
Board and Ministerial Liaison
Parks Victoria

Friends of mine had studied at Swinburne and had recommended the business programs there
for their flexibility and high quality of teaching staff. The location (Hawthorn campus) was a big
drawcard as it is such a great area, easily accessible and so close to the City. I had been thinking about doing an MBA program for a while and finally took the plunge in order to give myself more opportunities to move forward in my career. I had been in a management role for two years with
no formal management training; I felt I in danger of being siloed into my area of technical expertise
so I wanted to improve my business management and leadership skills.

There are so many benefits to be gained from undertaking this program including learning from other students' diverse experiences, networking with fellow students (including general managers and CEOs) and having teachers with huge industry experience who are willing to share this and help in any way possible. I am a much more confident team player, leader and manager as a result of undertaking my MBA at Swinburne. My business thinking and business writing skills have become second nature, and I am able to pull professional proposals and presentations together quickly. The MBA is seen as a real asset and has provided me with a well rounded range of skills and expertise.

Shortly after completing my MBA I was approached by the Chief Executive Officer to take on a high profile position of greater responsibility. A range of opportunities across the organisation are now possible for me, and I am looking forward to taking on a senior management role in the future. I feel such a pride at having completed my MBA part time while working full time. Like anything, you get out of it what you put into it. I put a lot into my MBA, and I learned so much about business, about working with others, and about myself.

Karl Hughes - Current
National Manager - Production
Vision Australia

Swinburne combines theory and practice. I did not want the static situation of just learning theories from books. I wanted to know how to apply those concepts in the business world outside of class. Experiential learning is a powerful way of building skills and knowledge and Swinburne provided me with that. I wanted a program that would give me the essential skills to confidently operate within the increasing complexities of the business world. I found great value in the topics that the MBA focused on - leadership, corporate governance, change management, network competency, and competitive advantage - all with an appreciation of the global context.

The Swinburne experience will open your mind and transform your thinking to appreciate multiple perspectives. This is vital to navigate business complexity, workforce diversity and today's speed of change. Importantly, it builds the foundation for the future so that you can obtain the skills to continually evolve and remain contemporary. Since starting the MBA I have been promoted to a national manager responsible for 10 departments and I can see further career opportunities in the future. Most importantly, working for a social enterprise I can now see I'm making a difference in people's lives. I feel my job has become more meaningful.

My advice: Like life, what you put in is what you get out. If you are prepared to accept the challenge, then Swinburne's MBA has the opportunities for you. If you step forward, the rewards can be great, both personally and professionally. The knowledge is there waiting, it's your choice.

Cheryl Wu - Graduate
Graduate Trainee
ASSA Abloy Asia Pacific

I chose to pursue my undergraduate and my postgraduate studies at Swinburne University because it offered a wide range of courses that provided me with flexible study options. In addition, Swinburne has a strong reputation in teaching quality and industry-based relationships. I found
that the MBA delivered knowledge in a more innovative and entrepreneurial way. Most importantly, the program also offered me the opportunity to be exposed to various disciplines and be involved
in a practical learning environment. Due to this experience, the program has enhanced my employment skills.

The program helped me to develop my team management and leadership skills. It has also enhanced my communication skills via presentations and interactions during the classroom. Furthermore, Swinburne provided me with ultimate support services to cater for my study needs, such as consulting advice and language assistance. After completing my MBA at Swinburne, I found there were more job opportunities then before. I realised the great advantage of having undertaken the program. The program has also enhanced my project management and leadership skills, which is really beneficial in my current profession. Most importantly, it has built up my self-confidence in dealing with the public.

Brett Tooley - Current
Sales Manager
Caltex

Having studied at Swinburne previously I valued my experience with smaller class sizes.
Swinburne provides a level of intimate learning that I could not find in other universities. The MBA program really has been a life changing experience for me. I have learnt so much about myself
as a leader, identifying business and personal opportunities and getting the most out of people
that I work with. Swinburne has delivered the course very well with small class sizes, a good mix
of domestic and international students and lecturers with outstanding practical and academic experience. I have made many good friends from the program and found networks of experienced business professionals that may help me in my future aspirations.

I found that the program has a perfect mix of theory and practical application. This has enabled me to apply my learning in a practical manner in my job. I have held 3 different roles throughout the length of my course - Retail Operations Manager, Marketing Development Manager and Sales Manager. I started the course as an Area Manager and I'm positive that the reasons for rapid promotion are due to the results achieved from my learning in the MBA.