Finance and Business, MA, The University of Edinburgh Business School

After I graduated in 2010 with a BA in Economics, I became a Financial Specialist at the Federal Highway Administration in Washington DC. I returned to study as I had progressed as far as I could in my current role and I also wanted to move from the public sector into the private sector. I chose the University of Edinburgh for its global reputation, its location, and because of the length of the MBA programme (1 year compared to 2 in the US).

The MBA is an intense full-time program providing an overview of business with the option to specialize in an area of interest. There is a strong focus on sustainability and corporate social responsibility as well as the development of leadership and other soft skills. Because the school is so well placed in Europe and has such a good reputation, it attracts students from all over the world, providing a diverse and stimulating learning environment. The opportunities to learn beyond the classroom – from international business treks to case competitions and undergraduate mentoring programs are vast.

The programme allowed me to develop both my technical skills and my soft skills which were instrumental in landing me my current job. I am now a Senior Financial Analyst for Johnson & Johnson and was introduced to my current company through the programme’s Capstone project.

Having an alumni community that I can tap into is important to me. The network I’ve built thus far has been a huge support in my post-MBA life. The programme is quite rigorous and the city can be a huge distraction, so it’s essential to find the right balance between studying and enjoying all that Edinburgh has to offer. Make sure to take advantage of all the opportunities the school provides for development outside of the classroom – the multiple clubs, volunteering opportunities, projects, guest lecturers, and career services.

Prior to moving to Edinburgh I completed a BA in Management from the University of York. During the course of the degree I spent a placement year working at the Pharmaceutical Company GlaxoSmithKline. I worked within the Human Resource Development team concerning their future leader programmes.

I went back to study as I enjoy the stimulating and liberating environment available in academia, and wanted to pursue my interest in HRM. Edinburgh University is an elite university, but more specifically, the Business School provided a route to CIPD accreditation which is key in HRM careers. Being by definition an international programme, the IHRM cohort is also very international and therefore we get so many new perspectives on issues. We have been taught about crucial areas of HRM as well as having particular focuses on the issues an international context brings. These concepts were reinforced during a class trip to Helsinki.

The CIPD accreditation is hugely important, but to have a deep theoretical background in topical HR issues is even more so. The Reward Management module in particular has helped me get a job in this area as I will be working in reward management for Virgin Money. I will also be maintaining links with the health sector.

Edinburgh itself is beautiful, vibrant and quaint all at the same time. It is also walkable which is very important to me. I love a good view, and Edinburgh is spoilt with these! Of course its culture and arts scene aren’t too far behind. The city will, I am sure, hold a special place in everyone’s memories so keeping in touch is crucial personally as well as professionally. I encourage new students to make the most of what Scotland and the Business School have to offer.