Dr Carolyn Wang, Engineering Director at Trane Technologies began her Global Part-time MBA journey at Alliance Manchester Business School's China Centre (AMBS) in 2012. Nine years later, we welcomed her son Charles to Shanghai to join our new MSc Financial Management blended learning course.
Carolyn had studied a PhD in a technical engineering field before she embarked on the Global Part-time MBA programme. She decided to study an MBA because she lacked confidence in a managerial role and wanted to fill the gaps in her knowledge. After completing the MBA she felt a lot more confident in her decision making as a manager.
“My highlight from the programme was having access to an amazing network of people from a variety of both cultural and professional backgrounds. It is great to still have access to this network now I’ve completed the MBA programme,” says Carolyn.
Carolyn found her MBA studies challenging but rewarding. “It was such a great challenge for me to pursue the MBA, but there is no doubt the experience made me grow. I still remember the graduation trip with my classmates clearly – full of tears of joy.”
Charles had always felt inspired by his mother and when he was a child, he looked up to his parents as role models. Carolyn always encouraged him to study a Masters, especially with AMBS. However, studying a Masters had not been in Charles’ career plan.
Charles finished his bachelor degree in the US last year. Once he returned from the US and began work, he started to see there were gaps in his knowledge when it came to finance and operations. When they found out about the MSc Financial Management, they knew this was the right fit for Charles.
Carolyn believed the course could help her son to build up a comprehensive professional network and progress his career. “It takes a lot of courage to begin a masters programme, but I believe life is about progressing and exploring.”
Charles decided that the MSc Financial Management was naturally the next step for him and he was delighted to join our MSc Financial Management course in September. Doing this course gives Charles academic knowledge and exposure to a vast network of students from a range of cultural and professional backgrounds.
At AMBS, Charles has face-to-face learning with his local classmates alongside a virtual element where he connects with our other centres including Manchester. The online learning he was offered in the US was very different to the method at AMBS, which is more intensive and interactive. “This was something the University in the US could never offer.”