How a local MBA can give you a global outlook
Humza Khan believes Manchester is the perfect city to secure a high-quality education.
In 2007, he studied in Manchester, earning a bachelor’s degree in business management.
Student profile
Nationality: UK
Country of residence: UK
Industry experience: Director with extensive experience in private equity, corporate finance and M&A
Pre-MBA role: Human Capital Management
Post MBA role: International Finance
Current role: Having moved into International Finance after his MBA Humza is now Director, Head of Private Equity Coverage at Grant Thornton UK LLP.
And just eight years after graduating, Humza decided to go back to education, and look to secure a place on the MBA. Of course, Alliance Manchester Business School was the place to do so.
Humza's career journey can certainly be described as switching between education and business. After graduating in 2007, Humza went into the world of business for eight years, then back to education for three years on the MBA programme. He's now back into business after graduating in 2018, equipped with knowledge and a whole new career.
With a wealth of world-class education on his doorstep, Humza naturally saw Alliance Manchester Business School as an attractive option when choosing an MBA programme. He could access exceptional education and opportunity close by his local base of south Manchester.
Investing in yourself
Humza decided to undertake an MBA as it was an investment in himself, his career, and his life. The global recognition and high value of an MBA attracted him to the advanced business degree. He felt that it was a course of study that bestowed a set of skills upon him that would be understood and respected for his future career.
The fact that the MBA at Alliance Manchester Business School could be undertaken part-time was attractive to Humza, who worked a full-time job alongside his study. The most challenging aspect of the MBA was the competing demands of study and life; of stacking a difficult degree on top of an already demanding job.
Prioritising time management
"The part-time MBA means you are working full-time in a fairly demanding job but also studying a very hard course," Humza says.
This balancing between a demanding job and MBA made Humza pause and reflect, and decide what was truly important to his life. He identified how best to cut back on any time-wasting activities. This honing process allowed him to excel in both his work and his study.
Learning off the job
During his MBA, Humza found that what he learned was endlessly applicable to his real-world job.
Much of what he learned on the MBA made a significant impact in his workplace, 'from operation management, to marketing, to corporate finance, to economics, and negotiation skills.'
I learnt that every challenge faced by a business has a solution, and the solutions are all taught in the MBA. That’s the beauty of the Manchester MBA: you learn a wide range of topics and learn by applying them to the business or sector you work in.
Gaining a global outlook
The local elements and excellence of the MBA drew Humza in, but the global aspects of the course were also enlivening.
Humza took advantage of the global opportunities available at overseas centres during the Manchester MBA. His tight-knit alumni community still talk about their trip to Singapore - which was a 'highlight' of Humza's MBA experience. "Going abroad allowed us to learn of different business cultures, which you cannot experience otherwise," he says.
Even with the MBA being part-time, Humza was able to meet frequently with his cohort - a network of motivated individuals who were, like him, excelling in their careers and motivated to better themselves with a business education.
Building an international network
Humza found that he had a lot in common with this driven group of business professionals, who were in a similar situation to him. This networking was inspirational, as was hearing other professionals apply what they learned to their careers and day-to-day business strategy.
"I have made life-long friends on the MBA," he says. "We have continued to regularly meet and experience new cultures and countries. In November 2023, four of us met in Germany and went hiking in Austria. In February 2024, we went skiing together."
No regrets
Humza found the opportunity to study a wide range of topics on the MBA valuable toward his professional development. This not only allowed him to pick the modules that he found most interesting, but change careers altogether.
"I couldn't have done this with the MBA - full stop," he says.
The MBA gave Humza the opportunity to think hard about what he wanted his career to look like long-term, and how to best achieve his goals. The wealth of courses and post-graduation opportunities available meant Humza could discuss his career options at length with well-known and well-respected professors and professionals teaching on the MBA. This allowed him to explore a new career.
"The MBA really makes you think about business, both micro and macro environments, figure out solutions, and then aim at what you want to gravitate towards," he says.
Switching careers
After his MBA, Humza moved from human capital management to the world of international finance, taking a role which covered corporate Finance, M&A, and Private Equity.
He has gone from strength to strength in his finance career, quickly climbing the ladder at accounting firm Grant Thornton. Here, he's progressed from a manager in private equity, to associate director, to director and head of private equity coverage - all in impressively short order.
Humza recommends that anyone who is motivated to improve their thinking should do an MBA. "I haven't met anyone who has regretted doing it!" he says.
Chosen electives
During the programme our Global Part-time MBA students have the opportunity to customise their MBA to suit their personal goals and interests through three electives with the opportunity to study across our global centres in Dubai, Hong Kong, Manchester, Shanghai and Singapore.
Students on the Manchester MBA can choose specialist electives tailored to their interests, career goals or to explore new fields of interest Approximately 20 plus electives are offered on the programme at any one-time.
While at Alliance Manchester Business School, Humza undertook the following electives:
Negotiation Skills
Negotiation skills are an important element for successful management. This elective introduces participants to a rational approach to negotiation. Drawing upon theory and practice it outlines how to choose and apply appropriate negotiation techniques that are relevant to a range of business situations.
Venture Capital and Private Equity
This hands-on course offers insights into Venture Capital and Private Equity (VCPE) within today's financial landscape, combining key financial concepts with an understanding of stakeholder motivations and strategies.
Students will apply this knowledge through real case studies, acting as private equity investors, company management, and advisors to evaluate and maximise venture outcomes.
Additional centre visited
South East Asia
Located in the heart of Singapore, our South East Asia Centre gives delegates the opportunity to immerse themselves in one of the world’s most cosmopolitan business environments.
- AMBS has had a presence in Singapore since 1992
- 400 active students and 1,500SE Asia Centre alumni
- Registered with the Singapore CPE (Committee for Private Education).
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