Launching a dream global career with a professional MBA
How the global MBA helped an AMBS graduate Omobola international success
Omobola Omofaiye was working in her home country of Nigeria when she decided she wanted to study an MBA.
Student profile
Nationality: Nigerian
Country of residence: Nigeria
Industry experience: Chief Commercial Officer with experience in management of business and sales operations.
Pre MBA role: Country Head for West and Central Africa, Somfy
Post-MBA role: Chief Commercial Officer, Arnergy.
Originally training as an electrical engineer, Omobola had then worked in several sales roles, at Schneider Electric and other companies before becoming the Country Head for West and Central Africa at Somfy, a leading specialist in connected home equipment.
While in this role, she continued the pursuit to gain more international exposure. Though she had an extremely successful career so far, her only experience was working within the West and Central African context. She was longing for a more internationally focused job role.
Why study an MBA?
The opportunity to shift to an international career was one of the main drivers of Omobola pursuing an MBA.
"I was keen on gaining international exposure and global visibility to enable me to assume leadership roles with multinationals and work seamlessly with diverse, multicultural and cross functional teams across the world," says Omobola.
Yet this was not the only reason she wanted to pursue a Global MBA. Like most MBA candidates, career advancement was another key driver. She says:
"I wanted to be well equipped with the right skills and knowledge for management and leadership roles and also move up the corporate ladder".
She was attracted to the potential for personal development on the Global Part-time MBA at Alliance Manchester Business School - it was one of the main reasons she decided to pursue this specific programme.
Omobola chose Alliance Manchester Business School for a multitude of reasons, including the diversity of the programme. "Alliance Manchester Business School attracts diverse students from various countries across the world," she says.
The global exposure provides the opportunity for students to collaborate with people from different cultural backgrounds; while the programme offers a robust and rigorous curriculum that extensively covers crucial aspects of business and management.
Why a part-time programme works
The Global MBA programme is part-time, spread across a two-year period, taught both in-person and online - a format that suited Omobola's career goals.
"I chose this study option because of the flexibility it offers, to continue work and study to earn a degree, with the opportunity to apply acquired skills and new learnings directly to work to enhance my career advancement," she says.
For many part-time MBA students like Omobola, the ability to work whilst also studying is highly beneficial as it allows candidates to directly implement what they learn into their roles.
Next career move
After completing the programme in 2019, Omobola has transformed her career. She now works in a global position as Chief Commercial Officer at Arnergy - an international solar power company based in Nigeria.
As part of her role, Omobola has led the way in setting up business presence in different cities, as well as entering new geographical markets and navigating business in other countries - with the international focus of the Global MBA helping her hone the skills needed to do so.
Omobola believes the programme is a key reason why she is now able to manage cross-functional teams across different geographies.
She states that the programme helped her developed a number of other key skills, such as 'original thinking and problem-solving skills, leadership skills and knowing how to strategically grow a high performing team.' The programme has also helped her with skills such as knowing 'how to confidently network as a business leader, and gaining a strong understanding of managing crucial aspects of a business, growing top and bottom line sustainably.'
Advice for future MBA applicants
Clearly, the Global MBA helped Omobola to advance her career further, giving her the skillset to launch an international career, managing cross-cultural teams.
For potential MBA candidates looking to do the same, Omobola says it is important they research the school and its potential offerings, as well as connect with the alumni and current students for first-hand insights.
Omobola also says it is important to truly recognise the challenge that a part-time MBA can be before taking it on. She says:
"Be prepared to navigate challenges and remain focused; pursuing a part-time MBA programme while managing other commitments and juggling balls can be demanding. Prioritise, overcome time obstacles and be ready to adapt to a demanding schedule."
Chosen electives
During the programme our Global Executive 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, Omobola undertook the following electives:
Information Systems and Digital Strategies
The Information Systems and Digital Strategies elective focuses on the way businesses use information systems to achieve competitive advantage, and especially the influence of latest digital technology trends on business and organisational strategies. The course provides a set of analytic models allowing students to assess the existing digital strategies of companies, and the suitability of modern digital trends to specific companies and contexts.
Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management
This elective provides gives MBA students the tools to develop or elevate entrepreneurship skills the skills for the management of the entrepreneurial life cycle. With innovation being a key driver of success for new venture creation and growth the course uses an integrative approach to teach how to manage the entrepreneurial journey and how to design and construct innovative business models.
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.
Additional centre visited
Middle East
The University of Manchester's Middle East Centre was established in 2006. Set in Knowledge Village, the centre is part of Dubai's premier destination for professional development and training.
Dubai is a multicultural business hub with ambitious investment in creativity and innovation - the perfect location for The University of Manchester's largest overseas centre.
- Established in 2006
- Supported 3,400+ Manchester Global Part-time master's students, representing 105 nationalities
- 5,000+ regional alumni supported by the Middle East Centre.
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