What a masters in management did for me

Lucy Ward

Irish. Trinity Business School, graduated 2022. Trade development executive at Enterprise Ireland in Canada

Why did you choose Trinity?
I chose Trinity College Dublin as the programme covered a diverse range of topics, which I felt would provide me with as much knowledge as possible to progress in my career. The university is rich in history and culture, which appealed to me, and the smaller class settings give you more personalised learning.

TBS has an excellent careers team and alumni network, which I felt would be beneficial as I advance, and I received excellent support when applying for jobs. I always felt I could approach lecturers and tutors if I required assistance, or to further discuss a topic. I could identify areas in which I excelled, and those where I required extra support.

Having approachable mentors and leaders allowed me to develop skills and lessons that I apply today. In larger class settings, it is difficult to get that tailored, personalised approach where everyone knows one another, and you have the opportunity to talk one on one with the faculty members.

Philippine Longchamp

French. EMLyon Business School, graduates 2024. Paris, France

What advice would you give people who are considering a MiM?
Before the course, I would advise two things. First, plan how you will finance your studies. This is an investment in yourself, and you need to take advantage of it. It is possible to work part-time — I would work about six to seven hours per week — but it is very difficult to finance everything yourself.

If you are hesitating between different schools, choose the one you are most attracted to according to international rankings and atmosphere. You want to go somewhere you will feel welcome. Once you are on the course, get involved as much as possible. Studies are always the priority, but it is worth losing some hours of sleep to work on associative projects, go to a party or attend conferences that interest you.

Spend quality time with people and show them your passion and how hard-working you are. In the end, these people are your friends for life because of everything you have done together.

Francisco Daniel Da Silva

South African. Hult International Business School, graduated 2023. IT financial analyst at The Cervantes Group; co-founder and COO, Graff Inc, US

How has the course changed what you want to do with your career?
Since joining Hult, I have switched career paths and I’m now working as an IT financial analyst, having been a project manager before. Alongside that, I have co-founded a start-up which is competing for the Hult Prize. This is an incredible opportunity where Hult takes a sustainable development goal and encourages students from all over the world to create a business to support it.

That led my career into sustainable fashion which, a few months before coming here, I would have never guessed, so it definitely opened up my career choices. The company takes textile waste and develops it into a new product that can replace oil-based plastics. I love sustainable fashion now: I don’t have the best fashion sense, but I’m getting there.

Jake Best

British/Swedish. Lund University School of Economics and Management, graduated 2023. Graduate scheme, Royal London Group, UK

How did you manage the intensity of the course?
You become incredibly close with everyone on the course, because it’s a personal environment. Everyone is in the same boat, doing the same work, all in their teams. Lund creates a really good environment for support between classmates.

For me, I knew the course was going to be valuable and that it was going to be intense. And when you have that expectation, it’s not as much of a hurdle to climb. You will have a lot to do. You have a lot of reading, writing, work and teamwork.

Expect it to be draining; you’re going to get irritated with your team because you’ll be tired and stressed while working with the same five people for hours a day, every day, on very intense courses. You have to be present and expecting it to not be easy — and that will help you overcome the barriers when things do get hard.

Ludovica Ciolfi

Italian. Luiss University, graduated 2022. Go-to-market and omnichannel analyst, luxury brand, Rome

Why did you choose a MiM?
I chose to study a MiM because I knew it would give me a comprehensive and practical understanding of various roles within companies. The Luiss programme enabled me to develop the necessary skills to become an effective manager, with a clear and thorough knowledge of the business world.

The emphasis on practical application is crucial — as seen with the group work and real-world business cases. Many professors on the course are also successful entrepreneurs, or executives leading prominent companies, who give students theoretical knowledge and practical and entrepreneurial insights.

The programme also offered opportunities for refining leadership skills and technical knowledge through team tasks, field projects and internships, which served as an initial point of contact with the professional world and corporate environment.