MBA

Name: Caroline McDonagh

Age: 31

Primary degree: English and History (1996)

Postgraduate degrees: Higher Diploma in Arts Administration (1997); Higher Diploma in IT (1999); Masters of Business Administration (2006), DCU

Why postgraduate study?

The concept of lifelong learning is more than just a catchphrase. I have found that postgraduate study has been a key part of my career progression in terms of being able to efficiently acquire the new skills that I needed at each stage in my career. Not every position facilitates the building of key skills quick enough; this is where postgrad education comes in.

The Executive MBA in particular was key to widening my business expertise. My previous postgrad studies in the area of arts administration and IT proved very useful, but didn't sufficiently equip me with knowledge of other areas of business which proved necessary to get a more senior management position.

What's an MBA really like?

I learned far more from the course than I imagined I would, both academically and personally. Juggling the MBA with a full-time job for two years was extremely challenging, but once you master those time management skills it is very achievable.

Two things about the course particularly appealed to me. The heavy focus on continuous assessment means that as long as you work solidly through the semesters everything isn't riding on a final exam at the end; and the integrated way in which various areas of business are taught mirrors the ways in which business issues present themselves in practice.

Over the two years I completed numerous group projects, individual essays, presentations and exams for different modules. In the final semester, we applied our accumulated knowledge in creating a business plan, which was a great opportunity to further put into practice what we'd learned. It was very well structured; everything had a practical application and there was a real focus on leadership.

Tips for graduates

If you're thinking about an MBA, I strongly suggest you closely examine your personal and professional life. Consider whether you can balance the demanding programme with your family's needs or busy work schedules, for example. Stamina is necessary to achieve an MBA, but I feel emotionally and professionally stronger for having done so.