"An Executive MBA programme brings you back in touch with the bigger picture; given the fact that everyone around you in the class has vast experience in their field you get real life, real time insights that can't be taught from a textbook."
Danny Reynolds
Nationality: British
Programme: Executive MBA in Dubai, 2019
Position pre MBA: VP Fixed Income Sales and Trading at Liquidity Finance
Post-MBA: Associate Director at Arqaam Capital
Current industry: Investment Banking
What drew you to the Business School’s Dubai EMBA programme?
I was at a stage in my career where I wanted to push onto the next level. I'm in finance and I could see that many of my peers in senior management hold postgraduate degrees, majority of which were MBAs. The Business School has always been held in very high regard in my industry, and when I mentioned to people that I was thinking of pursuing an MBA, I was met with nothing but encouragement, from colleagues to clients alike. The School’s location in the Dubai International Financial Centre was an additional bonus due to the location of my office.
What was your study experience like with the Business School?
We had members of the cohort from as far afield as New Zealand and Trinidad, and we all got along from day one. The teaching standards were fantastic, you could tell the effort from all the faculty was exactly the same as it would be at the main London campus. There was never a feeling of being in a 'satellite' campus. The course is incredibly well structured to fit into a mid-career professional’s busy life, but the most important aspect for me was the consistency. Of course the programme takes commitment away from work and family life, but there were little to no unexpected interruptions. The demands were outlined from the outset and so it was easy to manage.
Do you have any particular highlights from your time on the programme?
Without wanting to sound cliché, the entire experience for me was enriching. Once you begin your career, invariably you gravitate toward those within your field and you begin to lose focus of the bigger picture. An Executive MBA programme brings you back in touch with the bigger picture; given the fact that everyone around you in the class has vast experience in their field you get real life, real time insights that can't be taught from a textbook.
The camaraderie that comes from working towards last minute deadlines and exams is something that is special, and I can say I've made friends for life!
The South Africa elective was simply an experience that cannot be bought. A week of meetings with all types of people from different sections of society, from Township community leaders to politicians, was the most enlightening experience.