Features: Studying an MBA: An insight into success

Sourced by Luke Berté, Editor, Graduate Prospects, March 2013

Andy Berry studied for an MBA at Surrey Business School in 2010. His aim was to develop the children's charity, touraid…

 

Launched in Twickenham, touraid  provides opportunities for disadvantaged children across the world and uses sport to create long-term links between communities overseas and schools and clubs in the UK. 

The first rugby tour was organised for children from a Serbian orphanage, and the charity has gone from strength to strength ever since.

'I had been running the charity with little or no business knowledge or training, having been a teacher for 14 years previously. I gained a great deal of practical experience in the first 4-5 years of working in the charity simply by learning on the job. But business plans, financial planning, stakeholder analysis, communication plans, strategic alliances and project planning were all new to me.

'I knew that I needed to gain some theoretical knowledge in these areas to really develop the charity, ensuring the best return on investment.

Studying for the MBA

'I chose to study for an MBA at Surrey Business School because I wanted to grow the charity and I wanted to continue the work I was doing, but make it bigger and better.

'I enjoyed learning with people from all over the world. On a course like this you feed off each other's experiences and knowledge. Having such a varied class means we were able to explore situations from different viewpoints.

'Understanding the opportunities, limitations and challenges of businesses across the world really added relevance to the course. I have enjoyed their company and made many and new, life-long friends.

'Studying at Surrey has given me much more confidence in areas such as finance and marketing strategies. I am always applying what I've learned because everything is relevant to running a business, which is essentially what I'm doing with touraid. 

'The module I was most worried about was finance management due to my lack of experience in the area. However, it turned out to be the most enjoyable module.'

MBA knowledge

'The action case was a very rewarding module as we were able to help a small international charity with guidance on areas of protocol, fundraising and management. This made a real difference to the charity and lead to tangible outcomes.

'I also enjoyed the dreaded dissertation, which enabled me to develop new models for assessing charity interventions which I now use weekly in my work with the charity. I believe in sharing knowledge and best practice, and my dissertation has been used many times with small charities to ensure stakeholder support that ultimately leads to positive outcomes.

'The lecturer's support and guidance in this was fantastic and his contribution to focusing the study area enabled a successful dissertation.

'Taking an MBA is a big decision and you can't underestimate the commitment it takes, but it's a sacrifice worth making.'

 

Benefits of an MBA

For Andy, the bottom line is that the MBA enabled him to help more disadvantaged children.

'The effects are felt so much wider than the tour - the good feeling spreads through each school and each community we work in. The MBA has given me the tools I need to continue this, I have absolutely no regrets and I'd recommend it to anybody.

'I set up touraid because I wanted to make a difference. I loved teaching and was a deputy headmaster before setting up the charity, but I felt there was something more I could do to help those who didn't have the same chances as more privileged children.'

Through Andy's determination, the charity has grown immensely and will soon be celebrating its fifth birthday. The charity has organised 54 tours for 850 children, some of whom are orphans or street children, from places like Cambodia, Rwanda and Trinidad and Tobago.

'Writing detailed yet concise development plans that ensure all stakeholders are engaged in new sustainable intervention projects is one skill that has been a positive outcome of the study. I was also able to use my dissertation, Evaluating the Impact of Charity Interventions, to carry out a full analysis of touraid's work in the first five years and to develop new tools for all charities to assess their work. This has been crucial to developing sustained support for touraid.

'Some of the skills I gained while studying for an MBA have enabled me to develop key partnerships with the third sector and governing bodies which will ensure my charity's longevity.'