A “baptism by fire” is how UQ Business School MBA graduate Andrew Sisley described his early years in retail management, referring to the little formal training he had while working in the industry.
Now, equipped with an MBA and an “arsenal” of management tools, he can make informed and calculated decisions from theoretical frameworks that have been researched, practiced and proven.
While he secured his first management role in retail at just 19, Andrew was never quite sure what he wanted to do.
“I didn’t have a clue what I wanted to do after school, and I fell into a retail position,” he said.
“I did pretty well and really enjoyed it, and at the time I was the youngest management trainee in the company.
“Most of my training though was on-the-job so as I progressed up the management ladder, I had to rely on my day-to-day experience and intuition.”
At 29, after an enjoyable and challenging decade in retail management, Andrew questioned his future in the industry and looked to formal study as an avenue to strengthen his skills set and career opportunities.
He was so keen to embrace the MBA that he sold his house and car to finance his two year journey.
While he experienced a steep learning curve during the first semester of the program, he made friends from right around the world and gained self-confidence and a range of valuable tools.
Andrew said the MBA expanded the tunnel-vision perspective he developed during his retail career and allowed him to see what other opportunities were available to him.
“My peers at uni have incredible work experience and come from all sectors of industry like law, engineering and football clubs,” he said.
“Together we worked on projects from finance to marketing which took my MBA experience to a whole new level and gave me insights into industries I’ve never had before.”
Andrew said the MBA provided him with formal, academic insight into finance, business negotiation, marketing, leadership and other areas of management, along with theoretical frameworks to fall back on.
“Having the MBA qualification doesn’t mean that I’m necessarily a better manager than the next person in retail, but it does give me the ability to think more strategically than I would have in the past,” he said.
“If there’s conflict in the workplace for example, I can use an academic framework in tandem with my experience to approach and resolve the situation, rather than rely on my instinct and hope that I’m right!”
The MBA process also taught Andrew the importance of networking and how to get a job and through his new contacts secured a position that started just two days after his final exam.
“When I look back at the person I was at the start of the degree, I realise the journey had an amazing impact,” he said.
“I feel that the MBA adds credibility to my work experience, and now I’ve bridged the gap academically, I have more strength, direction and ability than I’ve ever had before.
“Thanks to the UQ MBA qualification and experience, professionally, I am where I want to be.”
Media enquiries:
Andrew Sisley 0438 3395 38
Cathy Stacey, Marketing Development Manager UQ Business School 07 3365 6179 or mobile 0434 074 372
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