Claire Rimington
Meet Claire Rimington who utilised the skills she gained during her MBA to move up the career ladder. She currently works as a Principle Commercial Manager for MBDA Missile Systems.
| Current job role | Principal Commercial Manager |
|---|---|
| Year of graduation | 2017 |
| Course of study | Masters of Business Administration |
Claire Rimington, who currently works as a Principle Commercial Manager for MBDA Missile Systems, explains how studying an MBA at the University of Hertfordshire has helped her into her current role. Claire is responsible for the contract management of some of the MBDA’s contracts with customers and says, ‘Although I am a small cog in a big organisation where I am now, the MBA helped me into this role from a smaller organisation.’
University experience
Although the MBA requires a lot of time and dedication, Claire describes how it helped her to take a break from work life and do something she enjoyed. She says, ‘I was extremely busy at work. The MBA weekends provided a respite! There was always something going on at work, but the MBA gave me the chance to step away from it and focus on learning and developing new skills and myself.’
However, Claire encourages other students who are considering doing an MBA to give themselves a break. She explains, ‘In the first semester, I was disappointed when I didn’t get distinctions! I would now tell myself to have a break as I made life very difficult for myself. Be consistent in your level of work. If you are consistent from the start, then it is easier to maintain that level throughout and be realistic.’ She urges prospective students to, ‘Ask for support from other students and staff because it is there.’
Aside from the workload, Claire says that studying an MBA with such a diverse range of individuals was extremely beneficial. She notes, ‘I loved the learning and it was easy to become hooked on learning and different ways of thinking. It was a diverse group and as everyone’s experiences and backgrounds are different, you learn as much from the students as the lecturers. We shared experiences and having the opportunity to work with different people who do not work the same way, have the same work ethic and different pressures but have the same goal was itself a learning experience.’
Studying the MBA at the University of Hertfordshire provided Claire with the qualifications to back up her existing experience. Yet the most valuable thing that she has taken away from the MBA has been ‘the ability to think differently about things and to think strategically.’. She says, ‘It has enabled me to see the big picture but maintain the narrower focus needed on my own role.’ In addition to the skills she has learnt, Claire reveals that she has met some great people along the way. She says, ‘I learnt so much from each and every one of them, and have made good friends, one of whom is now also a colleague.’
The future
Looking ahead, Claire says she is seriously considering doing a DBA. She explains, ‘I want to continue to study and learn, and I am interested in finding out about a DBA. Really interested in this as my next step.’