Craig Jones
Meet Craig Jones who decided to undertake an MBA to help him transition from a technical to a business role. He is currently the Manager of Global, Planning, Strategy and Business Associations at Ford Motors.
| Current job role | Manager of Global, Planning, Strategy and Business Associations at Ford Motors |
|---|---|
| Year of graduation | 2015 |
| Course of study | Masters of Business Administration |
Corporate progression
Craig says he was always interested in the business side of the industry, which is what made him initially consider the MBA. Although his background was in engineering, having previously studied for an MSc, he recognised that he required additional business skills to consolidate the corporate progression of his career.
Craig mentions what persuaded him to undertake the MBA at the University of Hertfordshire was the high level of academic staff within the Business School, the flexible nature of the programme allowing for part time and weekend study as well as access to CASE (Centre for Academic Skills Enhancement), an invaluable resource not available outside the university.
University experience
The MBA programme supports students already working in the corporate arena, providing them with the skills, knowledge and expertise to excel in the competitive modern business environment. Craig says, ‘the MBA has given me the confidence to challenge things in the right way, to express an opinion with in depth knowledge. Before doing the MBA I couldn’t robustly challenge someone on finance. I couldn’t put forward a good case to do this. It has given me the confidence to challenge the detailed financial aspects of a proposal.’
In addition to the practical professional skills the MBA develops, it also has a rigorous academic component embedded in the programme. The MBA offers each student the chance to work on their own major projects where they work with commercial businesses, offering consultation. Craig speaks highly of the theoretical side of the programme and says ‘I learned how to conduct academic research which gave me the confidence to challenge the consensus by using different approaches.’ This helped him provide greater service to the client, demonstrating enhanced skills in theory and practice. Through the programme, Craig presented his findings at the Institute for Small Business & Entrepreneurship 2015 Annual Conference and was awarded the Best Track Paper.
The MBA is built around fantastic teaching, driven by research and expertise, underpinned by exceptional resources. Craig reflects positively on his experience at the Business School, offering encouragement and advice to prospective students. He says, ‘Get the most out of it. Make the most of all the resources that are available to you, not just the conventional study stuff but also the knowledge of the staff.’.