Simon Zoghbi

Rocking the boat: Taking the quantum leap to the ultimate business leadership role

Simon Zoghbi has recently moved into a new role with a new organisation, stepping up from his previous VP business leadership role to the ultimate strategic decision-maker position of the organisation - CEO. Simon had acquired solid business experience and a track record of success in a career built over many years but – proving it is never too late – decided to pursue the MBA aged 49. 

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Timing was still important and the decision was made as he saw the opportunity to fit the commitment into his personal and family context. While reflecting that the MBA “wasn’t a walk in the park” and he could have studied his MBA at a younger age, he still believes that the MBA journey made a significant impact on his career advancement and personal development. It capped and validated his career experience, enhanced his professional profile and gave him additional confidence and credibility to enable the “quantum leap” into the CEO role. 

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Simon emphasises the importance of the MBA, particularly in a business environment that increasingly values formal educational credentials in leadership roles. But he also challenges the idea that age diminishes the desire or ability to achieve new professional highs. He shared his thoughts on the sidelines of The University of Manchester-Dubai graduation celebration 2025 – a celebration he shared with his family members, who all played their role in his MBA success. 

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Timing is everything and Simon Zoghbi’s decision to start his MBA journey aged 49 coincided with his children’s education milestones (he made the decision on his son’s graduation day) and while his daughter was still preparing for university. Balancing his large family responsibilities and education was a strategic choice – appropriate for a business strategist. He had already held several senior roles and was a business leader with a large set of responsibilities, so why the MBA and why now?

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“I ended up choosing my timing wisely. When I graduated, my daughter went to France to study and my youngest daughter was still in school. It was still a tough call to make this quantum leap but I thought, if I didn't do the MBA now, I would never do it. This was also the moment where I should do it. The positives were that I was in a senior role in a big organisation. So, for most of the MBA case studies, I was actually doing them in practice as a business leader at the time.”

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Simon’s academic pursuit was motivated by the knowledge that for a move into a strategic leadership role such as CEO, he would need to know more about metrics, benchmarks, and case studies relevant to effective decision-making—especially in light of fast evolving business landscapes. With an established career in a senior role, Simon was able to integrate live case studies into his MBA experience, often drawing on engagement with brands like Lego, linking his real-world experience to academic theories – something he was also able to share with his cohort. 

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“My MBA journey in those two years introduced theories that I could recognise and challenge because I was coming from the experience world. I also made my fellow students’ lives easier because every time we were working in groups, I had the real-world case study ready for us.” 

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But going into academia and going back into the classroom was still challenging: “The toughest was the reading (you have to do the reading!) and the assignments but at the same time, it was a nice challenge. I started to find my own time and my own rhythm. When you find your own pace, you start adopting it for every course. So, now we do the workshop, then a month or two to submit the assignment, then the presentation with the group. So, we divided the workload and this helped a lot. 

Sometimes in the office, when my calendar was free, I just opened my laptop and opened ‘Blackboard’ to do some reading. It's really interesting when you find the rhythm.”

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Things started to change for Simon as soon as he made his MBA commitment: “When I started my MBA, I was promoted to vice president in the company I was working for at the time. The day I graduated in Manchester, I had the first contact with the organisation I'm working for now, as CEO. I couldn't say no to the opportunity.” 

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Prior to his current role, his career over the previous eight years had included substantial accomplishments - expanding the business from two retail locations to 18 and achieving remarkable financial growth with consistent double-digit increases annually.

“The MBA matters. Some may say it doesn't matter but it does matter whether you have an MBA (or not) especially if you are approached for a CEO role. The MBA is an accreditation that gives you – I would not say confidence but I would say, recognition and credibility. Not only for your hard work and achievements but at the same time, the academic status that is important in a CEO role. 

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“Of course, I accepted the offer and started in November. My new role is amazing. When I was VP, I was heading the business but it's different you are responsible for determining the vision, as CEO.  So now, I'm working on the strategy and this puts you in a different seat. I'm happy about it and thank the University for an amazing journey. I think it's very important for every executive or a person in a leadership role to grow and the MBA is a great investment in your career. I always felt I needed to complete my professional profile and to groom myself further, while using those 25 years of experience. And that's what I did.” 

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He found the academic frameworks and theories helpful in decision-making and strategy formulation. The MBA also provided a structured approach to problem-solving and understanding business dynamics. Simon experienced "aha moments" that inspired new ideas and strategies for his workplace.

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“The MBA learning is not all in one direction. The case studies I used in my assignments came  

from my workplace but at the same time, I was able to implement those new theories and ideas from the MBA in my workplace to achieve better outcomes. So, it helped me a lot, big time.” 

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Simon talks about the MBA validating his experience: “Confidence at every level is important when you're stepping up to the big corner office, the driver's seat. It helps you in decision making because at the end of the day, the call is yours. It helps me a lot because leadership is a challenge, especially at times of disruption and crisis. But it's also rewarding - I'm not here for the ride, I'm here for the challenge. Where I am now, I have much more freedom to implement new ideas, new strategies, new services that will add value. Someone needs to rock the boat and I'm going to be rocking it. That's why I accepted the role – staying where I was would have been easy but it's not me.”

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“My advice to anyone who wants to do the MBA is - don't overcomplicate it. I believe it's important to know what to read. And at the same time, choose the assignments that you understand and relate to your industry and experience. At the end of the day, if you work in a certain industry, you need to use all these courses to apply to your workplace, appropriately depending on your seniority and experience.” 

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Simon remains active in the regional alumni community, recognising its value for professional connections and opportunities. He has referred colleagues to the MBA programme and is willing to assist others in their career development. He values the connections made during his studies and sees potential for collaboration in their current role. He believes in the importance of giving back to the alumni network and supporting future graduates.

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“As an alumnus, I'm quietly active in terms of encouraging and referring others to consider joining. I'm active when the University asks me about something, such as sharing my MBA experiences with potential candidates. I am also thinking about approaching alumni as a way to help fill some positions I need in my new role and organisation. I am always happy to help.” 

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What does he tell people interested in the MBA? “If I can do it at the age of 49, you can do it easily. If I had done it when I was 30, I would have been CEO 12 years ago. So, that's what I tell people who are lucky if they are in their 30s - do it now and don't think twice. Why? Because the MBA experience is an elevator that will help you grow faster in your career. I didn't have this privilege and waited for the right time. I learned it the hard way but it's never too late.

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“The MBA was the cherry on top of the icing on the cake. My MBA journey was very positive from the beginning to when I graduated. I have moved into a new role and now I’m CEO and a Manchester graduate. The MBA has been fantastic for me and it helps you in your career. You will start thinking in a different way and you will start seeing things from a different angle.” 

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