Bhavani Suresh
Chief Executive Officer
Nbiz Infosol
Cohort of 2006
Bhavani’s career journey so far
“I started my career as a software developer and then moved into the training industry. I loved my training career and became center manager with my employer. Then I got an opportunity with Adnoc, where I was in an IT operations /Information security management role. It was during this period that I enrolled on the Global Part-time MBA programme with The University of Manchester. The MBA gave me very detailed insights into managing a business which was especially valuable when I started my own business in the UAE. My company - Nbiz Infosol – brings together all my career experience and focuses on delivering information solutions, training and management system services.
How did the MBA contribute to Bhavani’s career success?
The MBA made a real difference and gave me a very detailed overview of the different components of a business while helping improve my understanding of each of the various aspects such as financial, marketing, sales, HR.
Did you have specific goals when you started the MBA?
I always wanted to be an entrepreneur and the MBA definitely helped shape my career and ultimately helped me achieve my ambition.
Did your goals change during your studies?
I always remained committed to my career goal of starting my own business and I actually started planning to join the Global MBA programme once I had decided to become an entrepreneur. It’s thanks to the team at the University’s Middle East Centre and also with the support of my family and friends who all helped me realise my ambition.
What was the highlight of the MBA?
All the professors were outstanding and I especially enjoyed the economics course. The MBA workshop environment made me feel like I was attending classes back in my college days and I enjoyed this a lot.
Why the Manchester MBA?
Once I decided to join an MBA programme, I researched many programmes offered locally by universities and I also visited many of them for further information and details on the key factors such as accreditation, duration, fees and so on. I chose The University of Manchester MBA because it has triple accreditation and a global reputation, and the institution and the MBA qualification are recognised worldwide.
How important are your fellow students and alumni?
There’s no doubt that my fellow students were an important part of the overall MBA experience and I really liked the learning environment that we created and I especially enjoyed the face to face workshops, when we were all together with faculty. I can say that the student and alumni network – in the region and internationally – has helped me a lot to understand and appreciate different cultures thanks to the exposure to all these international students and alumni.
What were the challenges?
It was quite challenging, as I was working of course and also had my school-age child who needed a lot of attention. I was also a contributing volunteer with a number of different organisations. So, it was quite hard for me to meet all these commitments but with the support of my family, I was able to complete the programme successfully. I remember that on the day of the financial module exam, I was very sick with a very high fever and I thought I would need to cancel. Thankfully, in the end, I was able to manage it.
Is career timing important when considering an MBA?
It all depends on the individual, of course but I feel it’s better to do the MBA when the person has at least five years of experience in order to get the full benefits of the programme and to share the experience with other experienced business people. However, some people might want to do the MBA immediately after finishing their undergraduate degree, so it really is a personal decision – and of course you must find a suitable programme for which you are eligible.
What would you advise someone considering an MBA?
Some people might argue that one can gain all the knowledge and experience needed in business while working and this is equivalent or even beyond the scope of an MBA programme. But in reality, the University teaches the MBA programme in a structured way and you also get a lot of case studies to relate to your own experience and can benefit from the 360 degree view of managing a business. In real life, you may have exposure to more than one function of a business area but you may not know what happens in the rest of the company. For example, if you are in logistics you may not understand fully the finance side. But in the MBA academic programme you get a full view of the big picture and can relate to it more easily, and then you will be able to understand better in real life how certain decisions are made. You will also get a practical understanding of business and answers to the ‘why’ things work the way they do, which you really won’t understand without the perspectives from the MBA programme.
A platform to reach your career goals
In today's world, it is relatively easy to access education and join an undergraduate degree or a Master’s programme. But it is important to choose the right institution so that you can get all the benefits. The University of Manchester MBA adds value and stimulates your own critical thinking. The blended learning approach is also very interesting because you can meet your peer students and exchange information and knowledge. It is a wonderful platform to reach your career goals.”