Hi Dears, m name is Matteo and I'm working in Sydney with a leadership position in digital marketing. Since I was planning to start an MBA, I am looking for some advice. I hope to start a discussion to know your thoughts about my situation and my plans.
Before proceeding, I would like to write some information about my background. I joined the uni a bit later than my colleagues because, after the computer science diploma, I struggled to find a decent job in Italy. So, at 24, I joined uni and I graduated 4 years later. I got a Bachelor in Marketing in Milan.
During that time I had some experience in merchandising, it was a temporary job. Very operational, but has been useful because it has been related to my fields of studies.
During my last year at uni, I've also found an internship in a web marketing agency in Milan. Digital marketing was my goal because I've studied computer science (even though I've never did some serious programming, I have that "forma mentis" and I'm really keen to understand how technology works). After the graduation they offered me a contract. I then moved to Sydney when that agency has been acquired by a global media group. Here is my career history:
- 3.5 years in a digital marketing agency in Milan, with operational roles;
- 8 months in a global digital agency in Sydney, manager role with team management responsibilities as well as some operational tasks;
- I have now been employed by a client, as head of digital.
As you can understand, I feel I'm having a great career progression. After almost 5 years working for global digital client, I now have a senior leadership role and oversee the whole digital activities for a big player in the education industry in Australia.
At this point, I was thinking about starting an MBA and to do that, I wrote pros and cons as well as the reasons why I would/wouldn't do it.
Reasons:
1) Career shift: maybe. I would like to continue working in marketing. I don't want to work in a corporate bank for example. I can consider a consulting firm as management consultant or similar. Also, they are now expanding their resources to offer digital marketing services.
2) Career progression: yes. I would like to step up from digital into a more strategic and broader marketing role in the future as CMO or Strategic Consultant. Maybe I can achieve this goal without an MBA though.
3) Industry shift: yes. I work as head of digital for an e-learning provider. Shifting, with the same role, to another industry could be easy depending on that industry. Services would be easier, retail or FMCG would be harder.
4) Relocation: yes. I'm planning to come back to Italy at some point. The job market there is much more competitive than here in Sydney (more offering, less demand) and having an MBA + international experience could help me to stand out the crowd. Even though for CMOs, an MBA is not mandatory but I find it more and more "considered it as a plus" in some job postings I read.
5) Networking: yes. This is fundamental, especially in the digital marketing field. It's fast paced, new tech and start ups are popping up everywhere, every time. I'm attending a lot of events here. An MBA can enable me to empower my network further.
6) Wage: no. My actual wage it's fairly high, and I believe money shouldn't be a goal, but a consequence of your career.
I would love to hear your opinions now. Do you think an MBA could be helpful for my career and my goals? I've already decided and I will probably start the admission, but I would like to hear your opinion.
The next question I asked myself was: which EMBA should I do? I must work and cannot stop for 1 year or 2, so full time MBAs are not an option. These my thoughts.
1) MBA in Australia: discarded. Australian business schools are not well ranked, then if I plan to move back to Italy I see no point in doing an MBA here and build my network primarily in Australia.
2) SDA Bocconi: this is an option, that I discarded though. Well ranked, but it has a strong focus on finance and also I must wait to come back to Italy before.
3) Online MBA at IE Business School or Warwick BS. This seems the best option. They are both well ranked, could allow me to work and study. I have only two questions to answer: how can I establish a good network with an online MBA, and which is more focused on business strategy.
Do you have any other to suggest? It must allow me to study and work, easy reachable from Sydney (blended programs are maybe better) and of course be strategy-focused and well ranked.
Let me know what do you think!
Cheers
[Edited by frenchbulldog on Oct 09, 2015]
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