How to discover your ‘secret strengths’ by studying an MBA

I think most people in my cohort would tell you the same thing: aside from its impeccable reputation as one of the UK’s top universities, Durham is well-regarded for offering great return on investment (ROI). You get a top class, triple-accredited MBA at a fraction of the cost of some other courses. 

Because it’s a small cohort, I think you get a lot more valuable one-on-one time. I also have extended family in the region, and it was great to connect with them, and explore Durham as a city for the first time. It’s a beautiful, welcoming, friendly place.

Going back to school at nearly 40, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but I was expecting a lot of textbooks, a lot of lectures, and a lot of hard work. 

However, what I felt about the Durham MBA is it was about more than just hitting the books,it was about exploring things about myself I didn’t know. Hidden talents. Secret strengths. After my year at Durham, I don’t just feel as if I know more about business, I feel as if I know more about myself too. 

There were a few standout moments for me, like studying international business, where you get to learn a new language and go on a trip to your chosen country. I thoroughly enjoyed lectures at emlyon Business School and bothering local restaurants with my beginner-levelFrench. 

There’s also the boardroom exercise, a roleplay where I had to live and breathe the role of CEO of BP for over a month. Exercises like that are incredibly confidence-building. I was at a conference recently and ended up in a conversation about renewable energy, and the person I was chatting to asked if I worked in energy, and I replied: “No, I just roleplayed as the CEO of BP for a month!” 

I feel like the MBA gives you the confidence to speak clearly and articulately about so many different subjects, it’s like a superpower. 

The global nature of the MBA is one of its strengths. Working with people from all over the globe was like a mini world tour, all without leaving the classroom. You get to see different perspectives, different ways of working, hear diverse points of view. 

As someone who has only really worked in the UK and US, expanding my horizons through working with people with very different experiences to mine wasn’t just useful from a business perspective, it was also very rewarding from a personal one, too. 

Being good at your job doesn’t always make you a great manager or leader, and it’s those skills you really develop on the Durham MBA. It’s a transformative experience. It’s given me the tools I need to be a better leader, and that’s a commitment I’m taking forward with me, for the rest of my life.