How my MSc Management helped me launch my career in strategy

We caught up with MSc Management alum Md Arafat Bin Aziz, who volunteered as a course ambassador during his time at WBS and is now a Graduate Strategy Analyst at National Grid.

Why did you choose the MSc Management at WBS?

“While the MSc Management (MiM) programme at WBS has always been one of its flagship courses, the fact that this course offered an embedded international module and has been consistently ranked high among Europe’s finest degrees drew my attention to it. The course also had a very high employability and a diverse cohort in the previous years, which were also pivotal in my decision-making.”

From WBS to National Grid

“After graduating, I joined National Grid UK as a Graduate Strategy Analyst. During my time at WBS, I also completed a summer internship with the UK Civil Service, specifically at the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero.”

How did your time at WBS prepare you for your current role?

“While I was doing my Master’s at WBS, I had the opportunity to interact with people from very different and diverse backgrounds as part of assignments and projects. This really shaped my conversational skills and made me feel more confident working in groups. This helped me a lot to settle at work as I have to interact with people from various departments and functional areas. 

“The CareersPlus team at WBS was incredibly supportive. Their internal job platform helped me discover opportunities aligned with my goals. I was also lucky enough to be invited to present my assignment work at the Annual MiM Conference 2024, where I had the opportunity to network with alumni and industry experts.”

What specific skills or experiences from the programme have been most useful in your career so far?

“The skills which I have found to be the most relevant at my current role would be the soft skills I developed during my time at WBS. I had the opportunity to present at conferences, in classrooms, and via online recordings. This really shaped my confidence in public speaking. I also learned a lot about presenting effectively to a large audience. Furthermore, conducting market analysis to generate actionable insights has paid off a great deal as I actively tried to put the feedback gathered from my faculty to use at work.”

What impact has the programme had on your career trajectory so far?

“I would say the degree itself was incredibly valuable to help me land this job in the first place. Even with some fledgling work experience, it can be a bit difficult to land a job in a very competitive market like the UK. Graduating from a reputed business school like WBS does act like a seal of approval to the recruiters in many cases. Another aspect that I have found to be helpful is the ability to focus on multiple deliverables by being good at multi-tasking. WBS certainly prepared me for it as I had to juggle between different submissions, classes, exams, etc. 

“My master’s experience was nothing short of a journey filled with adventures and a steep learning curve. Acting as an ambassador for the course allowed me to interact with prospective students from different parts of the world and share my experience of the programme and WBS in general. Since I joined my new role at National Grid, I have found the importance of graduating from a reputed business school as it definitely puts you in a league of the elite.”

How has being an alum of WBS benefited you and your career?

“It has certainly helped me gel with other alumni at work! It’s so good to see that WBS has such a wide-reaching impact in various industries. It’s always a good starting point for any professional relationship if you can bond over your alma mater.”

What advice would you give to current students?

“My advice to the current students would be don’t be afraid to take a leap of faith. You never know what a certain door might lead towards. Always say yes to any sort of opportunity to brush up on your skills or explore something new. And don’t forget the power of positive attitude. While things can be quite competitive when it comes to employment, you can go a long way with the right mindset.”

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