Tell us a bit about yourself

I am currently a full-time MRes/PhD Business & Management student and a mother of a four-year-old boy. I am Egyptian, but I also hold a British passport. So, I am not very new to British culture, yet the whole experience at Warwick Business School is different.

What first attracted you to Warwick Business School?

First of all, the reputation of the University in general and WBS specifically. It also has some of the best professors in the areas I am interested in, including Professor Deniz Ucbasaran, Professor Innan Sasaki, Professor Davide Nicolini and Professor Ammon Salter. In addition, I have friends who graduated from this programme and found jobs in well-reputed institutions.

What elements of the programme do you value the most and why?

 There are so many elements in this programme that I like. First, the modules are varied yet very specific to what we need to learn for our careers and are informative.  The way the programme is designed may look a bit tough since there is limited time given to the PhD research in specific, however, you get all the support needed, and in fact, you get proper training to be ready to start the PhD project.

Second, my cohort is so nice, and we are a diverse group. How cooperative and affectionate my cohort is has made a huge difference to my overall experience. Third, we get all the needed support from academics, even those who are not in my own group. Finally, the PhD office is always there and always supporting us individually with all our personal and general requests.

What is it like studying for an MRes/PhD?

I truly enjoy being part of this programme and am proud to have been accepted into it. One of the most important things you get to experience is the access to top scholars in the field, and this makes a huge difference when you can socialise and interact with these scholars in terms of getting their advice, but also networking for the future.

Can you tell us about your career plans? What’s next for you?

My long-term goal is to pursue a career in academia. I used to teach in Cairo University for over 10 years and during this time, I have developed a strong commitment to higher education, research, and mentoring students.

My next step is to further develop my academic profile through advanced research and international collaboration. I would love to contribute to impactful research while continuing to teach and support students in higher education. Ultimately, I aspire to secure a faculty position at a leading institution in the UK or Europe, where I will have the opportunity to achieve my academic goals.”

What do you hope to get out of our programme? What have you actually got so far?

After completing the MRes element of the programme, I believe I have had the appropriate training that I needed to be on track with working on high-quality research. Also, as mentioned before, having the privilege of interacting with top scholars, whether those who are from WBS or even seminar speakers, has had great implications on the amount of exposure and networking that truly helps build a stronger research career path.

I have received tremendous support not only from Warwick Business School but from the University of Warwick Research Culture unit. I was fortunate to secure a grant that provided valuable opportunities to develop both personally and professionally, while also enabling me to support colleagues across the university and contribute to building a culture of development and collaboration

How do you find the work/life balance?

A bit challenging with a young boy. Also, because of the long waiting list for nurseries that we had to experience, I was struggling at the beginning with finding the right and safe environment for my son. If it wasn’t for my family support I wouldn’t have been here. Sometimes I needed more time for myself and my family, but there were moments when I didn’t have much freedom to do so. But again, with the support and some flexibility in the programme, it passed. Also, more importantly, I had the understanding of my supervisors.

Do you have any advice for anyone currently thinking about studying for a MRes/PhD?

I highly recommend it as there is a huge opportunity to learn new things and meet academics who will highly elevate your experience and way of thinking. Also, the support you get to go out for conferences and summer school will provide you with an amazing opportunity to meet people from all over the world and get the essential networking you need to develop.