Reflections from Residential Week: Finding Clarity, Connection, and Community

In global health, especially in emergency contexts where decisions often carry immediate consequences, life moves at a relentless pace. The days are long, the emails unending, and the pressure to respond, deliver, and adapt rarely eases. In that context, carving out a week for the Global Online MBA Residential Week at Warwick Business School almost felt like a luxury. In hindsight, it was one of the most valuable investments I made in myself in recent years. What I found during the Residential Week was not just an academic gathering; it was space, perspective, and – in many ways – a necessary recalibration.

The shift from the two-dimensional world of a screen to a three-dimensional classroom was profound. For months, my classmates had been familiar faces in small boxes, their voices compressed through laptop speakers. Our interactions were scheduled and confined to the camera's view. But from the first morning at The Shard, what had felt dispersed and remote quickly became tangible and human. We evolved from a group of professionals dialing in between meetings into a genuine, supportive community bonded by a shared purpose.

The academic sessions were rigorous yet refreshingly anchored in real-world application. I found the Operations Management module particularly relevant. Coordinating field responses, planning public health interventions, and spotting systemic weak points are part of my daily work, so the parallels with the frameworks we explored were immediately clear. Tools like gap analysis and process mapping were not just theoretical. They offered practical insights I could apply directly to emergency response coordination.

Beyond the classroom, what made the week unforgettable were the informal conversations and small, unplanned moments. Coffee breaks were filled with laughter, curiosity, and words of encouragement. Group dinners sparked candid conversations about career pivots, personal ambition, and the challenge of maintaining balance. There was a generosity in the way people listened and shared. In a programme that attracts such a diverse cohort, this openness fostered an environment where ideas and experiences could flow freely.

I left London at the end of the week not just intellectually energised, but personally grounded. The frantic urgency of my work in Geneva was still there, but my relationship to it had changed. I returned with a renewed sense of purpose, clearer than ever about why I chose this MBA and how it will shape my future impact. The week was a powerful reminder that true learning is not just about absorbing information, but is found in the quiet moments of reflection, the insights gained from different worldviews, and the simple power of human connection.

While the Residential Week is a mandatory part of the MBA, it felt anything but obligatory. It was not merely a requirement to fulfill, but an experience that enriched the entire journey. Structured yet expansive, demanding yet restorative, it offered a rare chance to pause, engage, and grow – both professionally and personally.