James Brazier
Global Online MBA (2022-26)

Tell us a bit about yourself

I have a passion for fitness/sports, music and technology. As a youngster I played in several large basketball competitions in London. I have always been into technology and space and worked as an Engineering Manager at Heathrow Airport between 2015 and 2018. I then worked as a Solutions Manager for a global security technology organisation up until 2021, when I joined an FM organisation as a Solutions Director to support the growth of technology into the FM industry for Banking & Finance.

What first attracted you to Warwick Business School?

The prestige of Warwick Business School (WBS) is known globally, so that was a strong driver, coupled with the highly regarded Online MBA format, as it was a non-negotiable that I had to part-time learn online, so this course was perfect. I also found great reviews of the quality of learning and depth of experience of the lecturers from previous participants.

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

The module leaders have been truly inspiring with their insights into each of the disciplines being taught. Each of the modules have great content and a rich mix of articles/journals and external recommendations, but the module leaders are in a league of their own.

What is it like studying for an MBA?

Genuinely, very enjoyable, but highly taxing as a part-time student. I underestimated the level of planning and commitment required to maintain focus and keep up with the lessons. Having a family, an intense job and an interest in a family business has taken its toll! If I were to do it again, I would make space for work and the MBA – plus keep time available to relax between them.

Tell us about the community at Warwick Business School. 

The community is awesome! It is really supportive and everybody understands the challenge we all face so we have proactively been helping each other out. I have made some good friends from this and learnt a lot from my cohort in other industries.

Has the Leadership module had an impact on your leadership style? If so, in what way?

I think this module humbled me in a way that I am reassessing how I approach leadership. I actually found it made me question so much more than I was aware of and so it has been a process of completely starting again on how to lead, as opposed to just ‘improving’.

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

I genuinely want to lead an organisation that is doing something great for humanity, ideally in the space/technology sector. I am using the MBA to help me be more prepared across multiple disciplines, and to respect areas of business that I may not have paid attention to before. You don’t know what you don’t know!

What did you hope to get out of our programme? What have you actually got?

I want to be proud of achieving a degree that took significant effort to learn, to manage, to implement into my professional life, and to appreciate what other people have achieved in other areas of business that I have limited knowledge of. I like seeing people succeed, and I especially like to be around high-performers, and this programme has introduced me to a high number of intelligent people who have been a joy to work with.

How did you find the work/life balance?

Very challenging, but that is the nature of part-time studying whilst working. It is about how you manage your own expectations and keep yourself motivated.

Do you have any advice for anyone currently thinking about studying for an MBA?

A wise leader once said to me, ‘just start it as soon as you can; there will never be a right time!’. In all honesty, it is about mentally accepting that you are about to take a considerable amount of time out of your life for the next two years or so, and to make sure you remember that, and take it each week at a time.

Find out more about the Global Online MBA programme.