Tell us a bit about yourself, your background, and the course you are studying

Despite being ethnically Chinese, I was born and raised in Myanmar, Burma. Prior to studying MSc Business with Consulting at Warwick Business School, I studied for my undergraduate degree in Business Management at the University of Exeter. Before my undergraduate degree, I studied the IB curriculum at the United World College of South East Asia in Singapore. Therefore, I have been living away from my family since the age of 16. The MSc Business with Consulting course appealed to me as it seemed to focus on pushing students a step further than traditional teaching by providing more opportunities to network with industry professionals. It is a very interesting and insightful course that will prepare me for a future career in management consulting through real-life client projects and case studies.

What first attracted you to WBS, why did you choose to study here?

Not only did the overall brand image and reputation of WBS attract me, but the MSc Business with Consulting course itself was also one of the reasons why I chose to study here, as it wasn’t being offered by many other universities. Additionally, this specific course offered by WBS included modules that I thought would be really thought-provoking.

What would you say are the key things that sets WBS apart?

I think one of the key things that set WBS apart from other business schools are the practical opportunities that are available to all students. While learning theories and concepts is important, I find that the lecturers link these theories and concepts to case studies which makes the learning process a lot more engaging. Additionally, for my course, I am able to complete either a research-based project or Business in Practice course which is more practical. The element of choice is really helpful to students and enables you to tailor your course to your future career path.

What is the best thing about your course so far?

The best thing about my course so far is the number of networking opportunities. Every Friday afternoon we have guest speakers coming to WBS to tell us about their experiences working as an industry consultant. Their presentations are always very thought-provoking and inspiring and give me a clearer idea of which industry I would like to grow my expertise in.  

What is your favourite module? What do you cover on this module?

My favourite module so far is ‘Developing Consulting Expertise’. This module is a follow-up module from the first term, and it goes into more depth on some of the consulting topics and cases. This module aims to teach us the soft and technical skills required in order to enter a tier-1 consulting firm. In this module, we have covered topics such as project initiation and pre-project planning, how to produce effective and concise project reports and presentations, consulting toolkits, and key communication skills. These topics gave us a better insight into which kind of skills, concepts, tools and techniques are appropriate in different situations as a consultant. Additionally, these topics will be reflected on and practised through our real-life client projects.

What has inspired you most throughout your studies at WBS?

I have been most inspired throughout my studies at WBS by my classmates and the group work projects we have worked on together. I have had at least two group work projects per term, giving me the opportunity to work with classmates from a diverse range of backgrounds. I find it fascinating to hear everyone’s different points of view and understand more about their thought processes. Of course, group work projects are never easy and you can come across conflicts and disagreements, however, when you present your final project as a group, the pride you feel makes it all worthwhile. 

What sort of support have you received so far from the CareersPlus team? How has that helped you?

I have received lots of support from the CareersPlus team. I have attended career fairs, company seminars, guest speaker events and mock assessment centres. The careers fairs are often tailored to a certain industry and field which I find really useful as the information is beneficial to me and my field of interest. By attending these careers fairs I have networked with lots of different employers from lots of different companies and I have connected with them on LinkedIn for future reference. I have also found the mock assessment centres very useful as they gave me an in-depth insight into the assessment centre process and how to prepare for one. Last but not least, each MSc course has access to a careers coach who can help you figure out your future career path as well as helping you improve your CV.

Are you a member of any sports clubs or societies? How has being a member of a society or club benefited you?

I am currently a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) society. I feel like this society has benefited me in lots of different ways. Firstly, being from an ASEAN country I found lots of opportunities to network with people from ASEAN nations providing me with a sense of familiarity whilst living so far away from home. I also recently attended the ASEAN conference which was really interesting and I learned about how disruption and climate change have had a big impact on the ASEAN countries and their economies.

What do you aim to do once you graduate?

After graduation, my aim is to work within a consulting or marketing role. In the short term, I aim to continue working hard and develop my business analytical skills. Despite wanting to start my own business, I would like to work in the industry for a few years to gain some vital experience. I have been applying for job opportunities in both Myanmar and the UK, and long-term goal is to work in the UK and become an inspirational female leader in the future.

What are your tips for getting the most out of an MSc for those starting in September?

My top tip for prospective MSc students is to enjoy yourself as this could potentially be your last year as a student. Secondly, I would recommend that you take ownership of your own learning and educate yourself by listening to the news and reading articles so that you are up to date with the business world and the areas of business that you are most interested in. Absorbing this information will become very useful to you when you network with future employers and it may even provide you with good insights and ideas for your group projects as well. Lastly, you won’t have lectures and seminars every day so it is important that you strike a balance between studying and relaxing. I would recommend you join a society, attend events on campus, and make the most of the brilliant careers events to build your personal and professional network. 

What top tips would you give to prospective MSc students who are deciding if WBS is the right place for them?

For prospective MSc students who are deciding if WBS is the right place for them I would recommend that they research the course they are interested in, in detail. Sometimes the course title may excite you but the structure and content of the course may be different to what you expected, so it’s really important you do your research. Additionally, I would recommend that prospective students attend an open day if they are able to as it’s a great way to talk to current students who are studying the particular course you are interested in. It is also important to find out more about your learning environment and also where you are going to live during your studies. Do you want to live in a busy and lively city, or do you want to live in a quieter, student-focused city? This will play an important factor in narrowing down your choices and helping you to decide where is right for you.