MBA student profile: Rebecca Nikqi

‘Future Anything’ – two words, so simple yet full of endless possibility. There are no two words more fitting to describe my journey so far.

I was privileged to be awarded the Marsh and McLennan Women in Leadership MBA Scholarship in 2016. This scholarship gave me the opportunity to step into the University of Sydney's part-time MBA and be a part of a network of experienced and highly capable people from diverse career paths and backgrounds.

When I first started the MBA, I had a clear view of what success meant – progression in my career to more senior roles, earning more money and definitely a door to more opportunities. All great things but all are not great things in isolation without purpose, the capacity and capability for leadership, reflective practice and a strong sense of self awareness.

The MBA has been the vehicle for me to discover that my purpose is deeply rooted in being of service and support to others and that what brings me joy is making a positive impact in the lives of other people. 

The MBA has opened my eyes to what is possible, inspired the courage to question and given me the tools I need to bring my future anything to life. The MBA is about more than just learning skills and gaining knowledge, it has been a journey of self-reflection and personal growth. These are the elements critical to sustainable success, not just in your career but in all aspects of life.

In my current role as Senior Manager People and Culture, I coach leaders on how to get the best out of their people, maximise engagement and value the individuals and the team. The MBA has been the key support I have needed in progressing through leadership roles and has enabled me to develop my leadership capability. It has been a pivotal part of my leadership journey so far.

My biggest insight since undertaking the MBA has been that ultimately, at the heart of leadership is working to make others successful. It is about harnessing the collective power of the team to achieve exponentially better outcomes that serve the organisation, its people and the community it operates within. This approach to leadership honours the past, serves the needs of now; and enables the organisation to thrive into the future.

It is learnings like these that have enabled me to question what I am not seeing and harness the potential of the team; working more effectively and delivering better outcomes. The MBA is the best structured learning journey I have ever undertaken. If you are considering the MBA, my advice to you is to be prepared to put in the work, embrace the discomfort and lean in to the relationships you establish as part of the program. It is without a doubt one of the most challenging, rewarding and insightful learning journeys you will undertake; and worth every moment. 

Join our part-time MBA in 2020, and become your future anything.