Leadership is often a lonely place, and making ourselves vulnerable by admitting we still have a lot to learn can be hard. But mixing with a diverse, but like-minded group of people enhanced and supercharged my career. Modules focused around familiar skills such as self-reflection, leadership and strategic decision-making soon put my mind at rest and I overcame any initial concerns, while still being challenged.

It was win-win for my employer/sponsor as well, with the return on investment for supporting my career - staff retention, engagement, increased loyalty, to name a few benefits - and allowing me to implement a range of changes, learned through my studies, which totally benefitted the organisation, colleagues and other stakeholders.

As someone coming into business from a more ‘non-traditional’ background, I hoped that achieving an Executive MBA would enhance my CV further, develop my knowledge in more unfamiliar areas, while still developing my areas of strength, ultimately, adding value to my organisation. It actually gave me all this and so much more, adding to my repertoire of enhanced skills, confidence and insight that has proved invaluable across my professional career.

The barrier, however, can be the ability to learn flexibly to fit in with your work life balance. Which is where our new 'no fear' Executive MBA will change the landscape for those wanting to grow in their leadership, but need to build their study around other commitments.