Ray

What influenced your decision to choose Surrey for your MBA?

My path to the MBA was actually quite organic. Before joining the programme, I was already at the University of Surrey, working as a post-doctoral researcher in Astrophysics. Honestly, I was missing the "rock and roll" of the corporate world, and decided I needed to start planning my transition back to the industry. I did some research and discovered that the Surrey MBA was ranked as one of the best in the country - so everything I was hearing in the university corridors was true! That sealed the deal for me. I decided to apply, and the university was very generous and awarded me a great scholarship, which made the decision even easier.

How would you describe your overall experience of studying for an MBA at Surrey?

I'm genuinely impressed by the variety of the syllabus. Now, looking back as both a Senior Product Manager and as a Director of my own company, I can see that it gave me all the tools I needed to run a business successfully. But beyond academics, it had a huge impact on me psychologically; it gave me the security and confidence to go out there and work at very senior levels. It basically killed my impostor syndrome.

How did your MBA cohort at Surrey enhance your learning experience?

I have to say it: I could not have been luckier. I had the best cohort in the world. They are incredible people and they were an absolutely key part of my experience. I learned just as much from them as I did from the lecturers.

What was the most valuable outcome of completing the MBA?

For me, the most valuable outcome was simply being able to make that transition. I went from incredibly specific academic work - studying the star formation process in galaxies - to a fantastic managerial position, and I was also able to create my own company. That leap wouldn't have been possible without the MBA.

What career support did you receive from Surrey?

We got support from day one. One of the most valuable lessons, funnily enough, happened during the first few weeks when someone came in to show us how to use LinkedIn professionally. This was back in 2018, and people were still posting pictures from their weddings as their profile pictures! It was a real eye-opener that helped us immediately.

But I would like to specifically mention our career coach Janice Chalmers, who supported me through a very complicated transition. She helped me immensely with my CV and with preparing for interviews.

How has earning an MBA from Surrey influenced or transformed your career? 

It has completely transformed my career path. In my astrophysics role, I was creating simulations using High Performance Computers (HPC) and processing gigabytes of data. The MBA helped me channel those technical competence into transferable skills that add real value to a company. I started at RLDatix, a company in the healthcare sector, creating their Business Intelligence tools, and from there I transitioned into Product Management. I now feel very lucky to be a Product Manager at Genomics England, involved in the 'Generation Study,' which is a pioneer study in the world sequencing newborns' DNA to search for roughly 200 conditions.