5 Minutes with MBA Graduate Tina Vaccaro

Earlier this year we caught up with MBA Graduate Tina Vaccaro to discuss her experience studying a programme with a work-applied learning focus.

When you started the MBA, what were you aiming to get out of it?

What I wanted to achieve was longevity of career. I wanted to sustain the types of roles, positions, responsibilities and level of management that I was working at for a longer period of time. I was finding that some companies were registering a preference for more qualifications and formal credentials, and I was finding that in Adelaide—being a bit of a smaller market—it was a little bit limiting in the levels of management that I could achieve. So I wanted to make sure that I could embark on study that was going to help me and grow towards senior management.

How did you manage to balance your work, study and family commitments while studying the MBA?

To balance all of the commitments, time and dedication wasn’t easy. However, I knew it was for a finite period of time and not forever. I was absolutely brutal and ruthless with my organisation, time management, commitment and making sure that I kept focused and stayed on the study schedule. It was well and truly worth it. I found the commitment to probably be more difficult than the theory itself, but so worth it. I found it invigorating and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

How did you find the work-applied learning focus of AIB and learning from practitioners in the field?

I had worked in general management predominantly led by finance functions in my career, which was a cross-pollination across most of the general modules within the MBA, so I found all of the learning material extremely relevant. I was able to apply it almost the next day, which also helped me with the assignments and exams where I could call upon experience.

Would you like to find out more about the AIB MBA? Get an info pack here.

This article has been constructed by Megan Baker from an AIB interview. The very best has been done to accurately reflect the thoughts and opinions of the participant.