How Kwong Chuen Conquered The MBA: One Bite at a Time

When Kwong Chuen began his MBA journey in 2017, he set himself the modest goal of achieving a passing grade. Completely exceeding his own expectations, by the end of his degree, he had earned an impressive distinction average and secured the promotion at work he’d been after.

Kwong’s fulfilling career with Australia Post began in 2007 when he joined the organisation as Production Manager, a role in which he led a team of 50.

Prior to studying his MBA, Kwong admits that he was often challenged at work to come up with initiatives that felt beyond his capabilities. He shared, “I felt that, at the time, I was missing something.”

Making a commitment to himself to study an MBA, Kwong initially researched traditional university avenues. Requiring attendance at lectures and undertaking 2-3 subjects per semester, it was clear to Kwong that on-campus learning wasn’t going to suit his lifestyle.

When looking into what AIB’s online MBA could offer him, it was the flexibility and the ability to set his own parameters when it came to learning that won Kwong over. Soon after, he enrolled with AIB.

Reflecting on how he felt at the start of his degree, Kwong shared, “When I first started the MBA, I was most afraid of the additional workload because at the time I thought I was barely coping with my work commitment.” If he didn’t need to repeat any subjects, Kwong thought he would be pretty content with that.

In the end, Kwong did so much more than that. He achieved a GPA of 6, which is a distinction overall. He tackled his MBA by splitting the course work into daily tasks, focusing on one topic at a time.

“By breaking down the two-year degree into day-to-day study requirements, plus being disciplined and patient, I got through it. It’s a bit like eating an elephant a bite at a time.”

Towards the end of 2018 and at the tail end of his studies, Kwong finished eating that elephant and got his prize too, winning the promotion to Senior Project Manager. “The MBA contributed to my recent promotion, and overall it made me a much better operator.”

After graduating with his peers on June 22, 2019, Kwong shared these wise words for future MBA students who feel just like he did.

“It has been an adventure. Self-doubt set in on many occasions but never overwhelmed the determination to complete. For those who are taking the same adventure, we all started the MBA with our own reasons. Remember them in moments of doubt and focus on learning one topic or even just one sub-topic that day. The moment of self-doubt eventually passes. The feeling of finishing the degree is amazing.”

We’re thrilled for Kwong and all that he’s accomplished, and eagerly await to see what’s next on his journey.

Click here to get the AIB MBA information pack and chat about your career goals with an AIB Course Advisor.