'I am capable of doing anything now': Preethi's MBA story

I researched widely, spoke to people I trusted and applied to more than one programme. But Bath kept coming up in conversations. Everyone who knew Bath spoke highly of it and of its reputation. Bristol and London are both within easy reach. For someone who wanted to build a career in the UK, that location mattered.  

One of the deciding factors was the Multi-Project Suite. These are live consulting projects with real clients with the possibility to build a relationship that could potentially turn into something more.  

I had visited Bath as a tourist years before, so I knew the city a little. What I had not expected was how homely it would feel. I lived in the centre of town but every morning I looked out of my window at the hills and the greenery surrounding me. When I needed a break from the classroom, I would walk down to the lake on campus and watch the ducks and just forget the stress around me.  

Most of my classmates were under thirty, around ten years younger than me. I quickly realised I could adapt, match their energy and enjoy what felt like a second college experience.  

I also discovered something about the way I work with people. Without the hierarchies of the workplace, we were all equals. I found myself making sure everyone had the opportunity to contribute, especially the quieter voices, and helping the group move conversations forward.  

I realised I had already been doing much of this in my career. I was working on strategy, understanding markets and making presentations, but the MBA introduced me to the frameworks and concepts behind that work. I was doing many of the same things before, but now I could present them in a more structured and organised way, and the impact was much greater.  

From the start, I knew I wanted my consulting project to be in healthcare. Rather than waiting for a project to be allocated, I used the Bath alumni network to source my own. One connection led to NHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board. I found people in the cohort who wanted to work in the same space so we formed a team and together we delivered a decision-making framework for the organisation.  

When I applied to NHS Shared Business Services as a Senior Commercial Consultant, I was able to demonstrate all that I could bring to the role. I had financial analysis skills, entrepreneurial experience, healthcare sector knowledge and two live healthcare consulting projects on my record. I was able to demonstrate all the qualities they needed.   

Looking back, that experience reflected one of the biggest lessons I took from the MBA. It isn’t just about somebody teaching you things. It gives you access to resources, knowledge and opportunities, but it’s up to you how you use them. Sometimes it helps you work towards the goals you already have. Sometimes it helps you clarify what those goals should be and how you are going to achieve them.  

The MBA experience made me a stronger person. My husband was taking care of our two children back in Cambodia while I was here alone and that was really hard at times. But I came through it feeling capable of anything.  

One of the Multi-Project Suite modules was an entrepreneurship project, where our group had to choose a business opportunity and build an investor pitch proving its viability to a panel of judges. As a group we decided to focus our pitch around a sports app concept. I had no background in sport and no real knowledge about the technology behind it. None of that was familiar territory but we delivered it anyway , and we won!  

It gave me a lot of confidence and not just because of the result. The feedback from my team and the panel reinforced it. Any topic, anything that comes my way, I am able to learn, understand and deliver what is required.  

I am now working as a Senior Commercial Consultant at NHS Shared Business Services. I consult across NHS trusts, integrated care boards, hospitals and clinics. It’s the sector I set out to work in and the role I wanted.  

Was it worth the investment? Honestly, ask me again in three years. The financial return on an MBA is not always immediate and the timeline for success looks different for everyone. For me, there are benefits beyond financial reward that are much more immediate.  

What I can say is that the MBA gave me clarity – not just about where I wanted to go, but how to get there. It gave me more confidence in my ability and my skills. My presentations became clearer, more concise and to the point. And it expanded my network in ways that are still opening doors. Those are returns I can already see.  

If you’re considering the Bath MBA, come with the right expectations and mindset. Any MBA is a platform and it’s up to you as to how you make the most of it. You’re here to enhance your skills, enhance your knowledge, learn how to work together and expand your network. Look for those opportunities, get clarity and move forward.