Alpa Parekh (MBA 1999)

What was I doing when I decided to do the MBA
I was working for a telecommunications company between Washington DC and London and I was helping them set up offices in the UK.  I had to write business plans, do budgeting and more…I thought to myself that an MBA would help me sharpen my skills and make my job easier.

Why I chose Cranfield
I was 25 when I decided to do an MBA, so for a year I did extensive research both in the US and in the UK. I interviewed with Darden in the US, visited Harvard and Stanford both and in the end I found Cranfield’s comprehensive programme, that included both technical management skills as well as people management skills, most appealing.  Also, I was impressed that it was all compressed effectively into just 12 months!

What I got out of it
The immediate impact of an MBA was that it enabled me to sharpen my business skills, increase my marketability and obtain higher salary.

Two years after the MBA I started my own consulting firm and despite the downturn in the economy in the US, I was able to win work and build invaluable network.

Since then, I have changed my career direction and worked for small and large consulting firms and worked with C-level management and Audit Committees.

After all these years, I continue to draw upon the skills learnt on the MBA at Cranfield.