Global Online MBA alum Ola Åkesson reveals his motivation for applying for the MBA and how the programme helped him realise his career aspirations.

What did you do before embarking on your MBA?

Prior to the MBA I built biomethane plants which produce renewable gas from waste and organic products.

What prompted you to study for an MBA?

I always knew I wanted to progress beyond engineering into more commercial roles. I wanted to fill gaps in my knowledge, especially around business, strategy and finance, as well as to reinforce the other areas of my knowledge from the experience that I already had. I knew that my small firm would not be able to provide this as there wasn't the structure that I needed nor the time to undertake training, so I decided to invest in myself by applying and joining the Full-time MBA. 

How have the CareersPlus team supported you?

The CareersPlus and Employer Relations team were very helpful during my time on the MBA, with workshops and presentations on CVs, interviewing and LinkedIn. There was personal support with introductions to alumni at companies I was interested in, which allowed me to get an inside view on the companies themselves, as well as their application processes. I also received support with interview practice as and when I needed it.

They were also able to introduce me to a number of alumni in certain companies that I was interested in via LinkedIn and/or email which allowed me to get an inside view on the company itself as well as the application process.

Post MBA, have you realised your career aspirations?

Yes, definitely. I spent just over a year in a similar industry before moving industry completely after Covid to do something very different and learn more for a couple of years. I am now back in the renewable energy industry but in a much more senior and purely commercial role which was exactly what I wanted the MBA to help me do. 

The MBA supported me in making this move by teaching me as a lot about strategy and thinking ahead, which changed my outlook on my role. The MBA certification, along with the financial and mergers & aquisition modules, also enabled me to get a role at Deloitte, which rounded out my CV and experience greatly, allowing me to go back into industry at a much higher level because of the learning and experience gained in that company.

What plans do you have for the future?

I plan to remain in this role for the next few years as I help a new business build and achieve its 2030 targets. I will consider my options as I progress in the role but my target is potentially becoming Managing Director of the business or moving into another industry within the business to expand my experience further.

Can you tell us a bit about your new role as co-chair of the Sustainability Professional Network?

As an alum, I'm proud to have recently been appointed as co-chair of the new WBS Sustainability Professional Network, the goal of which is to bring together WBS students and alumni to discuss and learn about the role of sustainability in businesses as we aim to reach our Net Zero goals. We plan to arrange face-to-face events and webinars throughout the year, which will cover a number of wide-ranging topics across sustainability to highlight how it is key to every part of business and should be central to all business decisions.