1. Being a successful Programme Manager Do’s, Don’ts & How’s - A perspective from an MBA graduate Adela Papac Director of Communications Association of MBAs

2. My roles: AMBA’s Director of Communications Westminster MBA Graduate
Global AMBAssador
Recipient of WBS MBA scholarship
Volunteered at WBS
Business School Marketing & Comms department

3. It all connects! 2. Recipient of WBS MBA scholarship 3. AMBA
Student member
4. Volunteered
@WBS 5.
6. Global AMBAssador
7. AMBA Director
of Communications
8. AMBA
member
9. WBS
alumna
1. WBS MBA student

4. What are MBA students really like?

5. MBA students expect a lot!

6. Case study of an MBA student

7. MBA students can be competitive among themselves
But also
homogenous
as a group

8. Psychology of the group
Groups breed conformity
Identify ‘the leader’ of the group (not always obvious!)
Winning over the leader will help you better manage the group

9. MBA students’ expectations
No 1 - JUMPSTARTING THEIR CAREERS AND GETTING A DREAM JOB
Opportunities
Professional development
Networking
New experiences ….

10. 3 things that MBA students don’t like:
Bad organisation (“You are trying to teach students how to organise, and you are not organised!”)
Not taking feedback into consideration (“It translates as not caring!”)
Treating MBA students as kids, not as high-end customers

11. 8 qualities you need to have to win your MBAs over:
Be dependable
Be prompt and professional
Follow through
Understand students’ needs
Have empathy
Have personal approach
Be genuine
Protect their interests

12. Engagement
A route to better mutual understanding between business schools and students

13. Engagement – How? Part-time students jobs at university Volunteering
Serving as a students ambassador
Promoting your business schools through Marketing and PR opportunities
Social media

14. How good are you as a Programme Manager?

15. Question 1
You are organising a study trip to Paris, as part of the International Business Negotiation module. The students are supposed to participate in meetings with French/international companies and learn on real life examples how international negotiations work. Due to the unexpected budget cuts, the trip has to be cancelled in the last minute. What do you do?

16. Question 1
a) You let your MBA Director communicate that decision to students, as after all, it was him/her that decided that funds for the trip have to be reallocated.

17. Question 1
b) Explain to students that the trip had to be cancelled due to organisational changes in the programme, but promise that a suitable alternative will be organised in a shortest time possible with international companies that operate in your local area.

18. Question 1
c) You send an official communication to students saying that the trip to Paris had to be cancelled because the building where you were supposed to have negotiation lectures and meetings has burned down.

19. Question 2
You are taking a group of students to Asia for an international study trip. On the 2nd day, you are attending the presentation on the best market entry strategies for that specific market. You are feeling a little bit jet-legged and tired.
What do you do?

20. Question 2
a) During a refreshment break, you make yourself a cup of tea or coffee to help you wake up. If you see it’s not working, you go out to get some fresh air.

21. Question 2
b) You leave the group and go back to the hotel to have a proper sleep. After all, nothing is more important.

22. Question 2
c) You fall asleep during the lecture, in full view of everyone.

23. Question 3
There have been new visa changes, and gifted international students who want to become enterprenuers now have a route to stay in the country following their graduation. But the school has to apply for a special permit first. A student sends you an expressing their interest to join the scheme.
What do you do?

24. Question 3
a) Even though the student sent several s both to you and your MBA Director, you don’t do anything, as it is the University, and not the business school, that takes care of these things.

25. Question 3
b) You ask the student why does he want to become an entreprenuer in the first place? That is so risky and uncertain, especially in this economic climate.

26. Question 3
c) You forward this to the relevant department and ask for guidance. After that you go back to the student sharing your findings and instructing them on the next steps.