The Manchester MBA – “one of the best self-investments I have made in my life.”
Around 12 months ago, Haytham successfully completed his Manchester MBA journey, graduating with distinction. At the start of 2024, he stepped into his next career chapter and stepped up into a regional management role for Middle East & Africa with a new company.
Speaking recently as a guest speaker at The University of Manchester Middle East Centre, participating in the ‘Alumni Sharing Experience’ session for new students, he highlighted the crucial need to appreciate the MBA journey itself, not just the destination. “Three years ago, I was in their position—newly joined, sitting in the same seats, balancing busy business and personal lives, and wondering if I had made the right decision. Now, reflecting on the growth, skills acquired, and learnings I've experienced and gained from my MBA, it fills me with gratitude and pride. I feel a deep sense of belonging to The University of Manchester and its enduring legacy of success, which has profoundly shaped my professional and personal life. Best of luck to the Class of July 2024 on making the right decision and embarking on this exciting journey.”
This is Haytham’s journey, in his own words.
How did you first connect with the University of Manchester and what is your current relationship?
After moving into a new regional managerial job in Dubai and relocating from Saudi Arabia, mainly with distribution and business development management responsibilities, I planned to proceed with MBA studies. I did my online research and interacted with a lot of universities in the UAE until I came across The University of Manchester and started communicating with the team, who assisted me through the whole enrolment process. It was one of the best decisions I ever took in my life. Today, my relationship with the Centre team is very solid and I am very well connected with the regional alumni network. I consider myself a loyal and active alumni willing and supporting any initiative when required. I always promote Manchester with any professional who is seeking an MBA programme.
Why did you choose the Manchester MBA and how would you describe the study and learning experience?
Of course, I did a lot of desk research first before I came to a final decision and this was based on several factors. Manchester has enormous academic credibility and the Manchester MBA is triple accredited and recognised globally by multinationals. The presence of the Middle East Centre and local student support and careers and alumni teams was a vital factor in staying on track and connected. The Manchester Method of ‘learning by doing’ is based on real business cases and face to face, faculty-led workshops, so this is real world learning in action. The regional alumni network and the networking opportunities with students and business leaders who are connected with UOM, are invaluable. Referrals and recommendations from previous alumni about the MBA course options and the method of studying. Learning in a diverse cohort with different cultures, nationalities and professionals from various industries. My experience lived up to expectations on all the points above. It was one of the best self investments I have made in my life and it generated fruitful results, as soon as I completed my degree.
What were your motivations and objectives for joining the MBA programme? – did you believe you achieved them all?
My main motivations were to go back to studying and to upgrade my first academic degree (Engineering) after completing my bachelor’s 14 years previously. My objectives and goals were to enrol on a high-level business management programme, acquire the necessary leadership skills, learn more about various business aspects from marketing to supply chain to business strategy, and leading teams. In addition, my aim was to create a professional business network. This was absolutely achieved successfully and I’m using this in my daily work in business and even my personal life. Above all, the MBA gave me the confidence in my abilities and upgraded my business skills big time, to be frank.
How important were the faculty-led and face to face elements of the programme?
These elements were to get the full benefits from the programme. Interacting in workshops with different colleagues from different professions gave me a lot of exposure to other business and to people who think differently. The main added value behind the MBA programme is the concept of learning by doing and applying critical thinking during the workshops and even in the individual assignments. It gave me the opportunity to think differently and work with people in teams and groups in a different way – and just as importantly, create a very solid lifelong network of friends and alumni.
How would you describe your MBA and experience – and were there any particular highlights?
My journey was an investment in my future success and personal growth - and was a big push towards lifelong learning in order to stay updated with the latest business best practice. There were a lot of highlights especially during the workshops, with courses like negotiation skills and strategy & competition. However, the most memorable highlight was the graduation ceremony in Manchester, which I attended with my kids. This gave me a deep sense of accomplishment and pride and, for the kids, it was seeing their dad graduating and showing them the importance of lifelong learning.
What did you learn on the MBA that you still apply today?
How to negotiate.
How to manage my time.
How to manage teams from different cultures and work in groups.
How to build stratregy and business models for any business.
Leadership and managing teams successfully.
Entrepreneurial mindset.
How influential were your MBA colleagues and alumni in developing your career ideas and ambitions?
I created a very solid network of colleagues and alumni during and after my MBA. Our cohort was so connected and I built a lot of relationships during my studies and we are still in touch even now, exchanging expertise and communicating with each other to ask for advice or even collaboration, while doing business in various industries.
How important is the alumni community to you now?
The alumni community is very important for me. I’m still connected with the Middle East Centre and I’m a very active alumnus. I participate in most of the masterclasses and the other regional activities and celebrations, and I share my experiences with new students. I am always committed to the success of Manchester. I haven’t had much time recently to support the centre’s social responsibility initiatives but I’m always talking to the team and committed to supporting them, whenever possible.
How important has your relationship with the University been in your business and personal development?
This relationship is extremely important to me on a profession and personal level. The MBA gave me the confidence in my business skills, it helped me develop my abilities in understanding and executing business and it played a critical role in advancing my career and taking a new senior role in one of the biggest corporates in the medical sector. This was my objective when I started my MBA and I have managed to achieve this, with a more senior leadership role on a regional level. It’s going perfectly and I’m learning a lot. The MBA helped me to make this transition and create the opportunity to go even further to a global level, over the next few years.
How would you summarise your MBA journey?
It’s a story I shared a recently while attending the induction for the new MBA joiners for the July 2024 cohort, after seeing them a little bit anxious and with a lot of questions about the programme and how they could manage their time between work, studying, and family. I told them that three years earlier, I was sitting in the same seat, having the same thoughts and worried about how to accomplish this and how to manage my time, and get the programme done with all the benefits from the learning acquired.
However, after starting the programme and attending the first workshops, my perspective shifted completely. My mindset moved from focusing just quietly finishing the programme to immersing myself in acquiring real-world learnings, aiming not just for completion but for distinction.
Additionally, I seized the opportunity to build a diverse network of professionals across industries, creating invaluable connections that have become a cornerstone of my career. I've formed lasting bonds with my cohort and other cohorts, forging close friendships with fellow alumni and current students alike. This network not only enriches my personal and professional life but also opens doors to collaborative opportunities and continuous learning.
My focus on career development evolved to targeting significant roles within the Medical biotechnology industry, particularly with top-tier companies among the top 10. And the MBA helped me to take such role.
Now, as a proud alumni and active member of the university community, I'm actively involved in various initiatives, contributing to the growth and development of the MBA community. In addition, I’m fully committed to continuous learning and self-improvement, which has been essential in staying relevant and adaptable in an ever-evolving business environment.