Two professionals. Two industries. One transformative Global MBA experience that shaped their leadership lens.
The New Currency of Career Growth
The professional world has moved beyond credentials as a passport to success. In today’s world, agile leadership, global exposure and strategic thinking are the new must-haves and the premium on them has never been higher. Across multiple industries, on multiple levels, professionals want more than certifications — they want transformation.
Enter Robert Francis and Bee Nee Khaw, two professionals with vastly different backgrounds, one rooted in global data infrastructure, the other in corporate finance and investor relations. But here’s what they have in common: they both hold a Global MBA from Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS).
Whether it’s steering the development of hyperscale data centres or shaping investor strategies in listed corporations, both alumni credit their Global MBA for expanding their capabilities, strengthening their networks and sharpening their leadership edge. Their journeys illuminate the power of education not just to inform but to transform.
“An MBA is not just about textbooks or theory, it’s about learning to think differently, lead with purpose and step confidently into more strategic roles,” said Robert Francis.
Why They Chose the Global MBA
Robert, now Director at DataVolt, was managing mission-critical infrastructure projects across regions when he recognised a need: not more technical expertise, but deeper strategic clarity and leadership agility. His career trajectory, starting from Singapore, progressing to Malaysia and recently earning a promotion to a leadership role in the United Arab Emirates, reflects how the Global MBA fast-tracked his international progression. “I had to realign my financial plans and structure my life around this goal,” he recalls. “But the outcome was worth every sacrifice.”
For professionals eyeing regional or cross-border opportunities, recognition matters. The University of Manchester’s (UOM) accreditation by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, UAE (MOHESR), offered an added layer of legitimacy, a credential that aligned with Robert’s career ambitions and eased his transition into the Middle East’s competitive leadership landscape.
For Bee Nee Khaw, already a qualified ACCA accountant with Big Four experience, the MBA was a pivotal move. Immediately after graduation, she pivoted from internal finance roles to lead Corporate Finance and Investor Relations, taking on strategic responsibilities including investor communication, market analysis, and finance storytelling. “Progressing to senior management demanded more than technical acumen,” she explains. “The MBA helped me evolve from a finance specialist into a forward-looking corporate leader.”
Their reasons varied, but the solution aligned: a globally respected programme with rigorous academics and unmatched flexibility.
The Power of Global Exposure
One of the unique advantages of the programme lies in its global immersion. Through study trips and international workshops in cities like Dubai, Manchester, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, students are able to immerse themselves in a diverse business environment, which helps in sharpening their cultural fluency and leadership perspective.
While Bee Nee embraced this first-hand, learning alongside peers from across industries and regions, Robert experienced the global exposure through the programme’s international curriculum. For both, it broadened their ability to lead with empathy and adaptability across markets.
This global perspective proved critical as both navigated complex cross-border challenges. Robert reflects, “It reinforced that there is no one right way to lead,” he says. “Local logic and values matter. That mindset shift made me a more empathetic and adaptive leader.”
By blending international viewpoints with local application, the programme offered more than technical know-how; it built cultural intelligence.
Bee Nee, on the other hand, embraced the diversity in full. “Learning alongside professionals from different industries and countries elevated the whole experience. The cultural contrast sparked so many insights that I apply even today in my investor relations work.”
Flexible Learning for High-Achievers
What stood out most to them wasn’t just what they learned, but how they learned it. The Global MBA’s blended delivery model, which combined the discipline of online study with the depth of in-person workshops, redefined what higher education could look like for time-starved professionals.
Instead of pausing their careers, Robert and Bee Nee advanced them in real time, applying insights from coursework directly into boardrooms, investor meetings, and strategic planning sessions.
Bee Nee pursued the MBA while juggling full-time work, a five-year-old, and a pregnancy. “It was intense, but the flexibility was crucial. I was able to immediately apply what I learned in real time to my work,” she says.
Robert echoes this sentiment. “I was leading complex, time-sensitive projects. The ability to pause and resume was critical to making it work.”
The Finance Factor
While the programme supported Bee Nee’s evolution into a corporate strategist, she also sees the rising relevance of AMBS’s MSc in Financial Management (FM) programme.
“This MSc would be ideal for mid-career finance professionals or specialists looking to build business fluency without committing to a full MBA,” she notes.
She points to the importance of practical, application-driven learning formats that don’t interrupt work schedules. Programmes delivered in blended formats with a focus on real-world assignments can serve as an accessible entry point for transformation.
“The MSc in FM is a strong launchpad for those who want international exposure and financial depth without stepping away from work,” mentioned Bee Nee.
Tapping Into a Global Alumni Network
A critical but often underrated benefit of postgraduate study is the alumni community.
Robert calls the AMBS network “the heart of the programme,” noting how his global connections shaped not only his MBA journey, but also his career. “We challenged each other, grew together, and continue to collaborate even today.”
Bee Nee agrees. “I’ve stayed in touch with peers across industries. I’ve consulted them for insights, market comparisons and even potential partnerships. It’s like having a trusted think tank on call.”
A Message for Aspiring Professionals
The path to leadership isn’t linear. It’s layered with decisions, risks and bold investments in self-growth.
For Robert, the MBA provided clarity. “I stopped thinking like a specialist and started thinking like a leader. That mindset shift changed everything.”
For Bee Nee, it was about unlocking confidence. “The programme elevated my knowledge, yes, but it also expanded my capacity to lead, communicate and engage at higher levels.”
Whether you’re in tech, finance, or a completely different field, the takeaway is clear: investing in professional growth thrives on exposure, reflection, and community.
For professionals considering their next step, programmes like the Global MBA and MSc Financial Management offer a powerful platform to lead with confidence.
Visit www.manchester.com.my for more on upcoming intakes, programmes, and workshop locations.
