Revisiting the world of academia – Reena Chandra Bose

Revisiting the world of academia
by Reena Chandra Bose

I decided to take on an MBA about six years after I left university. Going back to school was definitely a challenge, especially when you are trying to balance work and a personal life at the same time. I had to deal with large and dark eye bags (particularly when an assignment was due) and was out of touch with the goings-on in the entertainment world. (I still haven’t seen Heath Ledger’s legendary performance as the Joker!). But jokes aside, I had a good support network of family and friends that made it less painful. And I am uber grateful that I had Aileen, my ex-colleague and now good friend, with me throughout the journey.

I am glad that I embarked on this journey because it has widened my horizon into a world where business and academia come together. Having studied and worked in a technical environment, I was on a personal quest to gain insights into the big business world and ‘see what all the hype was about’. I really did enjoy taking real life cases from the business world and applying academic theories onto them. I had many moments of – ”ooo, there’s a science behind all the madness after all!”

I was looking for a reputable and well-known business school that offered the course at a reasonable price. I wanted to get a balanced view of the business world. And Strathclyde provided this by allowing students to meet and interact with lecturers from the UK, Dubai and Malaysia. Additionally, Strathclyde’s focus on the strategic view made it an interesting option.

I take away with me new knowledge and skills that come from getting up close with the heavy weights of business academia and interacting with course mates from various backgrounds and industries. Our lengthy discussions and debates had made us permanent fixtures at Starbucks and McDonalds outlets in the PJ area during the 2011-2013 period.

This ‘adventure’ has given me a sense of confidence and freedom to take on new challenges. To those of you who are considering to venture back into the academic world, I would strongly advise you to go in with your eyes wide open, as it would not be an easy ride but it will be satisfying. Whether you are looking for personal or career fulfilment, you will gain depth and maturity that will alter the way you look at the world and translate into the decisions that you make and the actions that you take. The more you know, the more you are aware of what you don’t know. All the best!

Written by:
Name: Reena Chandra Bose
Age: 33
Qualifications: MBA, University of Strathclyde (Year 2014)
Job title: Sales Information Manager
Employer: A tobacco company
Location: Kuala Lumpur
Has been with this company for 9 years