For me, aside from providing me with a solid knowledge base in the core areas of management, the MBA was invaluable in teaching me about teamwork. The course forced me to learn how to depend on other team members with expertise outside of my own. That was not always a comfortable experience but it resulted in a lot of personal growth. I could not manage an organisation on the scale of St. Luke's without fully understanding what it means to be a team player.

I knew I wanted to step up into a management role at some point. Working with such a range of professionals on the course made me think about broader healthcare management roles. And importantly, my experience on the course gave me the confidence to believe I could step up into the bigger roles and push outside of my pharmacy comfort zone.

Yes, I never dreamed I could manage a team of porters, nurses, or accountants for that matter but the MBA showed me that I could bring something useful to the table when dealing with all kinds of staff and team members.

I would say go for it! It is a thoroughly enriching experience, you will learn as much from your classmates as you do from the course material. And, you will learn a lot about yourself in the process! Being part of the UCD Smurfit School Executive MBA opened so many doors for me and continues to do so as part of the alumni network.When I met my classmates initially, I was overwhelmed by their achievements. I remember feeling out of my depth and doubting my ability to keep up with the course material and indeed add anything of value to discussions both within and outside of the classroom. Now I am confident I can learn from and indeed teach something new to professionals I meet from all walks of life.