Andrew Bayne 

Warwick Business School 

Describe yourself in 15 words or less:  Integrity, resolve and commitment are key to this team player who works tirelessly to succeed.

Hometown: Stirling, Scotland

Fun Fact About Yourself: While on attachment to the Australian Army, I conducted a parachute jump into the sea alongside Australian soap opera Home and Away’s ‘Summer Bay’ caravan park.  It’s actually Palm Bay in north Sydney and looks exactly like the show as you float to earth.

Undergraduate School and Major: The University of Edinburgh, Biochemistry

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: Commissioned Officer, British Army. Roles have included infantry platoon and company commander on operations in Iraq, the Balkans, Afghanistan and Cyprus. 

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:  My most unusual, but also one of the most rewarding experiences in the Army was organising a Farhad Darya concert in Lashkar Gah for approximately 5,000 Afghans.  He is a huge star in Afghanistan and President Hamid Karzai was also attending, so there was a great deal of pressure that it went well.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in the program so far:  One of the main reasons for conducting an MBA is to increase my knowledge of finance and accounting, areas which don’t receive much exposure in the Army.  It may be a small thing for many potential MBA applicants with the requisite background. For me, I view the knowledge I have built up to this point, where I can now confidently ‘read’ and comprehend a financial statement and possible implications for a business’ future strategy and profitability to be a real achievement.    

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? You will be there for at least a year, so spend time in advance making sure it fits the criteria for what you want in a business school (e.g. location, electives and opportunity to travel). Take the opportunity to speak to alumni and current students during open days to get a real feel for what the ‘climate’ is like on the program. Ask difficult questions and for honesty in their replies. No school is perfect and therefore having done some research in advance you can ensure you go to the school which best meets your needs. Thoroughness during your school selection will pay off by ensuring it’s the best fit for you and set the conditions for success.

What was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? A good part of my career has been spent in command positions which have tested my ability to lead under conditions of uncertainty and risk. As a result, the Warwick MBA stood out for me due to the Leadership Plus program. I saw it as an opportunity to translate the skills that I have developed in the Army into ones I could effectively apply in business. I have not been disappointed; the course has revealed new approaches as to how I can add value and ensure my previous experience can be best used as a differentiator when I look for employment.

What would success look like to you after you graduate from business school? My career before the MBA was spent as part of a tight knit, high performing team and I would want to return to the same sort of environment when I complete my studies.  I would want to be able to take the knowledge, skills and experience I have built in my career so far and re-employ them in an innovative global company which was making a discernable difference to people’s lives.