Amit Chawla

Warwick Business School

“Motivated Orthopaedic surgery resident, passionate about fostering healthcare innovation, service-improvement, and hybrid leadership.”

Age: 32

Hometown: Hull, East Yorkshire, UK

Fun fact about yourself: My childhood hero was Arnold Schwarzenegger- I have watched Predator almost each year since the age of 10 and Jingle All the Way every Christmas!

Undergraduate School and Degree: Medicine (MBBS), Imperial College London

Where are you currently working? Orthopaedic Surgery Resident, North-West London Rotation

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? Achieving my current role. Orthopaedic residency is a competitive program to enter, and the culmination of hard work across six years of medical school and 4 years as a junior doctor. It was my ambition to become an Orthopaedic surgeon since my final year of high school, so receiving my offer was a very fulfilling and proud moment.

Why did you choose this school’s online MBA program? First, WBS immediately stood out due to its outstanding reputation in the UK and internationally as an online MBA program, consistently voted as the best by the Financial Times between 2017-2024. It is also truly a global MBA, with a diverse international cohort of students, which was important to me as I wanted to learn from different perspectives and experiences from around the world.

Finally, WBS has well established links to healthcare and the NHS, with strong research activity in digital innovation and AI. This aligned very well with my interests and ambitions.

What was your favourite part of being in an online MBA program? Flexibility was a crucial factor for me. For both training and financial reasons, I wanted to continue working full-time as a surgeon. The WBS program allows me the freedom to study MBA content in my own time, without compromising on my professional duties. Furthermore, the engaging online classroom is a highly effective learning environment that equals any I have experienced face-to-face. I have found it extremely easy and rewarding to have discussions with my peers and tutors in the many forums and threads attached to lessons.

Finally, the online format has proven a surprisingly effective platform for networking, which is encouraged and facilitated by WBS. Supplemented with face-to-face teaching weeks and networking events, I have formed close friendships and valuable collaborations with classmates.

What was the most surprising thing about an online learning environment? The ease of interacting with tutors and other students, along with the willingness of others to contribute, was pleasantly surprising. Furthermore, the quality of recorded lecture material and interactive methods employed made it very easy to remain motivated and engaged.

How did your online experience compare with your in-the-classroom experience as an undergraduate student? I have found myself more engaged with online content due to the lack of in-person distractions (and greater personal maturity!). It is also surprisingly easier to ask questions, and much can be learned by reading comments from classmates and tutors.

Moreover, the online environment invites contributions from a greater diversity of classmates by creating a non-intimidating ‘level playing field’ where everyone feels they can contribute. As a result, I have experienced a wide array of different perspectives which is extremely powerful for learning.

What is your best piece of advice to an applicant for thriving in an online MBA program? First, be clear about your reasons and expectations from an MBA. It is an enormous time commitment and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Following from this, availability of time needs to be considered, as the MBA is most effective when studying regularly.

Secondly, don’t ignore the opportunity to have discussions and network with classmates and tutors despite the online format. This is by far one of the most rewarding opportunities. Finally, make sure you enjoy the program! Most MBA content is based on well-known case studies and delivered by eminent lecturers, hence is very interesting and relevant.

How has your online education helped you in your current job? It has given me a unique perspective on the workplace and wider healthcare challenges in the NHS. This has inspired me to design and implement more effective quality improvement projects, and offer valuable insights to healthcare start-ups.

Did you earn a promotion while in the program or immediately after graduation? No, but in the long run as a consultant surgeon (attending) this will give me an excellent platform to become a hybrid leader, and drive innovation projects in my department.

Why did you pursue an online MBA program instead of a full-time residential program? To permit me to continue working full-time as I didn’t want to take a break from clinical practice. It also allows me to directly apply my new knowledge to the workplace, and keep assignments focused and relevant by describing challenges I face as a clinician.

I believe that I would not have taken the opportunity to complete an MBA without the flexibility offered by an online program!

Number of Hours Per Week Spent on an Online MBA: 6-8 (more around assignments)

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? To combine the skills and business acumen learned from the MBA with my clinical experience as a surgeon. This will allow me to drive effective change initiatives and innovation in healthcare as a hybrid leader.

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