2024 Best & Brightest Online MBA: Mandy Gardner, Durham University

Mandy Gardner

Durham University

Passionate and purpose-driven with unwavering integrity, I’m solutions-focused, strategic and love to push boundaries!”

Age: 34

Hometown: London, UK

Fun fact about yourself: I’m currently learning how to walk a tightrope.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Plymouth University, BA in English

Where are you currently working? Fairtrade Foundation as Associate Director of Strategy and Planning

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? The personal impact I have had on others – I have been privileged to hire, mentor and coach some excellent individuals who have gone on to have truly remarkable careers, and I am proud to have played a tiny part in being able to support and enable their success.

Why did you choose this school’s online MBA program? Durham has a really solid reputation in the UK as a leading university. I knew I wanted to go to a triple-accredited business school, and I was impressed by the breadth (yet depth) of the MBA syllabus at Durham. I was also excited to learn at a university in a part of the country I am less familiar with (the North East) (given I live in London and grew up/did my undergrad in the South West of the country).

What was your favorite part of being in an online MBA program? It was the option to also be able to join some in-person modules. This mix was something I particularly valued about Durham.

What was the most surprising thing about an online learning environment? It was how well it facilitated a truly global cohort. Due to the technology used, it was easy to pick up and work with others across time zones that would not have been possible in person.

How did your online experience compare with your in-the-classroom experience as an undergraduate student? It is a double edge sword. Definite benefits to being able to do it in your own time and at your own pace online, but the in-class dynamism and debate I experienced as an undergrad wasn’t as present online. However, there is a lot to be said I think for taking on a masters once you are established – I personally felt much more committed and focused to my masters than my undergrad.

What is your best piece of advice to an applicant for thriving in an online MBA program? Network! One of the greatest learnings for me was the diversity of thought in my cohort. It was through conversations from different countries, sectors and educational backgrounds that provided the best opportunity for learning.

How has your online education helped you in your current job? It broadened my horizons and also consolidated my thinking that I have learnt ‘on the job’. Working in an organization focused on international development and trade justice, the MBA study supported me in diversifying my approach and thinking to tackling the strategic challenges and opportunities we face.

Did you earn a promotion while in the program or immediately after graduation? Yes during – moving from Head of Operations to Associate Director of Strategy and Planning.

Why did you pursue an online MBA program instead of a full-time residential program? There were a variety of factors – financial, but it also felt like I was at a good point in my career and didn’t want to take a year out, so P/T felt appropriate.

Number of Hours Per Week Spent on an Online MBA: 15

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? I want a C-Suite position in a social sustainability outfit, where I can make a positive impact on the world – both personally but through enabling others!

DON’T MISS: BEST & BRIGHTEST ONLINE MBAS: CLASS OF 2024