Christie Subirats

Warwick Business School

Enterprise transformation leader and Warwick MBA, translating strategy into disciplined execution and scalable value creation.

Age: 47

Hometown: Houston, Texas

Fun fact about yourself: I love to travel and have explored 38 U.S. states and 30 countries across six continents – as evidenced by the 200+ souvenir Starbucks mugs I’ve collected along the way.

Undergraduate School and Degree:

Cleveland State University – BS Chemical Engineering

Licensed Professional Engineer, State of Texas

Where are you currently working? I am a senior leader in BP’s Strategic Business Improvement team within the Upstream exploration and production business, operating with executive sponsorship as an internal management consulting team and transformation execution group. My team tackles BP’s most persistent enterprise challenges. We reshape operating models, strengthen capital and portfolio discipline, and deliver scalable solutions that unlock both top-line growth and bottom-line value. We focus on simplifying complexity, de-risking strategic decisions, and enabling disciplined execution across a multi-billion-dollar business.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I’ve had the privilege of leading high-stakes work – from running oil and gas production operations in the deep waters off the coast of Louisiana and the arctic tundra of Alaska, to shaping $100M+ transformation portfolios that influence enterprise performance.

One of the moments I’m most proud of came last fall, when a former lead technician called to thank me for a recommendation I had made on his behalf years earlier. He shared how my leadership style – caring for the team, creating space for people to grow, and holding a high standard for safe and disciplined operations – shaped how he now leads his own technicians.

It reinforced my belief that sustainable performance comes from leaders who build capability, clarity, and accountability at every level of the organization.

Why did you choose this school’s online MBA program? Pursuing an MBA was 25 years in the making. While on a work trip to London in 2024, my MBA search expanded beyond the U.S., and I discovered Warwick. As I thought about choosing a business school, I realized that I wanted three things: a top-tier global business school, a financially responsible investment (with two children in university at the same time), and a powerful international alumni network.

I applied to several programs across the U.S., UK, and Europe and was accepted to all. Warwick Business School stood out immediately, especially when my admission letter included the Inspiring Females Scholarship. That scholarship signaled belief in my potential and sealed the deal for me.

What was your favorite part of being in an online MBA program? The people, without question. The global perspectives, professional diversity, and chance to learn alongside leaders from so many sectors has made the experience exceptional. I’ve particularly enjoyed the group-based modules where I collaborated with classmates from the UK, Canada, Mali, and Dubai. Meeting them in person at our ‘Warwick Weeks’ and elective modules was incredible – it felt less like meeting for the first time and more like reconnecting with colleagues I’d known for years!

How did your online MBA experience compare with your in-the-classroom experience as an undergraduate student? My undergraduate years were anything but traditional. I commuted daily, worked three part-time jobs (including a research job at NASA) and never experienced the classic American campus life.

In many ways, my MBA mirrors that nontraditional path. I’m not chasing the “typical” experience. I’m pursuing the MBA experience that fits the life I’ve built and the leader I’ve become.

What is your best piece of advice to an applicant for thriving in an online MBA program? Your return on investment is directly tied to your level of engagement. I’ve leaned into everything that Warwick offers – webinars, workshops, networking, and competitions.

Last year, I entered the Global Futures Challenge, a Warwick collaboration with Monash University, and my team was one of four winners, earning a week in Kuala Lampur focused on leadership, innovation, sustainability, social entrepreneurship and Malaysian culture.

Opportunities multiply when you show up fully.

How has your online MBA education helped you in your current job? Before the MBA, I relied heavily on intuition and experience. The Warwick Global Online MBA has provided the academic rigor – frameworks, theories, strategic lenses, and case studies – to elevate my work.

The program has accelerated my transition from operational leadership to enterprise-level transformation, broadening my strategic perspective and strengthening my ability to influence at the highest levels of the organization.

Did you earn a promotion while in the program or immediately after graduation? Yes, I was promoted just before starting the MBA, moving from an execution-focused role into one shaping strategic change across BP. The timing was impeccable, as those early courses in Organizational Behavior and Strategic Advantage immediately elevated the quality and impact of my work.

Why did you pursue an online MBA program instead of a full-time residential or executive MBA program?

Residential, executive, and weekend MBAs were never feasible due to their rigid, inflexible schedules.  Between my spouse’s professional commitments, raising five children, and roles requiring significant travel, a fixed-schedule program wasn’t an option.

I had nearly given up on the idea of pursuing an MBA until I discovered that world-class business schools were offering flexible, high-caliber online programs. That made the dream possible.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? Warwick now offers an AI specialization with electives spanning technical, strategic, and ethical dimensions. I chose the Big Data & Analytics and AI for Business Leaders electives to explore the connection between technical and organizational investment decisions made for an AI-driven future.

Through coursework and independent reading, including The AI-Driven Leader and Agentic Artificial Intelligence, I’ve focused on how AI will redefine operating models, decision-making, and value creation. I believe these capabilities are essential for the next generation of enterprise leaders.

Number of Hours Per Week Spent on an Online MBA: Typically 10-15 hours flexed around work and family. The program’s structure allows me to read, reflect, and engage deeply on my own schedule.

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? Earlier in my career, my ambition was to become a site operations manager, and I achieved that in my time offshore and on the North Slope of Alaska. Today, I operate at the VP level in influence and scope, even if not in title.

Looking ahead, I aspire to enterprise leadership roles, with the influence and scope of a Chief Operating Officer (COO) or Chief Transformation Officer (CXO), where my team and I can deliver strategic business outcomes, overcoming operational and technical challenges to drive growth, resilience, and long-term value.

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