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Cardiff Business School

The Cardiff MBA boosted my career

Two people posing outdoors on grass at a graduation ceremony

Mahesh Gaonkar (MBA 2023) studied Business Administration (MBA) at Cardiff Business School.

He tells us about why he chose Cardiff University, and how it broadened his thinking and developed his professional skills.

I chose Cardiff Business School to complement my professional accounting and audit experience with a broader understanding of business and management.

I already had a strong technical foundation through my ACCA qualification and my career in audit, I wanted to understand businesses better, so things like strategy, leadership, finance and decision-making.

Cardiff Business School’s strong reputation, the quality and breadth of its MBA programme appealed to me, and the opportunity to study in a diverse, international environment.

I also wanted to study in the UK, to experience a different country, and learn alongside people from different professional and cultural backgrounds.

The MBA was a chance to broaden my perspective and develop the commercial and leadership skills needed to progress further in my career.

I’ve so many memories from my time at Cardiff Business School.

We had excellent access to the professors, allowing us to have meaningful conversations and learn from their experience beyond the classroom. The School felt very welcoming and personal.

Some of my favourite memories were the fun we had during group projects - from long discussions and working late together to the chats and nights out with friends afterwards.

Those experiences created friendships and are memories I look back on fondly.

Two people posing for a photograph at a graduation ceremony with a blank beige background

One of the most touching memories came much later. When my parents and in-laws visited. The professors gave them such a warm and heartfelt welcome.

The fact that they still remembered me and welcomed my family so warmly years after my graduation was incredibly special to me.

I should add that meeting the CEO of IMDb was another particularly memorable moment!

All of these experiences - the learning, the friendships, the diversity, the people and the sense of community - are a big part of why I still feel such a strong connection with Cardiff Business School.

Putting my degree to work

The skills I’ve picked up on the MBA have been so useful.

I’m an Audit Assistant Manager at RSM UK, a leading tax and consultancy advisor looking after clients in the retail and consumer markets sector.

My job is to independently assess whether clients’ financial statements are fairly presented and comply with accounting standards. I also evaluate their internal controls, identify areas where there are risks or weaknesses, and discuss improvements with management.

The MBA has helped me develop a broader commercial perspective and stronger leadership skills, which I now use every day as I take on greater responsibility.

More than a degree

If I could go back and talk to myself before coming to Cardiff Business School, I would say, “Don’t just come here to earn a degree, come here to experience everything.”

A male MBA student in discussion with fellow students.

The Cardiff MBA

Tackle leadership challenges and consider the economic, social and environmental impact of global business.