Darren Lee

The confidence and consulting skills from postgraduate Management study have enabled Darren to move from software testing to a lead assurance role.

I’d always thought to myself that it would be great to complete an MBA degree as a personal challenge. I kick-started my career in the Information Technology (IT) sector as a software test analyst through Assurity Consulting’s graduate training programme. Three years in, with a number of IT projects under my belt, I was given the opportunity to lead an internal team of test analysts. This gave me an insight into leadership, management, and coaching of a team.

What I appreciated most from my MBA studies was the people, in particular, the lecturers and guest speakers with international and consulting experience but most of all the networks created and the friendships forged through debates and discussions. Having a pragmatic and practical approach, I enjoyed the professional development aspects of the MBA. This included a Dragon’s Den exercise, a not-for-profit consulting project, the international study tour, and consulting for local Wellington businesses. The business research project allowed me to explore and apply what I have learned from my area of interest: innovation in professional services firms.

Juggling the MBA and work has helped raise my profile, which is important in the early years of a career. My employers and clients have the confidence to engage me in more consulting work beyond software testing. My practical IT experience combined with knowledge of the commercial world means I understand the client’s context and can add more value. Now, I am quality assurance lead at Traction on Demand, North America’s largest dedicated Salesforce consulting partner, in Vancouver.

I have the self-confidence and the strength to back myself and my capabilities. I further developed my time management, consulting, and presentation skills, as well as the ability to process and prioritise information a lot faster. I can collaborate with people with diverse backgrounds, skills, and expertise. But most importantly, I now have a greater appreciation of downtime and the need to spend time with the people most important to me.

The key is to shift your mindset from the transactional to the relational. Just putting in the hours to get the results you want from your studies will not be sustainable. I learned to shift my focus to prioritising my wellbeing and enjoying the MBA experience: being present and mindful of each discussion, experience, and lesson learnt. It’s a hard slog, but well worth it.

Note: The MBA programme is now delivered as either the Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) or the Master of Business (Professional)—MBus(Prof).