From banking on Wall Street to the business of sports, Rekha Karna & Christopher Winn are stalwart examples of how an MBA has ripple effects far beyond the classroom
Rekha Karna was an operations analyst for Goldman Sachs in India when the financial crisis hit. With experience in an industry that was truly shaken by the fallout from the crash, Rekha knew it was a good time to upskill and develop her business acumen.An MBA, it seemed, was the logical next step—she chose The Liverpool MBA after receiving strong recommendations from alumni and colleagues at Goldman Sachs. Liverpool was also European Capital of Culture at the time.
Rekha (pictured) embarked on the MBA at in 2008—in the decade since she has seen a major boost to her career, and now works as an executive director for JP Morgan in New York.
A network of opportunities
The MBA was a starting point, she explains, and she credits the program with equipping her with the skills to climb the career ladder.
“It made me think a certain way. Being on the MBA taught me patience, gave me an eye for detail, and an analytical mind that I wouldn’t say I had naturally,” she says.
It also gave her a chance to network with MBA peers from all over the world, and from a plethora of industries. Rekha explains that she uses her understanding of the theoretical concepts of management, around working with people from different backgrounds on a daily basis.
She credits the power of the alumni network too. In attendance at an alumni event in Boston, after moving to New York, she networked with fellow alumni who were part of the University of Liverpool Management School in the 1980s and 90s.
She’s also in touch with MBA alumni who were part of The Liverpool MBA before her time, and says they regularly bounce ideas off one another.
The lasting effects of an MBA
Rekha’s path to New York is an example of the long-term benefits of an MBA. “One of the things when I look back at my career is an MBA does not pay off immediately, you still have to rough it out,” she thinks. Especially, as she was re-entering the finance industry at a turbulent time.
She landed a role with Royal Bank of Scotland just under a year after graduating, in Newcastle under Lyme. After three and a half years she moved to a role in London for six months, before relocating to Manchester and migrating functions across multiple locations.
The MBA career wheel was constantly turning though, and eventually she moved permanently to London and was headhunted by JP Morgan six months in, by an old colleague of hers from Goldman Sachs. The move to New York followed.
“I attribute a lot of my position today to the skills I got from the MBA and I’m totally grateful for that opportunity. It accelerates your career so quickly without you even realizing it.”
A hub for global sport
is also a hotbed for the sports industry. Indeed, the school’s Football Industries MBA (FIMBA) is the only course of its kind in the world.
That’s what attracted Chris Winn (pictured below, right) to the school. He’d always known he wanted to work in the sports business, but with it being such a small, niche competitive industry he was adamant that he needed a specialized set of skills to succeed.
After an economics degree from the University of Bath, and a formal finance qualification from KPMG, his plans went in lockstep with the Football Industries MBA.
“I was aware of this MBA that specialized in the football business, and I knew by doing it I would be among a small group of people with this expertise,” he says.
On the course, Chris explains that alongside FIMBA-specific modules the Liverpool Management School also put on weekly lectures focused on career management, CV writing, and the soft skill side of preparing for interviews.
He also cites the networking opportunities as a “road into the industry.”
If you wanted to get in touch with someone, then the faculty members have a book from which students could glean the relevant contacts—after hearing a talk from the English Premier League finance director at the time, Chris was able to leverage that relationship, getting in touch to interview him for his dissertation.
He also heard from the chief executive of Celtic FC, as well as travelling out to Nyon for a two-day operations management module at UEFA headquarters.
Unrivalled industry knowledge
Chris admits that the prepares students immaculately to enter the industry after graduating. “I was exposed to many different people across clubs, organizations, and bodies, taking in pretty much on a weekly basis exactly what was going on in the industry.”
Every year, representatives from Deloitte’s Sports Business Group come to speak to the class. It was this meeting that led Chris to the career he has today, as a sports business consultant for the group.
“I knew I wanted to be a part of that team in the future,” he recalls. “So, I went to Manchester a few times afterwards, got CV advice from the guy I had spoken to, and then, when the vacancy came up, they knew who I was and ultimately I got it.”
By doing the Football Industries MBA, Chris explains that he thought it gave him the best chance of taking his previous qualifications and entering an industry he is truly passionate about.
The industry expertise, the career advice, and the networking opportunities, he concludes, ultimately led to him landing the role he wanted. “It gave me the key to the door.”
Student Reviews
University of Liverpool School of Management
My experience in UOL
Well I won't tell you about all the great things about this university. But I'll just tell you my honest experience about it.
I have visited almost all the places here. This university knows how take care of their students. Be it any aspect, be it career and placement department, be it societies, be it organising committees, they know what all issues a student can face and they are ready with the solutions already.
Professors here are so welcoming. You can literarily bother them ample number of times but they will still be so nice with you. They actually put a lot of efforts to make letures more fun. They try their best to focus on each and every student and check if they are comfortable or now.
Coming to the offerings. They know that there will be a lot of international students and there will be a lot of issues they will face in adjustment over here. So they organised a lot of events, distributed a lot of free vouchers just to make students feel welcomed over here.
Trust me if you are looking for a Uni for yourself or for someone, do add this one on your priority list.
Fantastic school
The lecturers are incredibly experienced in their field of study, and it shows when they teach. They know what they are talking about, and that instills a level of trust that you have made the right choice coming to this university. They are supportive and charismatic - exactly how lecturers should be!
The accommodation is all fantastic too. Homely, comfortable, so close to campus. Even Greenbank, which is a 15 minute bus journey from campus, has its perks (heavily discounted bus pass - from £400 to £60 and free gym membership).
There are so many societies too! Literally one for everything. During the society fair, they were all so welcoming which is so great to see.
The lecture theatres are all top-notch too. It feels so modernistic. It really feels like I have had a big step up from sixth form to university. I made the right choice by coming to UoL!
Original RedBrick Review!!
The Marketing Course at this uni a great course with exceptional industry connections - for example a brand assessment centre from The Hut Group and an assessment centre at Anfield Football Stadium! The campus is great as it is all connected and everything can be found there - so whether you are a Starbucks or Cafe Nero kind of person the campus has everything. Freshers is great with campus tours, city walks and course talks to connect you with fellow coursemates. Halls was also a great experience - I loved the halls packs where you can get free tshirts, baking kits and we even got free dominoes pizzas!!
Enjoyed every aspect of it!
My experience studying Marketing at the University of Liverpool has been amazing! All the lecturers and students have been so lovely and helpful. The management school building is my favourite place to study. I would recommend studying Marketing at the University of Liverpool because the content is so engaging and the assignments are creative.
Quality
Perfect learning methodologies and curriculums, the most i liked about my learning experience with University of Liverpool is the professionalism, in delivering the subjects and helping the students gaining more knowledge.
Amazing course
The marketing course at UOL is great the lecturers are helpful and provide in-person and online resources to succeed in assignments, and the careers department is extremely helpful. The modules are all relevant and have expanded my understanding of the marketing industry and consumer behaviour, social media and so on
The Best Experience
Currently in my Second Year studying Marketing at the University of Liverpool. Due to the big student culture in Liverpool, you soon feel completely at ease and at home. Staff are extremely helpful - there is always opportunities to ask for additional support/guidance. Each module is clear and well organised - this definitely helps in first year when it can be easy to feel overwhelmed with the new workload. It’s very easy to find your way around due to it being a campus university as everything is in close proximity. I lived at Greenbank accommodation in my first year and the staff are so helpful and make you feel very well settled. There is a huge community feel and the modules are interactive meaning making friends is much easier and a lot less intimidating. If you’re considering attending this university and I honestly couldn’t recommend more - you’ll have the best experience!
Culture
One of my favourite things about this university is the diversity of its people. I met so many different people during my time here, from all different backgrounds and experiences. Not only did these people provide me with insight and knowledge into their own cultures and beliefs, they also allowed me to learn about and understand different ways of life that I would have otherwise never been exposed to. The tutors were also incredibly supportive on this course and allowed me to excel.
Great university!
I did my undergrad in film studies at LJMU and I honestly could not recommend it enough. It has the perfect mix of practical and theory work that prepares you for any job possible in the film industry, from lighting tech to AD. The university lecturers were also very attentive, and I felt comfortable enough with them to seek their help if I ever had an issue or concern, academic or personal. LJMU gave me experiences I would not have got anywhere else, offering summer placements completely free that broadened my horizons. The fact the campus is interspersed around the city also makes it very convenient.
Law Program
UoL has been a great school to attend so far. I attend UoL's campus in the Cayman Islands, Truman Bodden Law School. Being on such a small island, it has been great with the personal face-to-face with lecturers in understanding topics.
My experience in UOL
Well I won't tell you about all the great things about this university. But I'll just tell you my honest experience about it.
I have visited almost all the places here. This university knows how take care of their students. Be it any aspect, be it career and placement department, be it societies, be it organising committees, they know what all issues a student can face and they are ready with the solutions already.
Professors here are so welcoming. You can literarily bother them ample number of times but they will still be so nice with you. They actually put a lot of efforts to make letures more fun. They try their best to focus on each and every student and check if they are comfortable or now.
Coming to the offerings. They know that there will be a lot of international students and there will be a lot of issues they will face in adjustment over here. So they organised a lot of events, distributed a lot of free vouchers just to make students feel welcomed over here.
Trust me if you are looking for a Uni for yourself or for someone, do add this one on your priority list.
Fantastic school
The lecturers are incredibly experienced in their field of study, and it shows when they teach. They know what they are talking about, and that instills a level of trust that you have made the right choice coming to this university. They are supportive and charismatic - exactly how lecturers should be!
The accommodation is all fantastic too. Homely, comfortable, so close to campus. Even Greenbank, which is a 15 minute bus journey from campus, has its perks (heavily discounted bus pass - from £400 to £60 and free gym membership).
There are so many societies too! Literally one for everything. During the society fair, they were all so welcoming which is so great to see.
The lecture theatres are all top-notch too. It feels so modernistic. It really feels like I have had a big step up from sixth form to university. I made the right choice by coming to UoL!
Original RedBrick Review!!
The Marketing Course at this uni a great course with exceptional industry connections - for example a brand assessment centre from The Hut Group and an assessment centre at Anfield Football Stadium! The campus is great as it is all connected and everything can be found there - so whether you are a Starbucks or Cafe Nero kind of person the campus has everything. Freshers is great with campus tours, city walks and course talks to connect you with fellow coursemates. Halls was also a great experience - I loved the halls packs where you can get free tshirts, baking kits and we even got free dominoes pizzas!!
Enjoyed every aspect of it!
My experience studying Marketing at the University of Liverpool has been amazing! All the lecturers and students have been so lovely and helpful. The management school building is my favourite place to study. I would recommend studying Marketing at the University of Liverpool because the content is so engaging and the assignments are creative.
Quality
Perfect learning methodologies and curriculums, the most i liked about my learning experience with University of Liverpool is the professionalism, in delivering the subjects and helping the students gaining more knowledge.
Amazing course
The marketing course at UOL is great the lecturers are helpful and provide in-person and online resources to succeed in assignments, and the careers department is extremely helpful. The modules are all relevant and have expanded my understanding of the marketing industry and consumer behaviour, social media and so on
The Best Experience
Currently in my Second Year studying Marketing at the University of Liverpool. Due to the big student culture in Liverpool, you soon feel completely at ease and at home. Staff are extremely helpful - there is always opportunities to ask for additional support/guidance. Each module is clear and well organised - this definitely helps in first year when it can be easy to feel overwhelmed with the new workload. It’s very easy to find your way around due to it being a campus university as everything is in close proximity. I lived at Greenbank accommodation in my first year and the staff are so helpful and make you feel very well settled. There is a huge community feel and the modules are interactive meaning making friends is much easier and a lot less intimidating. If you’re considering attending this university and I honestly couldn’t recommend more - you’ll have the best experience!
Culture
One of my favourite things about this university is the diversity of its people. I met so many different people during my time here, from all different backgrounds and experiences. Not only did these people provide me with insight and knowledge into their own cultures and beliefs, they also allowed me to learn about and understand different ways of life that I would have otherwise never been exposed to. The tutors were also incredibly supportive on this course and allowed me to excel.
