MBA Alumni: Justin Galliford

Graduates of Global Distinction are aspirational role models for Norwich Business School. Justin Galliford, who has earned three degrees at UEA with his latest being from Norwich Business School completing our flagship MBA Programme.

What are the key skills you learnt as part of your course?

The key skills I learnt as part of the course were:

Time Management; prioritising work around tight deadlines and planning ahead.

The ability to absorb information and condense it in to a simple summary. Writing and communicating concisely was paramount during my studies.

How have these skills, or your course, made a difference in your career development?

Time management is a skill which continually develops, but the Exec MBA really helped me plan my working life better. Today, time management is more important than ever. I continue to plan ahead each week, evaluating how to best apportion my time in a busy role. This skill has undoubtedly  helped me progress my career – good time management allows you to achieve more, and think clearly.

The ability to condense information in to a simple summary allows me to retain a good understanding of multiple projects at any one time. It also allows me to clearly communicate ideas, plans and reports to different business audiences.

Overall, the Exec MBA gave me an excellent overview of how business operates, and helped me discover parts of management which really interested me. It also gave me the confidence to ask questions of subject matter experts when making strategic decisions. 

What was it about UEA that made it stand out from other institutions?

I chose UEA for a number of reasons:

  1. Previous studies; I had studied at UEA previously, and had really enjoyed it (BSc (Hons) in Environmental Sciences: 1997-2000, and MSc in Environmental Impact Assessment, Auditing and Management Systems: 2001-2002).
  2. I was keen to study as part of a physical cohort, with regular lectures, rather than distance / online learning. The Exec MBA gave me this opportunity.
  3. The Exec MBA was AMBA (Association of MBAs) accredited – and as such was recognised at an international level.

What top tips and advice do you have for current students or recent graduates?

I would encourage current students to carefully consider and control their social media presence. Think about how a future employer will consider what they can find out about you on line. Develop a “Linked In” profile, use it to network and build a profile related to your studies / professional interests. I would encourage recent graduates to be persistent in their search for work, and remember that soft skills are important in addition to your degree. Dress very smartly, always be on time, and be clear you have a desire to work hard and succeed. These points may sound obvious, but they will make a huge difference in the early stages of your career.

Read more about Justin