By Business & Finance 
Pictured: Ruth Baldwin, Business & Finance Awards UCD Smurfit School MBA Scholarship recipient 2022
Ruth Baldwin is the recipient of the Business & Finance Awards UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School 2022 Scholarship. This award launched in 2021.
What made you want to pursue an MBA?
I’ve worked in the rail industry since completing my undergraduate engineering studies. Since then, the educational piece of my professional development has largely been engineering based (structural and railway systems). The MBA at Smurfit Business School appealed to me as I felt it would help me to develop a well-rounded business acumen.
What have you learned through the MBA?
In the first two semesters we have covered accounting and finance, marketing, strategy, organisational behaviour, human resources, and operations and supply chain. For the most part, these subjects were new to me, in the theoretical sense. The learning environment on the MBA programme includes quite a lot of case method learning. This approach facilitates critical thinking and encourages debate amongst the class.
How have you been applied these learnings to your current role?
I have recently moved into corporate risk management. Whilst my experience to date in engineering safety is centred around risk management, the MBA has helped me to understand risks to our organisational objectives, broadening my perspective from operations and engineering.
The MBA at Smurfit Business School appealed to me as I felt it would help me to develop a well-rounded business acumen.
What was the best thing about doing the MBA?
The best thing about doing the MBA, for me, is my class. In terms of industry, the class is very diverse which, combined with the case-method learning, results in lively debate and opportunities to learn from each other’s experience.
Would you recommend it to prospective students and why?
I would certainly recommend the Smurfit MBA, particularly to those who would like to develop and progress in leadership. Understanding how organisations work and the practical skills developed throughout the course are an invaluable support as one’s career progresses.
What advantages has the Business & Finance scholarship offered?
The support of Business & Finance has been fantastic. Since being awarded the Business & Finance Awards MBA Scholarship, I have kindly been invited to attend the extensive Business & Finance programme of events, providing the opportunity to meet people who are excelling in their fields across a variety of industries and learning about progressive initiatives being undertaken.
Applications for Business & Finance Awards UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School 2022 MBA Scholarship the can be made online at www.smurfitschool.ie/businessandfinancescholarship
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