Bond MBAs add bonds of friendship to degrees
IT’S a hard bond to break.
A tight-knit group of 33 3 MBA students from 15 different rer countries banded together in hats and gowns to graduatete from Bond University lastst month.
Neva Maxim, director of the Master of Business Administrationnhe program, said the group worked closely throughouthnd the one-year program and had become more like family.y.
“At the start of their masters ers we took the group on a threedayeefor retreat to O’Reilly’s for leadership and bonding exerciseserips and have their friendships grow since then,” Ms Maxim im said.
“It’s one of the most diverserse groups we have ever had. We don’t even need cross-culturalural management because they get those skills every day in the classroom.”
The students worked closely on business projects including international business plans.
“There’s a wealth of information by having students from so many backgrounds – and they don’t shy away from saying exactly how things work in their own countries,” Ms Maxim said.
“We often hear of our European alumni meeting in Oslo for reunion parties andd otherh students working in business together long after they have graduated.”
Graduating student Jamilatou Saidy already works for the government of Gambia.
Her role is to help regulate the telecommunications and energy sector to ensure the companies are meeting standards and “consumers get what they pay for.”
In order to attend her Bond graduation, Ms Saidy flew from Boston to Dubai, Perth, Sydney and finally the Gold Coast. She has since flown back to Gambia.
“I am thrilled to stand here with all the close friends I have made in the last 13 months, even though it meant living away from my family,” she said at the ceremony.
“I wish my husband and three children could also have come to see me graduate as they are so proud – but it’s just too far from home. Instead I will be Skyping them all straight after the ceremony so we can celebrate together.”
Chinese MBA student Shiny Su said she had already been able to use her degree and local knowledge to help one of her classmates who travelled to Sh Shanghaih i on a business trip trip.
“When my classmate Caile Ditterich from Melbourne came to China for three months I was able to show him the city and help him understand the Chinese market,” she said.
“The reason I chose to study in Australia is because of the growing trade relationship between the two countries and because I want to start my own business.
“We have made friends and connections from all over the world, so it is sad to say goodbye to all my classmates.”
Business, medicine and health science students graduated in the morning while students from the Law and Society and Design faculties followed in the afternoon.