Gary Bushnell
I am originally from a small town next to Colchester in the UK. Colchester is Britain's oldest recorded town and, during Roman times, it was the capital. Since 2019, I have been living in the Spanish capital of Madrid. My career has always been in the corporate world and I have gained some great experiences around the globe, having spent time in Asia, North and South America and across Europe. I have held various positions, from sales to commercial management among others; more recently, I was the general manager of a business unit, overseeing multinational teams in a matrix organization. I recently joined a new company where my focus is more on strategic projects supporting future growth.
"Building relationships with classmates is extremely important. You need to work together and rely on each other during the program, as you would in the business world."
Did you choose to join the Global Executive MBA particularly to refine and expand your skill set? What other skills or benefits did you hope to gain from the program?
The Global Executive MBA appealed to me in many ways. I always recognized that my finance skills were not the greatest, so I was looking for something that would allow me to strengthen my ability in that area. However, I am not in a finance position so it didn't make sense to only take a finance course. The Global Executive MBA ticked the box for finance knowledge but added a lot more on top: the other subjects in the curriculum would enhance what I already knew and allow me to understand the trends and changes in those areas, particularly around the disruption by technology.
How did the Global Executive MBA meet or exceed your expectations? Please share your three biggest takeaways from the experience.
The Global Executive MBA gave me the confidence to sit in meetings and fearlessly contribute to the finance discussions going on. Being able to discuss with the CFO at a certain level gave me additional credibility within the organization. I have always doubted my own abilities but after going on the Global Executive MBA journey and surviving, I realized that I am able to perform at the same level as my peers.
Additionally, the program gives you opportunities to visit several different areas of the world and spend a week exploring how business operates in those regions, which is great. Time is also taken to explore the local traditions and culture. These experiences will stay with me forever and have helped me better understand some of the things that are often misinterpreted when seen by non-locals.
You also got the chance to study alongside other top-level executives from multiple countries and industries. How did this enrich your academic experience? In what ways has this network added value to your professional life?
Building relationships with classmates is extremely important. You need to work together and rely on each other during the program, as you would in the business world. Hearing the experiences of people from different cultures, industries and markets also gives you a much broader perspective, which you probably couldn’t find anywhere else.
These relationships are intense as the Global Executive MBA demands a lot of time and dedication. However, this sort of intensity leads to strong friendships: after graduation, I have been able to call upon several members of my cohort to support my projects at work. I am still in contact with most of the class and have regular meet-ups with some.
What did you learn about your purpose through the Global Executive MBA? How will this help you create a positive impact in society and the broader business world?
When you live your working life in the corporate world, you are a little blind to what else is going on around you. The program gave me insights into a lot of new things. I recently joined a startup—something I would have never considered prior to the Global Executive MBA. During the program, I was intrigued by the entrepreneurial aspect of business and it left me wanting more. The startup provides an innovative solution that is not only good for the consumer but also supports the reduction of adverse environmental impacts from the current measures. This is something that has also become an important part of my business life post-Global Executive MBA.
