MBA Student Spotlight: Joseph Chroston-Bell
Meet Joseph, MBA candidate and Associate Director at Network Rail Consulting, as he shares about his study experience at the Major Infrastructure Delivery MBA.
Why did you choose to study the Major Infrastructure Delivery MBA?
I’ve always been skeptical of the value of an MBA. Within our industry, and at the stage in my career, my mentors have always praised technical expertise and demonstrating innovation or learning in practice. However, the Major Infrastructure Delivery MBA at UCL is so clearly rooted in practice and the needs of our sector that I couldn’t pass it up. Designed in collaboration with leading industry figures and embedded within world-leading research from The Bartlett, this course wasn’t some expensive ticket to obscure ‘management speak’ but a real, challenging, and appropriate education to be a delivery professional.
Describe how you’ve been able to apply the skills and knowledge you’ve learned on the course to your current role?
A lot of what I do is close advisory with clients in the United States on strategic and operational planning, drawing from my experience in the UK rail sector. This course has provided me with a deeper understanding of how my particular technical skills and experience fit within the nuances of the bigger picture. It therefore helps me identify, with my clients, where their next steps could be best placed. It also allows me to build capabilities in vital areas, such as Governance and Organisational Development, that will enable me to provide a broader service.
What aspects of your studies have you enjoyed most, during your time on the MBA?
From the first day I have been constantly refreshed by the mature relationships between the cohort, staff, and guest speakers. There is a strong sense of community and reciprocity; it moves beyond the cliché that they’re learning as much from us as we’re learning from them. There is an ease in debating our experiences, applying theory, and challenging our assumptions. As a result, there is absolute trust.
How do you foresee your MBA studies helping you as you move forward in your career?
In addition to the learning and skills, I hope to use it in two significant ways. Firstly, I will use my forthcoming dissertation as a foundation to steer my career in a new direction; this will be a highly professional output, supported by The Bartlett’s leading research, aims at helping the leadership of complex megaprojects resolve real problems. Secondly, I look forward to maintaining the network of professionals I have formed; we can exchange ideas and move forward together.
What was your experience of the teaching and level of support on this course?
Truly excellent. The course is very well organised and logically constructed. I don’t like to be given too much support, but there is clear thought placed into creating spaces for questions, intrigue, and problem solving. Every faculty member has been proactive in receiving feedback, with quick and noticeable improvements when any issue is provided.
What advice would you give to those thinking about studying the Major Infrastructure Delivery MBA at The Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction?
Get in touch. There are a lot of misgivings about MBAs, or even returning to higher education mid-career, so it’s definitely worth exploring your curiosity about the programme and seeing if it alters your expectations (as it did mine). I’d also recommend looking into the modules and the research of the leading staff too – you’ll quickly see this MBA has a very serious and unique approach that can open up numerous opportunities in the infrastructure sector.