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SBI was a perfect mix of theoretical and practical knowledge, with the opportunity for hands-on application through the business consultancy and internship thesis projects.

I have a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a focus on Marketing. Although I was a business student, I had taken a few natural science classes at university out of personal interest. I think this, plus having international work experience, helped in getting accepted into the SBI programme.

I volunteered at the Sustainable Business Network, a New Zealand nonprofit organization whose goal is to empower businesses to make New Zealand a more sustainable nation. It was a career-changing experience and I knew that I wanted to work with businesses to promote sustainability. I also realized I lacked the knowledge to be effective, so I looked for a Master’s programme that could provide me the skills to jumpstart my new career. SBI was a perfect mix of theoretical and practical knowledge, with the opportunity for hands-on application through the business consultancy and internship thesis projects. It offered a good balance of natural science and business courses, which I believe provide a solid foundation to understand the complex issues around sustainability and to also be effective in implementing sustainability programs within an organization. 

I liked the dynamics of doing group research (consultancy) and having a clear business problem to solve. I did underestimate the amount of time and effort that was required for this study, especially the large amount of group work. I have no regrets in doing this Master’s, as the benefits definitely outweigh the cost, but I would recommend that any student with a partner or family make sure that they understand the time commitment required of you and that you have their unwavering support.

I think it is very valuable to have work experience before embarking on a master’s degree. Having a job allows you to see what you like or dislike about your work and working environment, so you can make good choices about the kind of work you want to do in the future. It also helps you to see where you may have gaps in knowledge that a master’s degree could provide. The other recommendation I have is to take advantage of the many international exchange programs that are available to students.