‘Now I’m a CEO – OU study gave me the confidence and skills I needed to get there!’

Posted on 11 December 2025 • Student stories

Describing his work experience as “eclectic”, Jack, 44, yearned for a role where he could lean into a diverse set of professional interests. Trusting that further learning would unlock the opportunity he craved, Jack juggled work, study and family life to achieve his MBA (Technology Management) with The Open University.

Jack shares how OU study helped him to smash his career goals and find the confidence to venture out of his comfort zone.

A varied career

With a PhD in history, a background in research strategy, and a stint living in Paris, Jack set himself a target of finding a career path that would combine his varied work experience and love of research.

“I’d had roles in business restructuring and university research management – I even wrote two books on the legacy of empire and citizenship rights,” Jack says. “But I wanted to bring everything together – my interest in business operations, research, and strategy – the MBA was the bridge.”

With a busy job and a young child, Jack initially questioned whether he’d left it too late to start studying again.

“I was in my 40s and thought I’d missed the boat, but the curiosity was still there,” says Jack. “I knew I needed something flexible and intellectually engaging, and the OU was the only place I truly trusted to deliver that.”

Study that fits around life

Soon into his MBA, Jack realised that the course was manageable, even with everything else he had going on in life.

“OU courses are top quality and so thoughtfully put together, you really can find a way to study that works for you,” Jack reflects.

“You can juggle it all, you just have to find your rhythm,” Jack explains. “For me, it was early mornings – an hour a day, every day, that worked for me.”

Hitting the occasional wall during his studies, Jack made the most of the OU’s flexible approach to learning.

“There were a few challenging moments when I was tired, work was intense, and my motivation dipped,” Jack admits. “I knew I had to keep going, or I’d risk never finishing, so I was grateful for the flexibility and support the OU offers.”

Building skills and confidence

Ambitious and keen to learn, Jack relished the opportunity to broaden his understanding of business, even when he felt stretched.

“The course helped me tackle subjects I used to find intimidating. Investment, statistics, complex models – I thought I’d never understand them,” Jack remembers. “But the course broke everything down step by step and that experience taught me something really valuable – even if something feels out of reach, with focus and structure, you can master it.”

Jack found that when it came to the course content, one thing stood out and made the whole experience more rewarding.

“The OU MBA doesn’t shy away from ethics or social responsibility. It embeds those ideas deeply into the course, not just as an afterthought. I found that inspiring.”

“It’s a business degree with values,” Jack sums up.

Reaching his goal

Now CEO of the British Academy of Management, the national organisation supporting business and management studies, Jack says his MBA gave him both practical skills and intellectual confidence.

“As a CEO, I’m responsible for strategy and stakeholder engagement, and I also support academics working in management theory. The MBA gave me the language and tools to deliver both sides of the role,” Jack explains.

“OU study gave me the confidence and skills I needed to get where I am today.”

Keen to inspire others to find out where an OU qualification can take them, Jack has this advice:

“Find something you really care about and make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons. The OU offers a rare mix – rigour, flexibility, and purpose. If that resonates with you, go for it.”