About me
I’m Kellie McFarlane, a Business Project Manager, at A&O Shearman.
I recently completed an MSc in Business Improvement. It was a fantastic experience that has significantly shaped both my professional and personal growth.
In my current role, I manage business improvement projects across our global offices. My day-to-day routine is quite varied, often involving meetings with colleagues across our network to discuss their processes and explore effective and efficient ways of working using business improvement methodologies.
Why I chose to study a Master's course at Ulster University
Deciding to undertake an MSc was an easy decision for me. I have always loved academic study; in fact, this was my second MSc at Ulster University. I am aware of the benefits it can provide. The course appealed to me because I wanted to delve deeper into business improvement theory and bring this knowledge directly into my role. Additionally, having support from my employer, who sponsored my studies, was also a crucial factor in my decision.
Choosing Ulster University for my Masters was straightforward. The university’s reputation, course content, that directly related to my role, and the location of the new campus made it the perfect choice for me. I particularly liked how the course was taught on the Belfast campus in block days which made it easier to meet others and build a network; the learning was totally immersive.
My overall experience was fantastic. I thoroughly enjoyed the classes, which offered a great mix of taught knowledge, ranging from leadership styles to the effective transfer of knowledge within an organisation. The course also provided opportunities to put the learning into practice through classroom examples with instant and constructive feedback. The assignments were interesting and directly related to what I was currently doing in my role, allowing me to truly understand and apply the content. The teaching staff were incredibly insightful and engaging; there were many great conversations and plenty of laughs! Balancing work, study, and family commitments was sometimes challenging, but the support offered by the teaching staff was incredible and allowed me to stay on top of my studies while managing everything else!
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my time and would wholeheartedly recommend the course. The journey may be demanding, and you need to be disciplined, but the rewards are fantastic. I’ve come away with learnings that I can continuously apply in my role; it was really worthwhile. The knowledge I acquired in operations management and process improvement was staggering and I’m using what I’ve learned on a daily basis. I’ve also made some incredible lifelong friends!
My advice
Even if business improvement is not your primary role, you will still learn the fundamentals of what makes a good process and how work can be improved, which can be applied in any industry and in any role.
My key advice is to stay organised and embrace the learning experience!