We asked some of our 2018-2019 cohort about their MBA experience and any advice they have for prospective students. Hear what they had to say.
Name: Tess Rubega
Nationality: American
MBA Programme: Full-Time MBA
Current Role: Liberty Mutual Insurance, Senior Financial Analyst
Why the Trinity MBA?
The beautiful country and culture of Ireland is what initially drew me into the program. I always knew I wanted to obtain my MBA in a country away from home, and Ireland had stolen my heart while visiting long before discovering Trinity. After looking further into the program and meeting representatives at an open house they held in Boston, I was sold.
How does Trinity stand out from other business schools?
What stood out to me the most was the class size and the reputation of the school. I appreciated the smaller class size, and knew I would be able to get the most out of the program and my peers. I also discovered that Trinity was a reputable program from their rankings, as well as hearing alumni testimonies at the open houses that were offered.
Sum up the Trinity MBA experience and culture in a single word.
Revelatory - I never anticipated obtaining the level of skills, friendships, and experiences that I did during my year at Trinity. It truly is a rewarding program in all that it offers.
What value does the diversity of background give in the Trinity MBA?
The diverse backgrounds of my peers were extremely positive aspects of the program for me, as I was submerged in different ways of thinking and working. It was one of the greatest aspects of the program because not only was I learning new content, but also discovering how to work with such different backgrounds, in new and meaningful ways.
What’s the most important skill you’ve taken away from Trinity?
An important skill I use everyday is the ability to work with people from any background. I came across such diverse working styles, ways to communicate, and ways of thinking. I appreciated these different experiences because they taught me to be open to different approaches for tasks at hand and how to appropriately and efficiently communicate with those around me.
How did the international residency weeks impact you?
The international residency week was an amazing experience because we heard from leaders in different parts of the world where they offered key insights and learnings relevant to the MBA program as a whole. It was a chance to function as a student in a totally different setting with new students I hadn’t met before, all benefiting from each other.
What was the value of the company projects for you?
The company project was an important platform to use skills learned in the classroom in a practical and realistic way. It was satisfying to refer to models and frameworks we learned in the first semester and see them actually come to life in order to help solve a company’s problem. The company project was the most fulfilling part of the MBA because it brought every learning experience together in a unified team effort.
How does the campus exchange add to the experience?
Being on a campus in a different country at a different university was an enlightening experience to be out of the “norm” of Dublin and dive into the new culture we were a part of. It allowed us to embrace a new culture and blend what we were used to with what we were now a part of. The professors and administrators worked relentlessly to make us feel comfortable with the best resources. Some of the most crucial learnings I had were not in the classroom, but in the activities planned around the country, to have a better understanding of how that country’s economy functions and how it evolved throughout history to be where it is today.
Any advice for future students?
My primary advice would be to savour the stressful times as much as the rewarding ones. Through the late nights and long hours comes a feeling of such reward and achievement once it is all over. Cherish the moments with your team because you likely will never work with these individuals again. Learn from each other and get to know each other outside of the classroom – your peers are part of your future network, so be sure to establish strong bonds.
