Kate Reid | BSkyB
A rapid career rise in the media industry led to Kate Reid heading up BSkyB's Editorial Policy and Compliance Department. Now on a short career break with her family in Istanbul, she tells us how she managed her studies and what the future holds.
How did you find out about the MBA in Media and what influenced your decision to come to BU?
I saw the advert in the Media Guardian and was impressed that it was geared towards Media professionals.
How challenging was the programme?
Trying to fit in work was exceptionally challenging, particularly when I was left with two toddlers and organising a move to Turkey when my husband went ahead months earlier than us. It was also difficult when our internet connection in Istanbul only worked between 3 and 5am!
How many professionals were on the programme and do you keep in touch with them?
There were six others in my cohort. Only two of us were from outside UKTV so we did not benefit from the same support network they already, quite naturally, had. We do keep in touch to some degree by email, but of course, it is more difficult with my move overseas.
Having said that, I would not have any hesitation in picking up the phone to any of the students and we all got on exceptionally well and really enjoyed our classes together.
"The academic staff were really challenging and able to make their subjects fascinating."
How did you find the calibre of the academics on the MBA?
They were really challenging and able to make their subjects fascinating.
How have the specific units of the MBA enhanced your management capabilities within the media environment?
They have highlighted different ways of thinking and provided me with practical tools to approach problems/ challenges differently.
What skills have you developed and harnessed?
An increased awareness of management and leadership styles and which one is most appropriate to any given situation. Also an improved ability to communicate with other departments as I now have a common language to use. But generally, a huge improvement in my business awareness – both in my sector and beyond.
"It is important to have a media specific MBA – not just a course with a few media papers."
Is having an MBA with specialisms a bit gimmicky?
It is important to have a media specific MBA – not just a course with a few media papers. The media industry is not a natural fit into traditional MBA case studies because we often prove the exceptions to the rules. For example, rapid technological changes and dealing with creative people bring specific challenges to the media professional and the course gave us the opportunity to explore those particular areas.
The use of media case studies also gave us the ability to immediately identify with the situations they dealt with, and put into practice lessons learned.
