A Mission Driven MBA

Brunel Business School infuses the solid technical and practical education Brunel University London is known for into its MBA program. Dr. Jessica Chelekis, MBA Director, says the program takes inspiration from its namesake, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, one of the greatest civil engineers in the UK‘s history, to transform students into responsible leaders.

“He was one of the greatest civil engineers in the UK’s history. He helped transform Britain from an agrarian to an industrial society,” Director Chelekis explains. She adds, “Not only was he an amazing engineer, but he was an innovator and a leader, and this is the ethos that we are inspired by.” (00:20)

The MBA program emphasizes a practical, case-based approach, integrating theory with real-world application.

“We believe that theory, and the latest research, is very important, but it is only one component. The other component is application and practice in the real world,” Director Chelekis says. (01:06)

The mission of Brunel Business School is to develop sustainable societies and businesses, a commitment taken very seriously in their MBA program. It emphasizes instilling the qualities of innovation, creativity, and societal responsibility in its students.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel

Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806 – 1859) was a visionary engineer whose work transformed Britain’s industrial landscape. He is best known for his innovative bridge, railway, and ship designs. For example, the SS Great Britain was the largest passenger ship when it was built. It was also the first iron ship to cross the Atlantic with a steam-powered screw propeller.

Brunel’s legacy of creativity and problem-solving excellence underpins the values the Brunel MBA program teaches.

Key Features of the Brunel MBA

The Brunel MBA program is innovative. It prepares students to become responsible leaders who can meet contemporary business challenges. It can be completed in one year full-time or two years part-time. In both formats, students get the same curriculum and develop business acumen, focusing on responsible leadership and sustainability.

“We have a strong emphasis on responsible leadership, sustainability, and the broader UN Sustainable Development Goals,” explains Director Chelekis. (01:37)

Practical learning methods are a hallmark of the program, including live business cases and immersive simulation games.

“The most exciting thing for students is when we have live business cases in our modules,” she notes. “This is when business representatives come into the classroom. They present a business challenge that they are facing, and students work in groups to offer solutions.” (02:30)

The Brunel MBA offers two specialist pathways in addition to General Management. These are Healthcare Management and Digital Innovation Management. These pathways leverage the school’s strengths in these fields.

“The inspiration for these pathways is the fact that we have in our faculty professors, senior researchers, and practitioners with strong links to healthcare and to digital innovation,” highlights Director Chelekis. “So, we are capitalizing on these strengths.” (04:50)

The Healthcare Management pathway is closely tied to the NHS and explores UK and global healthcare management. The Digital Innovation Management pathway focuses on the rapidly evolving field of digital technology, preparing students to leverage innovations such as AI in their careers.

The General Management pathway is the most flexible because students can choose electives. The elective can even be a course from the other pathways. This pathway is the most popular, partly because of the diverse student body. Students come from various countries and have diverse backgrounds in marketing, supply chain logistics, finance, and the creative industries.

Beyond the Classroom

The Brunel MBA program offers many extracurricular activities that enhance the student experience beyond the classroom. These include guest speaker sessions, company visits, and access to the Entrepreneurs Hub.

The Entrepreneurs Hub is a university-wide resource for student entrepreneurs, providing events and support services.

General career support is a key program component, including a formal mentorship scheme and a career development portfolio. These help students develop self-awareness and practical job-seeking skills with guidance from experienced professionals.

Of course, getting a job isn’t everyone’s next best step once classes end. So, Brunel Business School organizes summer exchanges for students interested in gaining a global education. Most recently, students went to Brazil, but the school is also developing partnerships in the US and Malaysia.

Leading with Purpose

In today’s complex global landscape, the need for responsible leadership has never been more critical. The Brunel MBA program emphasizes this through its curriculum and various initiatives.

Director Chelekis sees the crises in the environment, healthcare, economy, and politics “as partly a crisis of leadership. We desperately need leaders in the world, business leaders, political leaders, who are much more sensitized to their responsibilities to all of their stakeholders and to society.” (18:08)

The program integrates responsible leadership into every aspect of the curriculum, preparing students to tackle global challenges holistically. Director Chelekis wants graduates of the Brunel MBA to lead with purpose.

“Organizations make profit, and that is not a purpose,” she explains. “That is perhaps an end result, but a company’s purpose or an organization’s purpose must be about how

they act and the impact that they have in the world and in society.” (19:40)

The Brunel MBA program stands out for its commitment to blending theoretical knowledge with practical application, fostering innovation, and instilling a strong sense of social responsibility in its students. Graduates leave the program well-prepared to lead with purpose and drive sustainable growth within their future organizations.

Discover more about the Brunel Business School via their profile page.