Chiamaka Ndika

MBA 2021, Nigeria

Chiamaka Ndika

In my last role as a Regional Manager for a global scholarships programme, I led on the strategic design and execution of over 100 engagement projects in 14 countries. I started my career in the media as a Radio Show Anchor and TV talent before moving into non-profit organisation management. I spent four years in customer services and examinations, before I was offered a promotion and joined the Higher Education Programs team in 2014, where I designed programs which position young people to be the leaders and innovators of the future.

This translates naturally into my passion for helping young people find their place in the world. I volunteer as a Youth Mentor for several organisations/causes and I was a founding member of Smellthecoffee.com, a forum to help students identify and pursue their passions before leaving their Higher Education Institutions. I am a certified Project Management for Development professional, with an MSc in Business Psychology.

When I am not working, I am blogging about parenting, catching up on pop-culture or absorbed in a good novel or TV series.

Top achievements

  1. I initiated a complaints tracking system, laying out structure for ownership of complaints and feedback which reduced the frequency of complaints escalated to the region by 80%. I also introduced two receipting systems which improved financial compliance and control by 50% and developed an enquiry handling manual that increased efficiency of resolutions by 60%.
  2. I created a Terms of Reference document which laid the foundation for the Handbook for Alumni Associations and Coordinators used across the global network today to standardise the structure of alumni network formations and sustainability of community engagement projects.
  3. I developed and initiated the Alumni Mentoring plan and the post-award capacity development workshops which have increased alumni engagement by 70% since the inception of the programme.

What attracted you to the MBA programme at Kent Business School and why?

The early bird discount definitely caught my attention but I was further attracted to the triple accreditation status. By researching that more, I learned about what to look out for in an MBA programme. I also liked that I would be on track to acquiring the CMI qualification as well.

What are your motivations for undertaking an MBA

With over 10 years’ experience spanning customer experience management, marketing and communications, operations and people management, I believe I would excel as a project or management consultant and an MBA provides the much-needed credential to support my expertise.

What are your future aspirations?

I am taking a career break to renew and refresh my knowledge of business and management, so I expect the Kent MBA would set me on the path to reboot and launch me to senior management level and possibly challenge me to start my own enterprise.

What is your best advice for those wanting to progress in business?

Never stop learning, never stop growing. Above all, think sustainably and for the social good. This will take you much further.

“The only skill that will be important in the 21st century is the skill of learning new skill. Everything else will become obsolete over time.”

– Peter Drucker