Tristan Mitchell Full Case Study
Most people have a goal in life, from rising to the top of their profession to winning the next half marathon they enter. But knowing what you want to achieve and understanding exactly how to get there can sometimes be very different things.
For Tristan Mitchell, an MBA from the University of Worcester was the key to unlocking his ambitious plans for the future:
“I had been moved into a management position at work but had no specific training,” Tristan said. “I started out my career in a technical role,which used my previous Software Engineering degree - and I wanted to have a similar grounding for my new position in management.”
After researching his options, Tristan decided an MBA from the Worcester Business School would provide all the tools he would need to master his new role and steer a course for success:
“The opportunity of a fully funded MBA through the University of Worcester’s Momentum programme was very attractive,” he said. “Every single module on the MBA was new material for me and virtually all of it has been useful in some context in my work.”
Starting work at DeltaXML as a software engineer in 2005, Tristan has risen steadily through the ranks to his current position of Product Manager.
“I am responsible for all software products at DeltaXML and act as a go-between for customers and our development team,” he explained. “I love the variety of my job – I can be working closely with developers one day and working with our sales team the next. I really enjoy the interaction with our range of customers too - particularly the chance to meet people face to face at conferences and business events.”
With such a broad and dynamic range of responsibilities, how does Tristan feel the MBA has helped him build his career?
“It has helped me to be much more confident in working at management level,” he said. “Through the course I learned a lot about myself, my leadership style and how to continue to develop professionally. It has also really helped me to deal with people, and not just those I manage, but peers and customers as well.”
With his career on an upward trajectory, and ambitious plans for the future, Tristan is keen to stress the significant role that an excellent network of support played in his recent successes. Returning to study whilst juggling existing work and personal commitments requires a degree of dedication, but Tristan found that those around him were equally determined to support him on his journey.
“My employer was very understanding and allowed me the time to attend lectures, as well as some time each month for further study,” he said. “With the arrival of my third child during the course, it was difficult to fit studying in with other commitments, but my wife was very supportive and encouraged me to continue when I felt like giving up.
“Ultimately though, it’s all been worth it.
“Studying for the MBA has given me the confidence to work within senior management and my hope is that it will help me to progress to become a CEO (Chief Executive Officer) in the future.”
Robin La Fontaine, CEO at DeltaXML, also saw the value of the Worcester MBA for the company:
"We were very pleased to be able to send Tristan on this course. As we grow the company we need to grow our people, and Tristan had the aptitude and ambition to grow into a senior management position - this MBA provided an ideal opportunity for him to gain the commercial and management skills to supplement his technical knowledge."