David Watts

Job area
Corporate Development

Organisation
Warwickshire Police

Course
MBA Part-time (Class of 1998)

Why did you choose Aston Business School?
It offered academic rigour and a pragmatic grounding in the real world. Other local business schools that offered me a place seemed to be somewhat abstract in their view of business, taking a more academic and, in my opinion, less connected view.

How would you describe the learning experience at Aston Business School?
Excellent, demanding, flexible, exciting, the hardest thing I've done, the most rewarding thing I've done (excluding marrying my wife of course).

What have you gained (personally and professionally) from your MBA programme at Aston Business School?
A very well developed view of how businesses and organisations actually connect and work whether in the private or public sector.

What do you consider to be the most positive aspects of your experience at Aston Business School?
The insight into the way businesses connect and work. Most employees in my experience have a very narrow view of their world - the MBA gives you the helicopter view.

How has your Aston MBA helped you further your career?
It has helped me find jobs in different sectors, stay employed or become re-employed during some tough years and enabled me to contribute across many business disciplines.

What would you consider to be your main achievements since gaining your MBA at Aston?
Flexibility of job - I've worked in operations, consultancy, production, business analysis and even more consultancy.