Tolu Olanipekun
MBA Master of Business Administration
Tolu Olanipekun is based in Nigeria and completed an MBA while working as Head of Marketing. Influenced by senior colleagues who were Edinburgh Business School alumni, she enrolled to prepare for the next stage of her career and strengthen her strategic leadership capability. Balancing work and study was demanding, but she remained motivated.
Profile
Why did you choose to study online with Edinburgh Business School?
At my previous workplace, a number of my senior colleagues are alumni of EBS. They shared their remarkable experience with the programme.
Why did you choose to complete your chosen programme at this stage of your life and career?
In preparation for the next level in my career, I believed I needed to strengthen my understanding of strategy, leadership, finance, innovation and business performance.
What was the biggest challenge you faced while studying online?
Balancing work pressure and studying.
What kept you going when you faced challenges?
I wanted to set a good example for my kids, who could see how hard I worked to achieve this.
What does this achievement mean to you now?
One lesson this journey has reinforced is that personal growth is deeply personal. We all have different circumstances, responsibilities, aspirations, and timelines. Success is not about competing with someone else's journey; it's about committing to your own. Every year should leave us wiser, more capable, and more intentional than the one before. The objective isn't perfection. It's progress. It's becoming a better version of yourself with every passing year.
How has your programme impacted your career and personal life so far?
This MBA has strengthened my understanding of strategy, leadership, finance, innovation, and organisational performance. More importantly, it has challenged how I think, make decisions, and lead people, lessons I look forward to applying in creating value for the organisations and teams I have the privilege to serve.
How did you find the online learning materials?
In-depth and easy to understand.
What was your favourite course and why?
Financial Decision Making transformed me from a Marketer to a business leader with a profitability mindset.