Terance Mwamuka, Manchester AMBS MBA Class of 2024
Terance Mwamuka, Manchester AMBS MBA Class of 2024Age: 34
Hometown: Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Undergraduate Institution and Major: National University of Science & Technology, Accounting
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 11 years, big 4 audit experience, most recently PwC
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
Having worked in audit for 11 years, I thought, now was the right time to transition into another career path. I also realized I was lacking in certain interpersonal and business skills for which the MBA would be useful. I am planning to make a double jump i.e. change industry and function, and I foresee this happening.
Why did you choose Manchester AMBS? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
AMBS MBA is a top-ranked program in the UK. I also liked the project-based approach i.e. doing 3 consulting projects would give me the correct practical experience. True to what it says, this has been the case in the studies so far. It has been fascinating applying the theory of the classroom to projects.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2024?
Due to having worked in the UK for the past 7 years and my audit background, I have been making some good contributions to the class. I have been sharing my knowledge of the UK market, mostly of charities, in our first not-for-profit project. I volunteer as a treasurer at my church, so I already knew a lot about UK charities before doing the MBA. My accounting experience has also been useful in the class on the business finance and accounting module. I have been helping my non-accounting classmates. Having worked in the Big-4, my attention to detail has been useful to the team.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
During high school, I did photography as a side hustle. I used to take pictures for a fee. It was a profitable small gig for a student at the time. By coincidence, my father used to do the same thing, but at least he had many photos of himself, while I only have a few.
Post-MBA career interests:
I am looking at banking and finance-related roles but am also open to other opportunities.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
It is really important to change the format of your CV from what you use on job applications to just 1 page for the MBA application.
What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I should have sorted my finances a few months before starting
What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
Applying for my finance was a long-winded process, but I had to be patient with it.
What is your initial impression of the Manchester AMBS students/culture/community?
The class is made up of 100-plus students from 27 countries, and this shows how diverse the class is. The school fosters teamwork and collaboration. As part of the MBA, there are a lot of team-building exercises and personality tests that assist in managing teams. The environment is collaborative, and everyone is willing to support.
What is one thing you have learned about Manchester AMBS that has surprised you?
The intensity of the non-profit consulting project is something that I wasn’t expecting, however, our supervisor and the academic staff have been supporting us throughout.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
The only thing that I am worried about is failing to get an internship in my preferred sector.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
Getting an internship in my preferred sector.
Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your personal application or admissions process in any way? If so, how?
There have been no implications.
