Joe McDonald MBA Graduate 2011
From early roots in agri-food to leading Corporate Affairs at Asda, Joe McDonald credits the Queen’s MBA with sharpening his strategic mindset and leadership skills preparing him to navigate major challenges and advance confidently in his career.
I first walked into Queen’s as an Economics undergraduate in 1990, and like many, I genuinely didn’t know which direction my career would take. Three enjoyable years later, I opted into a master’s degree in Agricultural Economics, and that pointed me in the direction of the agri-food sector, one of Northern Ireland’s most important industries. It was my first ‘sliding doors’ moment and set me on a career pathway which I’m very grateful for.
Following a brief stint in food processing, I joined the Ulster Farmers’ Union, the lead representative body for farmers in Northern Ireland. For the next seventeen years, I had the privilege of working across policy, communications and membership. I learned to appreciate the importance of an organisation’s purpose and experienced first-hand why it is the people in an organisation that set it apart.
In 2009 my Chief Executive signposted me to the Queen’s MBA.
Going back to Queen’s was a great pleasure, walking the same corridors twenty years later, but this time a bit older and wiser. The online resources and world class facilities such as the McClay Library were a big upgrade on my undergraduate experience and really helped me work in my own time to get the most from the course. As with all MBA’s, my classmates were a fantastic support, and we bonded through study and travel.
Everyone was taking a big step, often juggling work and family commitments, but all seeking to take the next step in their career and broaden their knowledge.
You will almost certainly achieve both through the Queen’s MBA. It introduces you to a diverse syllabus and prepares you for leadership. It teaches you to think strategically, see the big picture, understand business models, think about innovation, ethics and entrepreneurialism, and much more.
As you work through the modules, you will gain a better understanding of your own strengths and weaknesses. Economics came naturally to me, Marketing was a struggle. Everyone has their own tribulations, but as a small group we bonded and supported each other.
Graduating from the MBA gave me a great sense of achievement and I was delighted that my first daughter was old enough to attend my graduation day. This summer she graduated herself from QUB!
The MBA prepares you very well if you are thinking of a next step in your career. Post-MBA I was recruited by Asda, one of the UK’s largest retailers. I am very proud to now be their UK Head of Corporate Affairs, dealing with an incredible diversity of issues. I’ve helped the organisation navigate Covid, Brexit, a cost of living crisis and much more, frequently drawing on my MBA experience to guide my decision making. I’ve also seen the organisation embrace new fields such as ESG and AI, which weren’t even a thing when I graduated in 2011. The MBA teaches you to be agile.
Am I glad I did the Queen’s MBA? Definitely!
Was it tough? Absolutely!
Would I recommend it? Yes!
