Meghan Van Portfliet MBA Graduate 2015
From telecoms to academia, Meghan Van Portfliet’s journey shows how an MBA can transform a career. Her Queen’s MBA experience opened global doors, leading her from business to teaching and research that has taken her worldwide.
Before commencing my MBA I worked in Telecoms in Colorado for a mobile phone company called Cricket Communications. I was able to move from the retail side to the corporate side and I moved up quickly, taking on roles like Retail Design Manager, Marketing Merchandising Manager, and E-Commerce Merchandising Manager.
I started to feel like I had hit a ceiling, though, and wanted an international degree to open up more opportunities for myself. I came to Queen’s in 2014, and immersed myself in all of the opportunities at the university: InnovateHER through the students’ union, business competitions, and representing my peers in student council.
I did well in my MBA, which opened up either an opportunity to open a business in Belfast, or pursue a fully-funded PhD. I decided to pursue the PhD, which led me down the path of academia. I didn't expect or plan that, but I love where I have ended up.
Teaching in a business school with practical business experience, an MBA and a PhD makes me a better teacher and has helped me make my research accessible to a wide audience. I get to work in a beautiful location now, and travel the world with my research. My MBA at Queen's truly changed my life in ways I never thought possible!
