Balancing an MBA, career and motherhood: Anisha’s journey on Imperial’s Executive MBA

My journey before Imperial

Healthcare has always been my passion – there is never a dull moment in a hospital and it’s incredibly grounding to work as part of a team that directly improves lives, particularly in critical care where I specialised.

I began my career as a front-line NHS Clinician and, as I gained experience, became fascinated by how health systems are organised and the profound impact of public health policies in saving lives.

This sparked my journey into various leadership roles and currently, I lead on innovation development, collaborating with industry to accelerate the adoption of health technologies that can improve on health and care outcomes, particularly regarding those focused on prevention and efficiency. I firmly believe that the future of resilient healthcare systems lies in prevention, leveraging technology and fostering public-private partnerships.

Alongside my career, life is busy as a mother to a 3-year-old son. My son is full of mischievous fun. Being his mother is incredibly humbling, and while the journey of motherhood is full of challenges, my favourite thing about being a mum is seeing the world through his eyes. It never ceases to amaze me how creatively yet unpretentiously children interpret their surroundings.

A time of change - growing both professionally and personally

Choosing to study the Executive MBA

Going forward in my career, I’m focused on transitioning into a field that blends private-public collaborations and health technology adoption to support proactive, preventative healthcare. To achieve this, I wanted to further develop my business knowledge.

When considering where to study, Imperial was a natural choice. It is a renowned institution in the field of STEM, particularly in health innovation and the use of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence. I wanted to gain first-hand experience of this thriving ecosystem.

The Executive MBA programme itself at Imperial College Business School is an essential platform for learning the language of business – from balance sheets, financing models, and customer segmentation. It’s also designed for full-time professionals, offering support for executive leadership and career transitions.

As a highly reputable Business School based in London, these factors only added to the appeal. It’s been common routine for me to be studying on campus on a Saturday, whilst my family museum-hop locally in South Kensington.

Preparing for a new arrival

On top of my studies, I also have another baby boy on the way, who is due in May 2025. Over the last several months, I have been navigating my studies alongside the preparations for having another baby.

When I returned from maternity leave the first time, I struggled to redefine my career goals. One of the tools that is helping me this time round is the Executive MBA itself. Not only is it a form of both personal and professional development but is also some important “me time” that I truly value. It allows me to invest in becoming a better, more balanced version of myself – and ultimately, a better mother.

I hope that one day my children will observe this journey I have been on with pride, and I will be able to share my learnings with them.

Reaping the benefits of my Executive MBA

One year into my studies and as a clinician and health policy expert, the Executive MBA has already broadened my understanding of how to lead and deliver resilient, sustainable healthcare systems and partnerships.

It has not only enhanced my skillset but opened my mind to new opportunities and helped me to expand my network and foster a growth mindset.

Acquiring skills and pursuing career goals

These new skills mean that the Executive MBA has also been instrumental in helping me navigate a transition in my job where I took an opportunity that aligns with my long-term career goals.

In particular, the Executive Leadership Journey, a year-long module specifically designed to build essential leadership skills and help maximise potential, alongside one-on-one career coaching and peer discussion, have helped me grow exponentially. I now leverage my network, articulate my career goals and navigate transitions with greater clarity.

Access to Careers Clubs, including sector-specific clubs, and an eclectic network of students and alumni has also been invaluable in challenging and refining my career plan whilst simultaneously opening new opportunities.

A highlight from my first year

The year holistically has been incredibly fulfilling. Our International Residency to the USA, where we travelled between Boston and San Francisco, was undoubtedly one of the most rewarding experiences of the Executive MBA so far.

Over the week, we had an opportunity to explore the innovation ecosystems of Boston and San Francisco, attending seminars at MIT and Stanford and engaging in discussions with venture capital and angel investors, and businesses.

What made it even more inspiring was the chance to experience this alongside an amazing group of classmates. It was during the first few weeks of my pregnancy, and everyone was incredibly supportive and very insistent that I skip the lunch queues – a kind gesture that I’m sure many expectant mothers can appreciate.

Overall, it was a really informative week and my classmates and I had a lot of fun learning, exchanging ideas and engaging in energising discussions.

Navigating work commitments, my studies and family life

Imperial’s support

There are several support services at Imperial that I’ve relied upon to navigate the challenges of balancing an intense career with family life and my studies. This includes pastoral care as well as my Executive Coach, who has been particularly helpful in framing what can sometimes feel like a convoluted journey.  Her insights are invaluable, and as a fellow mother, she understands the unique challenges I face.

Events like the Women in Healthcare Leadership programme and the Imperial Women’s Council Network have provided inspiration and support. And many of my classmates have become close friends over the course of our studies, and they have helped me navigate the demands of full-time work and the Executive MBA programme, often alongside milestone life events.

As I approach the final weeks of my pregnancy, staff have been accommodating and have offered virtual options for my electives, and the process of taking some time out from my studies has been flexible.

Time management is key

In a general sense, I would say that motherhood has certainly refined my multitasking and time-management skills—both of which are incredibly transferable to studying and working. Unexpectedly, it has also provided me with a renewed sense of prioritisation, values, and impact. I now approach projects and partnerships more pragmatically, carefully evaluating which are worth pursuing and investing in.

Organisation and flexibility has been key to managing work, my studies and family life. The programme is delivered through a mix of online and in-person learning and The Hub, Imperial’s online learning platform, is flexible and allows me to work around life’s other demands.

I don’t aim for a set number of hours studying per day but rather approach my study-time with some flexibility and ensure that I give it my focus when I am working on it. And when I’m spending time with my family, I try to savour the small priceless moments; for example, my son and I have got quite good at cooking together on the weekends.

And at work, I’ve been fortunate enough to negotiate flexible working arrangements with longer days to accommodate on-campus classes. Having the support of my employer has been essential for applying my learning and accommodating study leave.

Tackling barriers

Women in leadership

Through managing all these different responsibilities and making the decision to pursue my goals, both in my personal and professional life, I have also reflected a lot on the broader challenges women face in leadership roles.

My family roots are quite entangled with traditional norms and expectations of female and male roles. In two generations, this has shifted dramatically. My experiences have certainly pushed me outside of my comfort zone and have made me more willing to demonstrate my talents, take more risks and be open to lead and challenge myself.

Parenthood has also helped me to develop my leadership skills. It fosters a sense of empathy and understanding which, in a leader, can help create a more supportive and harmonious team dynamic.

It’s clear that investing in women yields better returns. A 2022 study by Women Count found that FTSE 350 companies with more than 25% female executives had a profit margin of 16%, compared to just 1.4% for those with no female board members.

Though I do think there’s still more work to be done. The classroom is the perfect space to discuss gender and diversity, bringing in inspirational women leaders – including mothers – to foster allyship and inspire the leaders of tomorrow.