To navigate a global world, you need to expand your horizons

Lesley Roberts is a citizen of the world. Born and raised in Australia, she’s plied her trade in real estate asset management from London for the past 18 years. Now, as she seeks to broaden her international nous with a Global MBA from Henley Business School, she explains here why she’s excited to be gaining the tools to navigate a world where borders matter less. 

As someone who has lived in the UK for 18 years but remains deeply connected to Australia, I’ve come to realise that business is increasingly shaped by global events. My career in residential real estate asset management – working with pension funds, private equity firms, and large-scale institutional investments – has given me a highly specialised focus, and I want to continue to broaden my perspective. Henley’s Global MBA offers the perfect blend of global exposure, cultural immersion, and holistic development to bridge gaps in my knowledge and prepare me for leadership in an interconnected world.

It's important for me understand global business dynamics as well as regional markets in my line of work, which involves managing assets for international investors. Henley – alongside the anticipated focus on subjects like leadership, strategy, managing people, and processes and systems – emphasises cultural intelligence which really appealed to me. The international study visits that form part of the course allow us to analyse how business works across regions and aligns perfectly with my curiosity about diverse markets.

The opportunity to collaborate with peers from a variety of industries and countries was also a major drawcard when I was choosing the business school. I want my career to incorporate a greater degree of global components. Henley’s Global MBA fosters cross-cultural collaboration, which I experienced firsthand during the international immersion to Finland, the first of three such study visits spread across the 24 months of study where the entire global group joins up and we get to meet and work with colleagues from South Africa and across Europe. The creation of such connections can open doors to global career opportunities and partnerships, a key advantage over more traditional MBA programmes.

Henley’s reputation for blending professional and personal development also stood out. Unlike programmes focused solely on, for example, finance or operations, Henley takes a holistic approach that encompasses leadership, ethics, and global perspectives. This perfectly complements my career goals, which are to fill knowledge gaps and expand beyond niche expertise. The international immersions tap into my interest in global markets while face-to-face learning with a diverse peer group provides a deeper level of engagement, and the focus on personal development increases my self-awareness. It’s a winning combination.

Working and studying simultaneously is always going to be challenging, but it cultivates resilience and adaptability, traits essential for success in the global business world. Juggling my demanding career, coursework, and personal responsibilities while on our international immersion to Finland, really tested my limits but I focused on the fact that there is no gain without pain and, with the support of my fellow cohorts and the Henley team, I pushed through. As one MBA graduate noted, the programme may demand ‘blood, sweat, and tears’, but the rewards – networks, skills, and confidence – are worth the effort and truly transformative.

Doing a Global MBA is a leap of faith – a commitment to growth, discomfort, and trust in the process. For me, it’s about expanding my impact in my industry while gaining the tools to navigate a world where borders matter less. Whether you’re seeking to change industries or deepen your expertise, Henley’s Global MBA offers a path to global readiness – and the resilience to thrive in a global world.