After 25 years in banking, Grace Bacon found herself at a professional crossroads. “I was feeling under-challenged,” she reflects. “I’d progressed from middle management to senior leadership quite quickly, but I recognised a gap in my formal leadership development. Everything I’d learned about leadership was essentially by stealth – on the job, without a structured approach.”
For Grace, timing was everything. The COVID-19 pandemic created a moment to pause and reassess. “My travel had completely stopped, my son was more independent, and I was sitting at home reflecting,” she explains. “When I saw an ad for the University of Sydney Business School on LinkedIn, something clicked. I asked myself a powerful question: ‘If I don’t do this now, will I regret it when I’m 65?’ The answer was a resounding yes.”
After speaking with the Program Director of the Executive MBA, Grace realised the structure and intensity of the program were a great fit for her career stage. “Given my experience, the two-week intensive format, the absence of traditional exams, and the international learning experiences were incredibly appealing.”
Like many executives, Grace had practical reservations. “Balancing everything was my main concern,” she admits. “How would I manage two weeks away from home? How would my family cope? My husband had completed an MBA himself, so he understood the commitment, but we agreed to take it module by module.”
Choosing to invest in herself was a deliberate and courageous act. “I’ve always put everyone else first – my family, my work, my team,” Grace says.
The Executive MBA was consciously the most selfish thing I have ever done – and I mean that in the best conceivable way. I wanted to validate my leadership learnings, provide structure to my skills, and prepare for future executive roles.
Grace Bacon
The cohort experience proved transformative. “The diversity was remarkable,” she recalls. “We had people from mining, medical, legal, government, and start-up sectors – all with different motivations and perspectives. The program was designed to create richness through different experiences, and it absolutely delivered on that promise.”
Grace’s reflections offer practical wisdom for professionals considering the same path. “Look ten years ahead and ask yourself: would you regret not doing it?” she advises. “There was a significant gap between my undergraduate studies and any formal learning. All my previous training was technical, but leadership requires a very different skill set.”
For Grace, the Executive MBA at the University of Sydney Business School was more than an academic qualification – it was a structured act of self-investment and a bold commitment to future leadership.