Personal Development and Reflection – Valuable Aspects of the Executive MBA Programme

The importance of reflection is a recurring theme when Mattias Nilsson, newly appointed Head of Circular Consulting at Stena Recycling, describes his experience of the Gothenburg Executive MBA programme. “The programme highlighted the value of reflection and gave me the opportunity to think through what I wanted, what I am passionate about, and what my values are. It has made me more confident,” he says.

When Mattias Nilsson started the Executive MBA programme at the School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg in the autumn of 2021, his primary goal was personal development, combined with enhanced skills and strengthened leadership. And he believes he has achieved that.

“You can make a career in many different ways. The programme gave me the opportunity to reflect both on my own life and on the company’s position. I have gained a clearer picture of what I am passionate about, my values, what I want to work with, and what that situation should look like. I have also become more curious and willing to try new things, which in itself opens up new opportunities. I feel that I have had a mental promotion,” he says and continues:

“Since the programme is research-based, it provides insights into new methods while the overall experience results in broad competence, making one well-equipped for leadership and development. If I am faced with a work task that I am not immediately sure how to handle, I know that I can go back to the experiences from the programme, find a similar issue, and remind myself of what I learned, what solutions we discussed, and from which perspectives it might be useful to view the matter. Overall, I reflect more now before taking action. I let decisions take a bit more time.”

The Whole and the Intensity Create Value
Reflection runs as a common thread throughout all parts of the programme. Among the most rewarding – and somewhat surprising – of the 21 modules, Mattias Nilsson mentions Creative Leadership and other leadership-focused parts.

“The programme contained more ‘soft’ aspects than I had expected, and they were very rewarding, providing real aha-moments and significant personal development. But above all, it is the whole, the combination of the different modules, and the intensive work that makes the programme so valuable.”

Mattias Nilsson is clear that the programme is demanding and sees this in itself as an essential part of the value.

“Apart from the fact that an Executive MBA is a recognised qualification and a strong credential in one’s CV, the programme boosts one’s self-confidence simply through the achievement of completing it.”

The overall workload is the biggest challenge. Mattias Nilsson’s advice to anyone considering an Executive MBA programme is to reduce other commitments and make a plan with both employer and family – everyone needs to be aware that the programme entails a period of intense work.

“Of course, everyone sets their own level of ambition, but it is evident that the more effort you put into the programme, the more you get out of it,” he says.

Benefits for the Employer
Mattias Nilsson has worked in various roles at Stena Recycling and Stena Recycling Holding since 2013. He is grateful to have an employer that encourages and enables employees to develop but also emphasises the advantages an organisation gains by allowing employees to take part in an Executive MBA.

“The programme provides broad knowledge, meaning the company gains employees who can take on new assignments and be developed in different directions and roles. I also believe that you get employees who are resilient and capable of handling challenges, change, and transformation – the kind of employees many organisations need in today’s fast-changing world.”

An Outstanding Network
Another advantage is the network that participants build during the programme. For Mattias Nilsson, this was an unexpected bonus that he is keen to maintain.

“I am in touch with someone from the group almost every week. We learned from each other and helped each other with assignments during the programme. Now, we continue to support each other when challenges arise, or you need to consult with someone who understands the context and can relate to previous discussions. And sometimes, it is just about social exchange. It is an outstanding network.”

Mattias Nilsson

For more information regarding the Gothenburg Executive MBA programme, see www.guexed.com or contact:

Håkan Ericson, Senior Associate Business Development Director,
GU Executive Education
hakan.ericson@handels.gu.se, +46 709 50 63 35

Henrik Schröder, CEO,
GU Executive Education
henrik.schroder@handels.gu.se, +46 705 16 76 55