December 14, 2017

Master of juggling work, life and study

Perseverance pays off for MBA graduate Sandy Haig

There were many times during the past four years when the juggle of study, work and home felt too hard for Sandy Haig.

But when the University of Wollongong staff member felt like giving up her Master of Business Administration, she thought of her children.

"They saw it all while I was studying," Sandy said with a laugh. "Those days when it all felt too much and I didn't know if I could do it, they saw me with my head in my hands at the kitchen table.

"But I wanted them to see what it looks like to finish something you started. I wanted to show them that quitting is not an option."

That lesson propelled Sandy through four years of studying, and today she graduated with a Masters of Business Administration.

As Manager of Strategic Business Engagement for UOW's Faculty of Business, Sandy spends her days forging connections between staff, students, and local business and community groups. It is a job she relishes, and perfectly suits her bubbly personality and ability to break down barriers.

"Every day I wake up and think, 'What positive impact am I going to have today?'," Sandy said. "I love building a rapport with people and creating connections.

"I love being able to see the unseen and connecting people and business to help them achieve their goals."

Simply choosing to undertake the postgraduate degree was a daunting decision for Sandy, who had previously completed four diplomas at TAFE but had not made the leap to university study.

At the time, Sandy was taking part in the Leadership Illawarra Program, which aims to mentor the next generation of Illawarra leaders.

She took Master-classes in Corporate Governance and Managing People in Organisations and realised that a postgraduate degree would provide the career challenge for which she was searching.

"It gave me a real buzz," Sandy said. "I attended classes at UOW's Sydney Business School and listening to lecturers Dr Ann Rogerson and Dr Oriana Price speak really inspired me.

"I thought it was time to step outside my comfort zone."

Study has been challenging for Sandy, particularly in the last few years when her father and her sister passed away within a brief period of time. However, she persevered, and encourages others who may find the study/work/life juggle overwhelming to do the same.

"Life happens. During my degree, the best and the worst of life happened to me," Sandy said. "But the university has been amazing in me in accommodating the good times and the bad times, the times when I just had to step away for a bit.

"I had so much support from my children and my husband too, which made such a difference."

Sandy has been very fortunate to have had many people in her life that have supported her and believed in her and in her moments of doubt that championed her to pushing through.

She wants to be a strong role model for her four children.

"University has not easy, but life is not easy there is no such thing as the right time you just have to jump in," said Sandy, whose next study goal is a Graduate Certificate in Coaching.

"I wanted my kids to see that University is not necessarily for the smartest people who do well, it's those that persevere, work hard and finish."