Next generation of MBA students inspired by change management firm link-up

Change management consultancy Nine Feet Tall has partnered with the University of Bath’s School of Management to help its Master of Business Administration (MBA) students.

The collaboration aimed to equip the students with practical skills and a deeper understanding of consulting practices, complementing their Consulting module.

The Bath-headquartered firm’s experienced management consultants Niall Cardwell and Josh Jones support delivered an engaging session focused on project management consultancy skills.

Following the guest lectures, Niall also took part in a panel event exploring careers in management consulting, which highlighted essential skills for success in the field as well as examining the growing influence of AI (artificial intelligence) on the industry.

Nine Feet Tall specialises in working with clients in the retail and consumer goods, housing, construction, manufacturing, legal and financial services sectors as well as charities and non-profit organisations.

It achieves results by making businesses more profitable, agile and ultimately more competitive.

Niall and Josh’s MBA course session provided the students with practical insights and actionable tips to prepare them ahead of their consulting module as well as skills to take further into their careers.

Topics covered included practical advice on how to effectively manage teams and positively influence stakeholders, and the effective use of project management tools.

Post-session feedback revealed that 94% of students found the lectures ‘useful’, while 67% reported increased confidence in the subject matter.

The remaining 33% said their confidence remained unchanged as they had prior consulting experience.

Josh Jones, principal consultant at Nine Feet Tall, said: “It was a really rewarding opportunity to use the volunteering time that we’re given at Nine Feet Tall. The students were really engaged, asking thoughtful questions about their consulting projects and career paths.”

Niall added: “As an alumnus of the University of Bath School of Management myself, it was a full-circle moment coming back to share the knowledge I’ve gained since graduating.

“Consulting is a dynamic and fulfilling career, and it was a pleasure to hopefully inspire potential consultants of the future.”

Clementine Seymour, MBA careers and external engagement officer at University of Bath said bringing in consultancy experience and business expertise helped students visualise how the course translated into the real world.

“They have enjoyed hearing about the application of project management tools to deliver outcomes in different scenarios,” she added.