How an MBA helped build Edith's career and her ​community

When Edith Cheng moved to Melbourne to pursue her MBA, she found her tribe – one that inspired her to persevere and do better.

• Name: Edith Cheng
• Current Role: Head of Client Success – Convincely
• Program: Part-time MBA, Melbourne Business School
• Cohort: 2020 – 2026 (In progress)
• Notables: Dean’s Commendation Award: People Management and Marketing; 1st Place in the Visit Victoria Case Competition

Leading teams, driving innovation

Fifteen years ago, when Edith Cheng started her career in paid search, it was very much a niche specialty.

Having majored in marketing and economics at the University of Sydney, she had applied for every role she could find before landing a job at a boutique marketing consultancy.

The digital marketing sector evolved quickly, and so did Edith’s work. She developed a passion for analytics and data, helping expand the agency’s analytic capabilities. Later, after moving to Melbourne, Edith began spearheading teams and taking on more senior management roles with global marketing providers.

Today, she enjoys a more client-facing role, pairing strategic oversight of the business with a commitment to creating more meaningful client experiences.

Why Melbourne Business School

When a former boss and MBA graduate encouraged Edith to resume her studies, she was reluctant at first.

“I was very much against it”, she said.

“I didn't want to go back to university and study and do assignments and all of that.

“But my boss felt it would be helpful, especially as I had shown interest in more broad-based roles.”

Persuaded to do a short five-day course in General Management at Melbourne Business School, Edith enjoyed every second of it.

“The course, the facilities, even the restaurant…honestly, it was the best university food I’ve ever eaten,” she laughed.

Energised by her positive experience, Edith decided to commit to a Part-time MBA at Melbourne Business School and commenced the program in 2020.

Inside the MBA experience

Starting her MBS during the COVID-19 pandemic came with unique challenges, including a sudden shift to online study during lockdown.

But Edith was impressed by how smoothly MBS managed the transition. "One day the government said nobody could do anything in person anymore, everything had to move online, and I felt MBS turned that around so quickly," she said.

Like many people during that time, Edith’s path took a few unexpected turns.

Completing the Biodesign Innovation course inspired her to launch a dog grooming business, which she still runs as a side hustle.

“I’ve toned it down a little, but it’s still thriving, and I get a lot of referrals,” she said.

After taking a break from her MBA, Edith is looking to resume her studies while continuing to work and hopes to graduate in 2027. She has enjoyed reconnecting with the many wonderful people she met through the program and is especially looking forward to the MBA’s group assignments, which emphasise collaboration and peer learning.

"Group work creates that one-on-one connection. It’s very different from my bachelor’s, where you’re in a massive class and then go off and do your own thing." she said.

While group projects can be challenging, Edith believes they are valuable preparation for the real world.

“You don’t always click with everyone. There are different working styles and disagreements, but that’s representative of real life,” she said.

“The MBA does well in teaching you how to navigate those obstacles”

Applying classroom insights

For Edith, the MBA’s strong focus on people management and soft skills has made a real difference in her career.

“I’ve managed culturally diverse teams. The frameworks from those subjects were easy to apply at work and helped me resolve tricky situations,” she said.

Indeed, the lessons proved so enriching that she subsequently started a workplace soft skills training program that drew heavily on the frameworks she had gained through her MBA.

“Those programs were really great,” she said.

“Hundreds joined and attended those sessions. I also ran people management training for my team.

“They took that program and expanded it globally.”

Building confidence and capabilities

Now Head of Client Success and Operations at Convincely, Edith credits the MBA for advancing her career. It equipped her with analytical and strategic skills she uses daily in her role.

“I know financial accounting isn’t going to excite everyone,” she laughs. “But honestly, at the time, it became one of my favourite subjects on the MBA.

I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did, but the way it was taught, using real-world applications, really resonated with me.”

Analysing financial and annual reports each week built Edith’s confidence and capabilities. She became stronger in assessing and improving business performance.

“Looking back, that foundation has been invaluable in helping me navigate tricky commercial conversations and managing profitability at the organisations I worked for,” she said.

“Understanding a client’s business and strategy is key to delivering actionable advice and getting better results.”

For future students

Edith’s advice to future students is to be open-minded and sociable.

“You need to be open to new experiences and take advantage of all the alumni events and social events, too,” she said.

I think they are all valuable from a networking perspective and is also an excellent way of making new friends.”

Edith recalls that when she moved from Sydney to Melbourne, she had only one close friend in the city, but that changed once she started the course.

“I found my tribe at Melbourne Business School and have been able to put down roots because of the relationships I’ve built there.”

For Edith, meeting like-minded people with similar ambitions has helped her persevere and push herself to do better.

Made.Not born. – Edith’s interpretation

Edith interprets “Made. Not born.” as being all about developing a growth mindset.

"From where I started, I feel like I’ve grown significantly as a leader, and I think that’s probably true for every leader,” she said.

“I’ve spoken to CEOs who’ve told me that when they first started, they made some of the worst people-management mistakes imaginable.

“It really shows how far people can come."

Edith believes much of her growth comes from positive educational experiences, such as those she had during her MBA.

“If you genuinely embrace growth, it can take you much further than you expect,” she said.

“The level of wisdom I have now compared to what I had when I first started my career is completely different. My MBA played an extremely important role in that journey.”