KBS Student Focus: Ben Kiely (PHD Student)

The Kemmy Business School has given me the support, freedom, and flexibility to discover my true self. The BA in International Business has given me confidence in a range of subject areas that are so pivotal to both industry and entrepreneurship. I chose to specialise in the fields of Marketing, Human Resource Management, Entrepreneurship, and Management because the subject material was practical and I could apply the learnings directly to both the family business and the building of my own personal brand and career.

As part of my UL experience, I have also engaged in Clubs and Societies, Student Council, Faculty Board, accreditation meetings, and helped answer questions from prospective students on KBS Open Days. Sharing my experience of Co-Operative Work Placements, the unique structure of the International Business Programme, and my social and peer-to-peer learning side of third-level education is something that I will treasure for the rest of my life!

After I graduated from International Business, I wanted to take the further opportunity to add to these skills and expand my knowledge base in the Entrepreneurship field. I signed up for the Masters in International Entrepreneurship Management which has been a deep-dive into the niches and complexities of engaging with consultative services and running your own business, as well as helping you discover new talents and traits within yourself through professional and leadership development, innovation and creativity management, as well as human resource, financial, and data analysis management. I have also had the pleasure of teaching undergraduate Management tutorials for the BBS and BAIB programmes, giving me the opportunity to reengage with the material I had just graduated from and also the opportunity to experience the dynamics of teaching and learning from another perspective.

Now in the second semester of my Master's programme, I can reflect on the plentiful opportunities that have allowed me to grow and give back to the community that has curated and enriched my personality and development. I will be eternally grateful to the Kemmy Business School and the University of Limerick for the support and friendships that will continue long after my graduation, and the memories that I will smile at when I think back on my time studying business at UL.