Clare Tamsitt
Meet Clare Tamsitt, a nurse with 20 years’ experience who completed an MBA at Herts to develop her management skills and further her career prospects. She is now Divisional Director for Core Services at Barts Health NHS Trust.
| Current job role | Divisional Director for Core Services at Barts Health NHS Trust |
|---|---|
| Year of graduation | 2018 |
| Course of study | Masters of Business Administration |
Before studying an MBA at Herts, Clare had spent 20 years in nursing and commercial work before returning to the NHS. She is passionate about working in the NHS, but wanted to develop her management skills and further her career prospects.
An MBA student recommended the course to Clare. ‘I took their advice, had an interview with the MBA Programme Director at Herts and attended an information evening. The rest is history!’ Clare says she has a ‘soft spot’ for the University after completing a nursing diploma and Masters in Leadership and Tissue Viability at Herts, and therefore really wanted to complete her MBA here too.
Transferable skills
The MBA teaches valuable skills useful for everyday life and business. ‘The course took me out of my comfort zone. You learn about different roles, such as HR and finance, which helps you see the different perspectives of other professionals. Most importantly, the MBA taught me the value of taking a step back and thinking things through, which allows you to make better decisions.’
Clare describes working and studying alongside different people as ‘invaluable’. ‘Sometimes you can live in a bubble in the NHS or commercial sector. I liked the fact that my cohort was a mix of people from all different industries.’
'I found that my MBA really encouraged debate and practical application, but at times it was academically demanding and time consuming. Being organised and managing my time well was important. My advice is do not leave things until the last minute, do it in bitesize pieces.’
'It is worth it’
Clare is now Divisional Director for Core Services at Barts Health NHS Trust, looking after imaging, outpatients, pharmacy, and therapies, and leads the nursing portfolio. She was previously a Divisional General Manager at Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital.
Clare is also a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Hertfordshire.
She encourages others to consider an MBA. ‘It is hard – but if you are passionate and want to learn, it is worth it.’