Ekenedirichukwu Ofor

Country of origin: Nigeria

MBA, Université Laval

I chose LUMS for two main reasons. First, it was ranked amongst top 10 in the UK. Second, coming from a technical background, I thought it is wise to add a business cap to my knowledge. So, I set out looking for a management programme that focuses on the strategic alignment of IT and business. I found the ITMOC programme to be a perfect match for this. 

I loved the fact that my programme had a culturally and professionally diverse makeup. Studying and bonding with students from more than 15 nationalities across the globe was really fascinating for me. It provided me with a rare opportunity to learn about various cultures and orientations. More so, the different perspectives and experiences from the students added to the richness of our classes and lectures.

The modules were quite fascinating and challenging. From Knowledge Management, which exposes one to the philosophy of knowledge mining, creation, retention, diffusion, and mediation, to Cybersecurity & Enterprise Resilience which centres on vulnerabilities and threats facing our cyberspace whilst suggesting effective ways of securing and maintaining a resilient network. Interestingly, one realises towards the end of the programme that virtually all the modules tie to a common concept of how to strategically deploy IT as an enabler for delivering business solutions, innovation and transformation in a safe, secure, profitable and sustainable manner.

I was a member of the Consulting Society where we collectively explored the art of consulting in the business world. In addition, I played active roles during campaigns for PG Board elections.

I was part of a team of three that worked with IBM on enterprise Cloud adoption. The objective was to find novel and practical ways of driving businesses to Cloud. This became necessary given a troubling statistic that showed at the time that most businesses were struggling with the integration of their businesses with Cloud. With the support of IBM, we accessed various data sources, primary and secondary, which revealed some of the challenges businesses were facing, the factors responsible and some of the blind spots that are often overlooked while embarking on Cloud adoption. At the end, we delivered a white paper to IBM with suggested recommendations on viable solutions.

We gained quite a lot from the project. Besides providing access to the data needed for our individual dissertations, we learnt some techniques and strategies of conducting a professional corporate research. Also, we gained valuable experience in data collection, especially qualitative interviewing. Lastly, the knowledge on the subject matter of Cloud Computing Adoption was substantial and exciting.

My Lancaster experience was awesome in so many ways. The Collegiate System added another amazing and exciting dynamic to my experience. While ITMOC and LUMS provided a platform to learn from people of like minds, the Graduate College offered a rare networking experience with people of diverse professional background in a deeper sense. Deeper because you also share somewhat private spaces with these people. For instance, you cook together, manage house chores, organise and attend parties, go clubbing and pub drinking, engage in Halloween stunts and also quarrel and make up in ways that eventually create unimaginable bonds and friendship. Indeed, Lancaster provided a complete learning package for me.

I am currently on LUMS-sponsored study abroad programme at Université Laval in Canada where I am taking MBA classes. The modules that I am taking are International Marketing Management, Venture Capital, Small Business Management and Strategy, and Leadership. So, ITMOC helped me make that smooth transition from a core technical to IT-based business management expertise. This puts me on a path to becoming a CTO or CIO. Then this study abroad programme – MBA – adds to the ITMOC learning by completely broadening my management perspective beyond IT. Essentially, it provides the missing piece of the business puzzle thereby sets me on the path to a CEO.