15 December, 2025
Whether you’re looking to start your business career, change your path, or upskill, choosing the right degree can set you up for long-term success. By studying at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Business School, students are provided with the opportunity to learn essential skills through real-world expertise, global study programs, and hands-on experiences. We’ve spoken to three alumni to discuss how the QUT Business School helps to create modern business leaders who are equipped with the knowledge and problem-solving mindset necessary to tackle significant issues — like building a more sustainable and inclusive future — and make a lasting impact.
So, if you’re weighing up your options and are looking for a business degree that offers more than just a qualification, the QUT Business School could be the answer.
Real-world experiences, real-world learning
While an enriching education is the goal of studying, what separates a good university from a great one is what it can offer beyond that. The QUT Business School is in the global top one per cent of business schools*, with award-winning academics and industry experts bringing their real-world experience and insight into the classroom.
QUT alum Camilla Marshall, who studied a Bachelor of Business (Marketing and Human Resource Management), shares, “QUT’s real-world learning approach meant I wasn’t just absorbing theory, I was applying it through hands-on projects, live case studies, and industry engagement.”
Marshall goes on to explain her time at QUT, “created the building blocks of confidence, adaptability, and a results-driven mindset — all of which have been crucial in driving meaningful change in both corporate and for-purpose environments.”
And it’s evident in her career to date. Having previously worked at Virgin Australia and Allianz Insurance, Marshall has now taken her skills to the not-for-profit world, where she is the Director of Marketing at the Mater Foundation, the fundraising arm of Mater Hospitals and Australia’s largest hospital fundraising body. With a vision of bringing her corporate world experience to the not-for-profit sector, Marshall now uses her skills and experience to inspire generosity and harness the power of community.
While her degree provided her with the necessary tools and critical thinking skills needed to approach challenges, being taught by experienced industry professionals and being offered real-world experiences helped instil the importance of leading with purpose and approaching problems from multiple perspectives.
Opportunities that go beyond the classroom
It’s one thing to study how something works in theory, but another to see it actually applied outside of the classroom.
Sally Higgins, who works as a Consulting Director at Nous Group, holds a Bachelor of Business (Human Resource Management) from QUT. Her role with Nous Group, an international management consultancy, involves helping businesses and governments to implement strategic changes that strengthen agriculture, regional communities, and sustainable food systems. Outside of work, Higgins and her partner operate a mixed cattle and cropping farm, which serves as a firsthand reminder of why this policy and strategy matter in practice.
“My QUT business studies taught me the importance of understanding a problem fully before jumping into solutions,” explains Higgins, “That mindset now guides how I approach sustainability in our food systems, ensuring that practices are both commercially viable as well as ethically responsible. I look for approaches that are practical, workable, and able to deliver real impact.”
Higgins was initially attracted to QUT as it offered her the flexibility to shape the degree into something that allowed her to explore her passions, while also opening herself up to new opportunities. Through the university’s Corporate Partners in Excellence Scholarship, she was able to experience two 15-week internships with sponsoring organisations, which led directly to her first professional role. It’s through this combination of scholarship support and access to hands-on experience that Higgins was able to apply her studies to real-world challenges and build a strong foundation for her career.
Along with scholarships, QUT also offers unique overseas learning experiences for those studying an Executive MBA or an MBA. As part of this program, select QUT students have the opportunity to immerse themselves in global ecosystems, where they're taught by leading academics and companies.
Learn how to make a real impact
Through this combination of real-world experiences from industry leaders and the opportunity to go “hands-on” with placement programs, QUT students are equipped with the tools to create actual change within their chosen fields.
While change can be enacted on a larger scale in business, it needs to start small. Few understand this better than Carrie Leeson, CEO of Lifeline Canberra and Narrm, who completed her Executive MBA at QUT. In leading Australia’s national crisis support hotline, Leeson recognises that those small, human moments are an essential part of the service it provides — and that knowing how to navigate and implement them requires a particular skill set, which is something she developed while at QUT.
“The Executive MBA gave me both the language and the tools to approach challenges differently,” she explains, “It helped me step back from the day-to-day and see the bigger picture. Having that mix of academic learning and practical, values-based discussion helped me bring clarity and direction back to my organisation, even in complex times.”
Leeson, who studied for an Executive MBA, says it’s an experience that she doesn’t take for granted, with the connections she formed there still influencing her everyday business decisions.
“The true highlight of the Executive MBA was, without question, the people,” Leeson reflects. “Real transformation happens when you surround yourself with the very best — and then place your trust in them. The calibre of peers, lecturers, and alumni I’ve had the privilege to connect with through QUT has profoundly influenced my leadership, expanded my perspective, and opened doors to new personal and professional opportunities. Their energy, expertise, and generosity continue to inspire and challenge me every single day."
For all three alumni, their time spent at QUT was about more than just study. Completing their business degrees at the prestigious university enabled them to build bigger picture mindsets, develop crucial skills and forge genuine relationships that shaped their careers.
If you’re ready to enrol at a university that shapes strong leaders, capable of making a genuine and lasting impact, QUT Business School could be the place for you. Head here for more information.
Explore the courses mentioned in this article or discover the full range of QUT business courses here.