Each term, the Full Time MBA Class elects two members to serve as the liaison between the students, faculty, and administration. Emily Merlino was selected as one of the two FTMBA Class Reps for Spring Trimester 2024.
What ways do you hope your career will change when you’ve earned your MBA?
I was the Engagement Director for a global edtech company before joining the Smurfit MBA. In this position, I was lucky enough to travel to some unique spots worldwide and meet with fantastic people from across the globe. This experience, paired with learnings from the MBA about innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital strategies, led to me developing a goal of working in travel and aviation innovation. I hope to combine my experience in program management, global engagement, and leading a team with my MBA learnings around digital innovation and strategy to work in the travel and airport innovation sector. I’ve learned so much about critical thinking, ideation, and implementation during my time in the FTMBA, and I would love to implement those learnings in a field that really excites and inspires me.
How would you spend your ideal day off?
My ideal day off would start with getting a flat white from Bodega Coffee, followed by going on the Howth Cliff Walk with friends. After the walk, my partner and I would head into Dublin city centre and go to a couple of the bookstores I love. Then, we would head to one of our favourite restaurants, El Grito, for some great Mexican food. We’d end the night watching a movie at Stella Cinemas, a lovely, old-school cinema with beautiful decor and delicious snacks. Finally, we’d get home and snuggle our shih tzu, Yoshi. Coffee, hiking, books, Mexican food, movies, and dogs – what more could you want?
What skills have you learned in the programme so far that you’re most excited to take to work?
This year solidified and enhanced my time management and project management skills. Between classes, student organisations, class rep responsibilities, working part-time, travel, and trying to carve out time to decompress and rest, life as an FTMBA student necessitates strict organisation and planning. Skills like compartmentalisation, planning, delegation, and teamwork are vital to succeed in the FTMBA and the workplace. I suggest getting a great agenda or planner and using it!
—Emily Merlino, Full Time MBA Class of 2024