MBA - The Aston Edge | Aston University

The Aston Edge personal development programme is a defining feature of the Aston MBA, providing a transformative learning experience that runs throughout your entire MBA journey. This innovative module equips you with advanced skills and strategies to accelerate your career progression and prepare for senior leadership roles.

Informed by cutting-edge research in behavioural science, intercultural effectiveness, career management, and emerging trends in AI and digital technologies, the programme aims to:

Foster critical self-awareness and reflection on your leadership strengths and areas for growth.

Equip you with advanced career management tools and strategies to enhance employability and drive personal growth.

Prepare you to lead in diverse, global, and fast-evolving environments by building emotional intelligence, adaptability, and ethical decision-making.

Cultivate resilience and lifelong learning to navigate professional and organisational challenges effectively.

Through interactive workshops, reflective exercises, and tailored career management tools, you’ll develop competencies in strategic decision-making, negotiation, and personal branding. This comprehensive approach ensures you are well-prepared to meet the demands of competitive, global markets, strengthening your leadership potential and employability.

Dynamic learning environment

The Aston Edge is delivered by a combination of experienced academics, industry leaders, and high-profile speakers from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds. You’ll engage with local, national, and international practitioners, alumni, and industry experts to build real-world insights and networks.

For instance, Executive MBA students recently participated in an engaging session with James Timson, exploring topics like VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity) management and employee development.

Tailored support for career progression

Our experienced career consultants will work with you throughout your MBA to refine your personal brand and develop a career plan tailored to your goals. The programme is highly flexible, adapting to your individual needs to ensure you gain maximum value from the experience.

Core topics include:

Proactive career management
Emotional intelligence and intercultural awareness
Navigating change and building resilience
Negotiation and influence
Personal presence and professional networking
Practical job search strategies (CVs, applications, interviews)
Reflective practice and feedback tools, including personality profiling and 360-degree feedback

Broader themes and insights

In addition to personal and professional development, the Aston Edge explores:

Professional ethics:Addressing integrity in job seeking and career transitions.

Social issues: Focusing on diversity, inclusion, and the impact of global challenges on work.

Sustainability: Examining remote working, smart cities, purpose-driven organisations, and sustainable business practices.

Collaborative and individual learning

You’ll benefit from both individual learning and teamwork opportunities. With a diverse cohort of international peers, teamwork provides a rich platform to learn from different cultures and perspectives, fostering collaboration and global insights.

Outcomes you can expect

By the end of the programme, you will be able to:

Navigate complex, dynamic organisational environments with confidence.
Develop and implement a robust, evidence-based career management plan aligned with your career aspirations.
Lead effectively in global, diverse, and volatile contexts by leveraging emotional intelligence, intercultural awareness, and ethical decision-making.
Align personal growth with industry demands, particularly in innovation and digital transformation.

The Aston Edge empowers you to step into the future as a confident, skilled, and adaptable leader, ready to make a lasting impact in the global business world.

Students walking inside main building of Aston University

Rithvik Yadav

Full-time MBA student

The Aston Edge also equipped me with essential tools and reflective frameworks to enhance my self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and leadership capabilities. From group projects to entrepreneurship challenges, the Aston Edge consistently pushed me out of my comfort zone, fostering resilience and adaptability.

Find out more

Yasmin Ansari

MBA Careers Consultant

Yasmin Ansari, MBA Careers Consultant, explains how Aston Edge is a journey of self-discovery driven by reflecting on past experiences and exploring future choices.